7 Programs for High School Students in Arkansas
Arkansas offers a diverse range of programs designed to enrich the educational experience of high school students. Whether you're passionate about science, technology, the arts, or leadership, there are opportunities across the state that can help you explore your interests, develop new skills, and prepare for your future. From hands-on research camps in the Ozarks to innovative STEM initiatives and creative arts workshops, these programs provide a unique chance to learn outside the classroom and connect with peers who share similar passions. Note that the following information is based on the most recent program, with dates subject to change but generally similar from year to year.
In this blog, we'll highlight 7 exceptional programs available to high school students in Arkansas. Whether you're looking to immerse yourself in nature, dive into advanced scientific research, or hone your creative talents, there's a program in Arkansas that can help you achieve your goals. Join us as we look at the key features of each program, including deadline, eligibility, and dates.
Cost: Full financial aid is available!
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Individual Research (12 weeks) | Premium Research (16-20 weeks) | Research Fellowship (6-12 months) | Professor Premium (16-20 weeks)
Eligibility: Open to students anywhere in the world
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas.
The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: Geological sites in the Ozarks, AR
Cost: Tuition, room, board, and instructional supplies are fully funded. Students are responsible for their travel to and from the camp and any personal expenses
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: TBA, but typically in June
Eligibility: High school students
Project CAVES (Creative Adventures and Valuable Experiences through Spelunking) offers gifted high school students a unique opportunity to dive deep into science outside of the traditional classroom setting. This seven-day/six-night summer residential program immerses participants in hands-on investigative studies focused on cave ecosystems, karst geology, bat populations, and hydrogeology.
Designed for high-ability science students, Project CAVES provides an authentic experience that goes beyond standard classroom learning. Hosted by the Deer/Mt. Judea School District in partnership with the Ozarks Unlimited Resources Cooperative, this program fully funds tuition, room, board, and instructional supplies.
Cost: Starting at $2,490 (financial aid available)
Location: Remote! You can work from anywhere in the world.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students!
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program for ambitious high school students! In the program, you work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Start-ups that offer internships range across a variety of industries, from tech/deep tech and AI/ML to health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. You can explore all the options here on their application form. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies on average raising over a million dollars. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present their work to the company. Here is the application form. The virtual internship is usually 8 weeks long.
Location: University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: May 15
Program Dates: TBA
Eligibility: High school students entering 10th through 12th grade in Arkansas, including homeschooled students at the same grade levels. Students participating in the Arkansas Governor’s School are not eligible to attend the camp during the same summer
The University of Central Arkansas's Department of Government, Public Service, and International Studies hosts one of the few U.S. summer camps focused on international affairs and diplomacy. This immersive camp offers high school students a blend of classroom instruction and experiential learning, with workshops on international relations, United Nations fundamentals, and Model UN practices. Evening sessions feature guest speakers discussing careers in international affairs.
Throughout the week, you engage in UN General Assembly simulations, representing various countries in committee sessions, and participate in competitions like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Poster Competition and Global Trivia. The camp culminates in an emergency UN General Assembly session, where students apply their diplomatic skills to resolve an international crisis.
Location: University of Central Arkansas, Conway, AR
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: April 19
Program Dates: June 17 – June 21
Eligibility: Arkansas students entering grades 10-12 who have completed at least one high school or concurrent credit computer science course
The AI Robotics & Ethics Camp is a free commuter camp designed for Arkansas high school students. This camp offers a unique opportunity for you to dive deep into the world of artificial intelligence and robotics. Through hands-on activities, you will learn to program and build AI-powered self-driving cars while exploring the ethical and moral implications of this rapidly evolving technology.
In addition to technical training, you will engage with AI and robotics as depicted in popular culture through movies and short stories to understand the broader societal impact of these technologies. The camp ends with a showcase where teams present what they have learned.
6. SummerStage
Location: TheatreSquared, Fayetteville, AR
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: May 1. Applications are accepted until the program is full, so early application is encouraged
Program Dates: July 6 – July 13
Eligibility: Open to Arkansas residents who are rising 10th, 11th, or 12th graders at public or private high schools or homeschooled students at the same grade levels
The SummerStage Theatre Program is an immersive eight-day residential summer experience for rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders in Arkansas. This unique opportunity allows you to collaborate with peers from across the state to create original theater works. Guided by a faculty of professional artists with advanced degrees, you will explore various artistic disciplines, including creative writing, performance art, music, and visual art installations.
Facilitated by TheatreSquared, an award-winning regional theater company, the program emphasizes nontraditional methodologies in theater creation. You will take on dual roles as a writer and a performer, working alongside professional playwrights, poets, directors, musicians, and actors to devise an original script. The ensemble will then rehearse and perform their piece in an end-of-session showcase.
Location: Ozark Natural Science Center (ONSC), Ozark Plateau, AR
Cost: No information available
Application Deadline: May 24
Program Dates: TBA
Eligibility: Arkansas students entering grades 10-12. Students participating in the Arkansas Governor’s School are not eligible to attend the camp during the same summer
The Water & Wilderness: Plugged into Nature camp is an immersive two-week summer program held at the Ozark Natural Science Center (ONSC), nestled in the heart of the Ozark Plateau. This camp offers you the chance to disconnect from the digital world and dive into the wonders of field biology.
This free camp allows you to work alongside field scientists, exploring diverse habitats such as oak-hickory forests, glades, and the Kings River. You will engage in hands-on research activities, including tracking reptiles with radio-telemetry, monitoring bats, studying birds with ornithologists, and examining aquatic life in the Kings River.
The experience is enriched with conservation literature discussions, Socratic Circles on naturalist writings, and reflective journaling. Evening reflections on the ONSC deck, a capstone glade field study, a canoe trip, and an overnight camping experience along the Kings River round out this adventure in the Ozarks.
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.