10 Engineering Summer Camps for High School Students in Florida
- Stephen Turban
- Mar 31
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 14
For high school students interested in engineering, summer camps provide an accessible way to explore the field without the long-term commitment or high costs of traditional pre-college programs. Unlike year-long STEM initiatives or university-led pre-college programs, summer camps are short experiences often hosted by independent organizations, universities, or industry groups.
These engineering camps are designed to be focused, allowing you to explore specific engineering disciplines while working on collaborative projects. Participating in an engineering summer camp is also a good way to demonstrate interest in STEM when applying to college.
To help you find the right opportunity, we've compiled a list of the top 10 engineering summer camps in Florida for high school students.
Note: While a couple of items in the list aren't branded as "camps", they follow a super focused, short, and rigorous structure similar to a traditional camp.
Cohort Size: 22 students are accepted
Dates: Cohort I: June 2 – 6 | Cohort II: June 23 – 27
Application Deadline: Registration opens on February 1 and remains open until the camp has reached capacity
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12 are eligible to apply
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $1,350
The University of South Florida’s Biomedical Engineering Summer Camp introduces students to medical device design, bioimaging, and tissue engineering through academic instruction and projects. You will apply engineering principles to real-world healthcare challenges, working in teams under the guidance of faculty and industry professionals. The program provides access to advanced lab facilities and exposes you to emerging biomedical technologies, helping you develop a deeper understanding of engineering applications in medicine.
Cohort Size: Around 80 students
Dates: June 23 – 27
Application Deadline: March 10 – May 9 (applications may close early if capacity is reached)
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 13 years old before the start of the program
Location: UCF Main Campus, Orlando, FL
Cost: $200
Camp Connect I at the University of Central Florida is a week-long day camp introducing students to various engineering fields, including electrical, computer, industrial, mechanical, aerospace, civil, environmental, construction, and computer science. Through interactive workshops, design challenges, and real-world projects, you will explore topics like robotics, environmental engineering, and programming. You will collaborate with peers, engage with UCF faculty and industry professionals, and gain insight into technology and engineering career pathways. The program emphasizes innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving, providing an environment to develop technical and analytical skills.
Cohort Size: 30 - 40 students per cohort
Dates: June 9 – 12
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 14 and 17
Location: Florida Atlantic University's SeaTech Campus, Dania Beach, FL
Cost: None
The Ocean Engineering Summer Program at Florida Atlantic University is a four-day program exploring the intersection of engineering and marine science. You will engage in underwater robotics, ocean exploration, and sustainable marine technologies, applying engineering principles to marine challenges. Working alongside FAU faculty, you will design creative solutions and develop projects that apply ocean engineering concepts. With access to state-of-the-art facilities, you will gain technical skills and industry insights in a rapidly growing STEM field.
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 30 – July 17
Application Deadline: January 1 – April 1
Eligibility: High school students completing grades 10 and 11
Location: University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
Cost: Residential – $9,532; Commuter – $8,144
The University of Miami’s Summer Scholars Program provides high school students with a credit-bearing introduction to engineering. Courses combine academic rigor with hands-on learning, covering robotics, biomedical engineering, and environmental systems. Under the guidance of the University of Miami faculty, you will work on real-world challenges and develop problem-solving skills. The program offers a college-level experience, allowing you to earn credits while exploring engineering career pathways.
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 8 – 19
Application Deadline: January 1 – February 15
Eligibility: High school students completing grades 10 and 11
Location: Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL
Cost: None
The Young Scholars Program is a six-week residential summer program for Florida high school students. You will take specialized mathematics, science, and computer programming courses tailored for the program. You will collaborate with Florida State University faculty on independent research projects in fields such as biological science, engineering, chemistry, and oceanography, working alongside research teams at institutions like Mag Lab and COAPS. The program balances academic coursework, research, and social activities.
Cohort Size: 30 students
Dates: July 28 – 31
Application Deadline: Not specified; the list of selected applicants will be released on July 1
Eligibility: Female high school students who are in grades 9, 10, and 11, have a GPA of at least 3.25, and have completed pre-calculus
Location: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
Cost: None
The FAU Engineering Academy’s I-DeepLearn Summer Workshop introduces female students in grades 10-12 to machine learning and deep learning, focusing on AI applications in healthcare. Over the course of the one-week program, you will engage in programming projects and discussions on core machine-learning concepts. Designed to build technical skills and industry awareness, the workshop provides a structured introduction to AI-driven technologies in engineering and computer science.
Cohort Size: 30 students
Dates: July 18 – 29
Application Deadline: May 2
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 to 12
Location: University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Cost: $1,000; need-based financial aid is available
The IncuGator STEM Summer Program is a two-week intensive in aerospace engineering, covering rocket design, aerodynamics, propulsion, and materials science. You will engage in projects under guidance, applying engineering principles to real-world challenges. The program culminates in designing, building, and launching a custom rocket, providing experience in engineering and problem-solving. With access to state-of-the-art facilities and collaboration with peers, you will develop technical skills, teamwork, and critical thinking.
Cohort Size: 30 students
Dates: June 23 – 27
Application Deadline: Registration opens on February 1 and remains open until the camp has reached capacity
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9 to 12
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: $999.99
The USF High School Robotics Camp introduces students to robotics design, programming, and automation. Throughout the program, you will build and program your own Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) using Raspberry Pi, 3D printing, and advanced software tools. You will gain experience with sensors, actuators, and custom robot assembly while working in USF’s labs. The camp also explores industrial robotics applications, providing a foundation in robotics engineering. You will leave with your completed robot, programming files, and projects, enabling you to continue learning beyond the program.
Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – 11
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7 to 12
Location: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Tallahassee, FL
Cost: $250
The Tech Challenge Robotics Camp is a week-long program for rising 7th- 12th-grade students looking to develop advanced robotics programming and design skills. You will build a FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robot while learning to program in Java, expanding beyond block-based coding. You will engage in robot design, programming, and team-based problem-solving. The program includes a tour of the College of Engineering, guest lectures from STEM faculty, and a robot showcase, where you will present your robot’s design and programming. Ideal for students preparing for FTC competitions or exploring robotics and engineering, this camp provides an introduction to robotics applications.
Cohort Size: 30 students
Dates: July 28 – 31
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9, 10, and 11
Location: Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
Cost: None
The Building Futures Summer Workshop introduces high school students to key areas of civil and environmental engineering. You will explore sustainable infrastructure and environmental technology through projects and real-world problem-solving. The program covers solid waste management and environmental engineering solutions, concrete technologies, including traditional methods and 3D printing, and transportation engineering, focusing on traffic systems and simulations. You will gain insight into career pathways in engineering, working alongside faculty and peers to develop practical skills in design, analysis, and sustainability.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research in engineering, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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