10 Mechanical Engineering Summer Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Mar 29
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 8
If you’re a high school student interested in mechanical engineering, a summer camp can be a practical, hands-on way to explore the field without the high cost of a pre-college program.
How are camps different from pre-college or summer research programs?
Unlike semester-long/summer-long university programs, camps are short, focused, and often hosted by independent organizations or industry groups, making them more accessible!
Whether you want to experiment with robotics, design mechanical systems, or explore manufacturing techniques, these camps offer a glimpse into college-level engineering while keeping the experience interactive and engaging.
To help you get started, we’ve curated a list of 10 mechanical engineering summer camps for high school students that offer hands-on learning, expert mentorship, and valuable career insights.
The Exploring Mechanical Science and Engineering Camp is a week-long residential and commuter program at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Hosted by the Grainger College of Engineering under the Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) Program, this camp dives into exciting topics like building and programming biomimetic robots, designing prosthetics, constructing 3D printers, and micro-manufacturing techniques used in the semiconductor industry. You’ll gain practical experience designing machines, conducting lab experiments, and visiting cutting-edge research and manufacturing facilities.
Dates: July 20 – 26
Application Deadline: the priority deadline is March 30. The application deadline is to be announced.
Eligibility: Rising 10th-12th graders
Location: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL
Cost:
Residential: $1,000 (includes housing, meals, and materials)
Commuter: $600 (includes meals and materials)
Scholarships available through the Trail Blazer Camps Scholarship
The MIT Women’s Technology Program in Mechanical Engineering (WTP-ME) is an intensive four-week residential program designed to introduce high school students to the breadth of mechanical engineering. Through hands-on labs, team-based design projects, and classes taught by MIT graduate and undergraduate students, you’ll explore topics like biomedical devices, microfluids, artificial materials, and alternative energy. WTP-ME fosters a collaborative, women-focused community and encourages applications from students who have had limited access to STEM opportunities or come from underrepresented backgrounds.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective (20 students selected from 320 applicants)
Dates: June 28 – July 26
Application Deadline: Typically January/February
Eligibility: High school juniors (rising seniors) with strong math/science skills but little to no prior engineering experience
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free (housing and meals included, financial aid available for travel)
At the UCLA Engineering Design Summer Institute, you’ll get hands-on experience designing, building, and testing real-life mechanical and electronic systems. This three-week program introduces you to the principles of engineering design through practical projects, including Go-Karts, mobile robots, and smart electronic systems.
The program provides insight into various engineering majors at UCLA and explores potential career paths. By the end of the program, you’ll have completed a project, written a technical report, and presented your results.
Dates: Session A: June 23 – July 11 | Session B: July 14 – August 1
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: 9th-11th graders (must be at least 15 years old by June 23)
Location: UCLA campus, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $2,881 (includes tuition, registration, and administrative fees)
Camp CAR at The Ohio State University’s Center for Automotive Research is a week-long immersive program that introduces high school students to automotive and mechanical engineering through hands-on experiences. You’ll engage in robot building, machining, and computer simulation projects while working with experts in the field.
The camp features field trips to innovative research facilities like the Transportation Research Center (TRC), Honda Automotive Laboratories of Ohio (HALO), and the College of Engineering Machine Shop. During these visits, you will investigate advanced automotive testing, aerodynamics, and welding techniques.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective (25 students accepted)
Dates: July 14 – 18
Application Deadline: Closed for 2025 (typically opens in early spring)
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18
Location: The Ohio State University Center for Automotive Research, Columbus, OH
Cost: Free
The Engineering Scholars Program (ESP) at Michigan Technological University is a week-long summer program designed to give high school students hands-on exposure to multiple engineering fields, including mechanical engineering. You’ll engage in project-based learning, work in teams on engineering challenges, and participate in interactive lab sessions covering mechanical, aerospace, civil, robotics, and materials science engineering. This program also includes guest lectures from industry experts, team competitions, and outdoor activities in Michigan’s scenic Keweenaw Peninsula.
Dates: June 22 – 27
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (priority deadline is February 17)
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-11
Location: Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
Cost: $425 (covers program fees, room, and board)
The TryEngineering Summer Institute is a 10-day immersive engineering camp designed for high school students who are interested in mechanical engineering and other STEM fields. The program offers a hands-on approach to engineering concepts, allowing students to design and build a hydraulic robot arm, work with mechanical systems, and explore engineering principles like motion, force, and leverage.
You’ll also have the opportunity to hear from professional engineers, take exclusive field trips to engineering research facilities, and engage in leadership workshops. While mechanical engineering is a primary focus, the program also introduces students to aerospace, electrical, and civil engineering.
Dates: Various cohorts from June 29 to August 2.
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (Early applications recommended)
Eligibility: High school students
Location: Multiple locations (Residential program)
Cost: Programs start from $4,095, and the program offers scholarships!
The Explore Engineering Innovation (EEI) program at Johns Hopkins University is a four-week summer program that introduces high school students to various engineering disciplines, including mechanical engineering. Through hands-on projects, problem-solving challenges, and design activities, you’ll explore topics in chemical, civil, electrical, mechanical, and materials science engineering. The program includes building a spaghetti bridge that can hold over 200 pounds, designing energy-efficient wind turbines, and working with engineering faculty.
Dates: Various cohorts from June 30 to August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (Early applications recommended)
Eligibility: High school students
Location: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD (In-person, Online, Hybrid options available)
Cost: Programs start from $9,950, need-based scholarships available
The Introduction to Engineering Program (IEP) at the University of Notre Dame is a two-week immersive summer camp designed to introduce high school students to various engineering disciplines, including mechanical engineering. Through interactive classroom lectures, hands-on engineering design projects, and exposure to computer programming, you'll gain an overview of aerospace, mechanical, electrical, civil, and environmental engineering. The program also features campus tours, visits to research facilities, guest speakers from the engineering industry, and networking opportunities with faculty and professional engineers.
Dates: Session 1: June 29 – July 12 } Session 2: July 13 – July 26
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (Early applications recommended)
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors
Location: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN
Cost: $2,650 (includes housing, meal plans, registration, field trips, and incidentals)
This comprehensive summer camp at Colorado State University is designed for high school students looking to dive into real-world engineering design. You will work on entrepreneurial engineering problems, identifying challenges, designing solutions, and using CSU’s state-of-the-art mechanical engineering labs. You can expect to get hands-on with 3D printing, mechatronics, and machine shop tools. A key highlight is Arduino-controlled robotics, which will introduce you to programming and automation.
Dates: July 14 – 18
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions (started February 3; early application recommended)
Eligibility: Rising 10th – 12th graders (Ages 14-17)
Location: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Cost: $500 (Limited scholarships available)
These residential engineering camps offer a practical experience where you can explore multiple engineering disciplines, including mechanical engineering. Over five days, you will engage in hands-on projects, collaborative challenges, and real-world applications in various engineering fields. Living on campus, you will experience college life, access to state-of-the-art facilities, and opportunities to connect with mentors, faculty, and industry professionals.
Dates: Explore Engineering I: June 22 – 26 | Explore Engineering II: June 29 – July 3
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Rising 9th – 12th graders (including Class of 2025 graduates)
Location: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Cost: $750 (residential)
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research in mechanical 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.
Image Source - Johns Hopkins Logo
