If you are a high school student interested in learning modern technology skills or considering a future in tech, you should consider joining a technology camp.
Technology camps focus on practical learning. You may work on coding, robotics, cybersecurity, game development, or engineering tools. Depending on the camp, you might design and test a robot, write and debug code, analyze datasets, explore system security, or build a basic game or application. Many camps also help you create small projects that reflect what you learned and how you applied it.
How Are Camps Different From Programs?
Unlike regular programs, technology camps are short and focused on a single skill or topic. They are built around practical tasks instead of lectures and are usually easier to manage alongside school schedules. Camps are also more affordable than longer programs since they run for fewer weeks and often do not require travel. This experience will also give you a solid edge on your resume and college applications.
To help you get started, here are 15 technology camps for high school students. If you’re looking for online tech programs, check out this blog!
15 Technology Camps for High School Students
1. ASU Robotics Camp – 9 UP High School Camp
Location: ASU Brickyard Engineering Building, Tempe, AZ
Cost: $900 (scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 30 – July 11 (tentative; subject to change)
Application Deadline: Typically spring
Eligibility: Open to high school students
ASU’s 9UP Robotics Camp gives you a practical introduction to robotics, computing, and software development through hands-on programming work. Over the course of the camp, you’ll work with visual IoT/Robotics programming, C# programming, web development, and smartphone app development while learning the logic and system design principles behind them. You’ll program robots in both simulated and physical environments, experiment with Bluetooth-remote and Wi-Fi control, and explore various career paths in science, engineering, and computing. The camp concludes with a team robotics challenge, where you put your technical, problem-solving, and presentation skills to use.
2. “Gateway to Cyber” Summer Camp
Location: Assumption University Center for Cybersecurity, Worcester, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 30 spots
Program Dates: July 14 – 18 (tentative; subject to change)
Application Deadline: June 15 (tentative; subject to change)
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors from Massachusetts | Rising high school juniors and seniors from underrepresented groups in cybersecurity are given preference
Assumption University’s Gateway to Cyber Summer Camp gives high school students an immersive, hands-on introduction to cybersecurity concepts. You’ll participate in activities that cover topics like multi-factor authentication, cryptographic techniques, drone telemetry, social engineering, and computer programming skills. Along the way, you’ll practice thinking like an adversary, explore legal and ethical issues, and see how different cybersecurity roles fit into real career pathways.
3. USC Viterbi’s CS@SC Summer Camps
Location: Virtual or in-person at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $200 for Virtual classes and $600 for In-Person classes (scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 5–8 students in the Virtual sessions and 6–8 students in the in-person sessions
Program Dates: June 23 – July 11 (In-Person) and July 7 – August 1 (Virtual) (dates are tentative; subject to change)
Application Deadline: May 5 (tentative, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Open to high school students; check here for individual program pages for course-specific prerequisites
The CS@SC Summer Camps at USC Viterbi introduce you to core areas of computer science through short, focused courses. You can choose from topics like Java, Python, Web Development, Mobile App Development, Game Design, Cyber Security, and Drones—each course designed to help you gain both theoretical and practical knowledge relevant to the specific domain. Throughout the camp, you may learn about programming concepts, develop your own website, code a robot, or pilot a drone, depending on the course you choose. Camps are offered both online and at the USC campus, so you can pick the format that fits your schedule and learning style.
4. Kode With Klossy Summer Camps
Location: Virtual or in-person in cities such as Chicago, New York, Dallas, or London
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: 2 weeks in the summer (exact dates may vary based on location)
Application Deadline: March 31 (tentative; based on previous years)
Eligibility: Young women and gender expansive teens ages 13–18 who feel comfortable learning in a female-identifying environment
Kode With Klossy offers a free two-week summer camp where you can develop practical coding skills alongside other students from underrepresented genders in tech. You’ll work in small groups as you explore one of four tracks: web development, mobile app development, machine learning, or data science. Each track combines guided instruction with hands-on projects using tools like JavaScript, HTML/CSS, Swift, Python, and SQL. You may get to design accessible websites, create iOS apps, train ML models, or experiment with data visualization tools. You’ll also engage in tech discussions, hear from women working in the field, and collaborate with peers as you build your final project.
5. Rice ELITE Tech Camp
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $3,899 (Residential Camp) | $1,799 (Commuter Camp)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Residential Camp Dates: June 21 – 27; June 28 – July 4; July 5 – 11; July 12 – 18 | Commuter Camp Dates: June 22 – 26; June 29 – July 3; July 6 – 10; July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
Rice ELITE Tech Camps are one-week programs where you explore engineering and advanced technology in a university setting. Guided by Rice faculty, researchers, and industry professionals, you can study tracks like machine learning, IoT, Python coding, robotics, C++ for human spaceflight, deep learning, and 3D printing. Each track combines lectures with hands-on exercises and project challenges that help you connect theoretical concepts to real engineering workflows. You’ll also build skills in leadership, communication, and project management as you work on group projects and assignments.
6. GenCyber Camp for High School Students at Purdue University Northwest
Location: Purdue University Northwest, Hammond, IN
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 9 – 13 with 2 6-hour pre-camp sessions in April and May and 2 6-hour post-camp sessions in August and September (dates are tentative; subject to change)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
GenCyber Camp at Purdue University Northwest offers a five-day introduction to core cybersecurity concepts through labs, educational games, and guided technical exercises. You’ll work with topics like cybersecurity awareness, wireless network security, cryptography, ethical hacking, and digital forensics, applying each concept through hands-on activities. The schedule includes everything from Wi-Fi scavenger hunts using Raspberry Pi to robot-based programming challenges and team competitions to solve a computer forensics case. You will also receive a certificate of completion at the end of the camp.
7. ASU Underwater Robotics Camp
Location: Arizona State University – Polytechnic campus, Mesa, AZ
Cost: $600
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 3 – 8 (tentative; subject to change)
Application Deadline: Typically early April
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors with good academic standing | Must be Arizona residents or students residing in Arizona over the summer with family
ASU’s Underwater Robotics Camp is a one-week program where you explore engineering and coding concepts through the design of autonomous underwater robots. You’ll study topics like buoyancy, electrical wiring, and autonomous navigation while working in teams under the guidance of ASU engineering faculty. Each day includes hands-on programming sessions, project work, and opportunities to test your robot in controlled environments. You’ll also visit ASU labs, meet members of a nationally recognized underwater robotics team, and prepare your project for presentation at the National Underwater Robotics Competition.
8. Grainger Engineering Summer Camps – Roboscape Cybersecurity Camp
Location: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Cost: $1,000 (Residential) or $600 (Commuter) + $25 deposit (scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Typically between 25–40%
Program Dates: July 20 – 26 (tentative; subject to change)
Application Deadline: Typically late March
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Roboscape Cybersecurity Camp is a one-week program where you study the intersection of programming, robotics, and cybersecurity at a college-level pace. You’ll work with networked robots and a visual programming language to explore fundamental coding concepts, including control structures, variables, data types, and functions. Through hands-on lessons, you’ll learn about practical security topics such as defending against robot-based attacks, designing authentication systems, and implementing encryption. You’ll also take part in robotics challenges that let you test your ideas and apply what you’ve learned to simulations modeled after real-world problems.
9. Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep’s Overnight Programs – Cybersecurity Bootcamp
Location: Illinois Tech, Chicago, IL
Cost: $1,500
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 27 – 31
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep Cybersecurity Bootcamp is a hands-on program that explores the fundamentals of digital security in a university setting. You’ll study topics like network security, ethical hacking, threat analysis, and incident response through guided lessons and practical exercises. Throughout the week, you’ll participate in simulated scenarios where you apply what you’ve learned to identify vulnerabilities and implement defensive techniques. The overnight format also gives you time to collaborate with peers on projects and experience aspects of campus life while you build technical skills.
10. University of New Hampshire’s TechLeaders
Location: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Week 1: July 14 – 18 | Week 2: July 21 – 25 (tentative; based on previous years)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to high school students | Check individual project descriptions for project-specific prerequisites
At TechLeaders, you can spend a week working on a single, in-depth project of your choice, with options spanning molecular dynamics, game development, heat-transfer simulation, cryopreservation, bioinformatics, and data analytics. You may work with tools like JacaScript, MATLAB, P5.js, and game development frameworks, or dive into STEM topics such as molecular structure, thermal physics, or biological data. Each track pairs hands-on work, whether that’s building simulations, coding interactive media, or analyzing scientific datasets, with guidance from UNH faculty and staff.
11. Kettering University Robotics Camps
Location: Kettering University, Flint, MI
Cost: $700 (Day Camp) | $1,070 (Residential Camp)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Varies by program
Application Deadline: Registration opens in January
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12
Kettering University Robotics Camps offer a range of tech-focused tracks that let you dig into areas like Python and Java programming, mechanical design, autonomous robotics, and mechatronics. Depending on the camp you choose, you might work with drones, VEX CTE Workcell kit, FRC systems, or cloud-based CAD tools like On Shape. The camps emphasize hands-on problem-solving, so you’ll spend most of your time building, coding, fabricating, or testing robotic components and systems. You’ll also get structured guidance in core engineering processes, whether that’s prototyping, debugging code, or applying mechanical and electrical principles to a functional design.
12. Cyber Immersion Camp at Norwich University
Location: Norwich University, Northfield, VT
Cost: $1,200 ($200 deposit required at registration; $1,000 scholarships available for U.S. citizens)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 21 – 26
Application Deadline: May 17 (tentative)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10–12
The Cyber Immersion Camp at Norwich University gives you a week-long introduction to core cybersecurity and computing skills through hands-on lab work. You’ll gain experience with tools and concepts like Python fundamentals, Linux basics, Metasploit, Nmap, Wireshark, and digital forensics while learning how they fit into areas such as ethical hacking and information warfare. The program also includes time to explore careers in cybersecurity by meeting professionals and learning about different roles in the field. Apart from coursework, you’ll take part in daily wellness and recreational activities such as hiking, swimming, or paintball.
13. AFA CyberCamps
Location: Various locations throughout the U.S.
Cost: $1,200 (Standard Camp) | $1,500 (Advanced Camp)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Varies by location
Program Dates: Multiple one-week sessions held between June 2 – August 15
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Standard Camps are open to all high school students who are proficient in English, while Advanced Camps are for students who have prior cybersecurity knowledge
AFA CyberCamps offer a five-day introduction to cybersecurity through hands-on training. In the Standard Camp, you’ll work through the fundamentals of Windows 10 security, Linux Mint, account management, auditing, and virtual machines, with an emphasis on responsible and ethical use. If you join the Advanced Camp, you’ll dig further into command line tools, the Sysinternals Suite, Linux process management, and selected modules from Cisco Networking Academy. Each camp wraps up with a CyberPatriot competition, where you’ll test your new skills by tackling realistic security challenges on Windows and Linux.
14. Computer Drawing Camp at the University of the Pacific
Location: University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA
Cost: $3,800 ($500 discount available for qualifying students)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 1 – 11 (Session 1) | June 16 – 26 (Session 2)
Application Deadline: November 1 – May 10 (Session 1) | November 1 – May 24 (Session 2)
Eligibility: High school students
The Computer Drawing Camp at the University of the Pacific introduces you to the fundamentals of computer-aided design and drafting using industry tools like AutoCAD. You’ll learn how to create technical and engineering drawings that clearly communicate ideas, guided by faculty with experience in engineering and architecture. Morning sessions focus on core CAD skills, while afternoon sessions give you time to work on instructor-assigned or self-designed projects. You’ll also use the campus MakerSpace to produce items like wooden lap tables. By the end of the program, you’ll have the skills to effectively communicate your ideas graphically, which will come in handy for future coursework and career.
15. Tufts University Pre-College Programs – Coding for Gaming
Location: Tufts University Medford / Somerville Campus, MA
Cost: $2,750 (need-based scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 22 – 26
Application Deadline: December 1 – May 1
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12, as well as graduating high school seniors
Coding for Gaming is a one-week program where you explore the full game development pipeline, from early concept work to building a playable prototype. You’ll learn how storytelling, design, and coding intersect as you spend most of your time applying these ideas through hands-on projects. As you work on designing your game, you’ll practice core skills like debugging, playtesting, and iteration based on feedback. You’ll also get a look at how different roles, such as designers, developers, and storytellers, collaborate to bring games to life. By the end, you’ll have a functioning game and a clearer sense of how technical and creative problem-solving fit into game development.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like computer science, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, software development, and applied technology, consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source – Tufts University