Top 2026 Winter Programs for High School Students
Updated: Sep 1
Updated: 28th August, 2026
TL;DR
This roundup covers 40 winter programs for high school students across three formats: community volunteering, live online coursework, and in-person research or enrichment. Costs range from completely free to several thousand dollars, with a number of free placements available at hospitals, labs, and research institutes. It's built for grades 9 through 12, including a few options open to students as young as 13. Deadlines can close months before a program actually starts, so it's worth checking dates well ahead of time. For students who want research mentorship that runs longer than a single break, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs you with a PhD mentor for 12 weeks.
If you’re a high school senior looking for a program before college apps begin, or just looking to make the most out of your winter break, this blog is for you!
Winter break gives you a shorter, often more affordable window to try something new before the long stretch of summer options opens back up. The programs in the blog below cover research, internships, community service, live online coursework, and subject enrichment work, in a format that can help you figure out how you want to spend your winter.
Note: Where a program does not publish an acceptance rate, we have noted an estimate based on how the program selects participants, and labeled it as an estimate so you know the difference.
How to choose the right winter program for you
It’s best to start with a factor that easily rules out certain winter programs, such as your location or application deadline. Once you have figured out the relevant programs, you can start picking by your subject interest.
Check the deadline before you check anything else: Several strong options on this list close applications months before they start. Fox Chase Cancer Center states in its program FAQ that the application link is only live for about three and a half weeks, running from early-to-mid October into early November, for a session that starts the following January. Cedars-Sinai runs a four-day winter application window from December 1 to 4. If you are reading this in December, filter for rolling and open enrollment programs first.
Decide whether you need a credential or an experience: A graded Cornell course that lands on an official transcript carries different weight than a volunteer placement, and it also carries a different risk, since the grade follows you. Volunteer and shadowing roles cost nothing and rarely reject you, but they produce hours rather than an assessed output. If you want a professional placement, winter internships are a separate route worth comparing.
Match the commitment to what you can honestly sustain: Kaiser Permanente's Los Angeles teen program asks for 100 hours across a full year, not two weeks over break. A program you abandon in February is worse on an application than a shorter one you finish.
Work out whether geography is the binding constraint: Most lab and hospital placements here restrict eligibility to a commuting radius. If you are not near one, the online section is where your real options are.
Winter programs vs summer programs for high schoolers: which is the better use of your time?
Factor | Fall Programs | Summer Programs |
Duration | 1 to 11 weeks | 8 to 12 weeks |
Depth vs. breadth | Brevity limits depth, but makes winter a good low-cost trial run for an unfamiliar subject | Longer format allows deeper, more sustained work |
Applicant pool | Often fills from a local/regional radius, so a well-matched student has better odds | |
Deadline | Falls inside application season: competes with Common App deadlines (most due by Jan 1), so better suited to juniors and younger students than seniors | Deadlines generally fall outside the core college-application crunch |
Strategic use | Can function as an entry point into a longer track (e.g., UC San Diego's bioengineering sequence starts with BE-BOAT in January, leading into a research/design workshop and independent project) | Often the standalone, flagship credential itself rather than a stepping stone |
Are there free winter programs, and how do you find financial aid?
Yes, and roughly a third of the programs on this list cost nothing, including hospital and lab placements that would be paid or highly competitive in summer. Free does not mean easy to enter, though, and the free options are usually the geographically restrictive ones.
The free tier is mostly volunteer and research placements: Fox Chase Cancer Center's Immersion Science Program, Jackson Lab's academic year fellowships, Girls Garage, and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute all charge nothing. Fox Chase takes 16 to 20 students per winter session, and Girls Garage takes 12, so cost and selectivity trade off. For year-round options, our roundup of free pre-college programs covers more.
Scholarships exist on the paid side, but you have to ask early: Burke Neurological Institute charges $700 for its neuroscience course and offers a full tuition waiver, and its course page sets the scholarship deadline at January 17, ahead of the January 31 registration deadline. Waiver deadlines almost always precede admission deadlines.
College credit is where cost concentrates: Cornell's School of Continuing Education lists tuition at $1,940 per credit plus a nonrefundable $75 application fee, while UMBC's winter session ranges from $439 to $6,426 depending on credits and residency. If your goal is credits, in-state public options are dramatically cheaper for the same transcript value.
A stipend is not the same as free: International Volunteer HQ includes a $ 20-per-day stipend but charges program fees and leaves flights to you.
Do winter programs help with your college applications?
Yes, but only if you know how to make the most out of your experience! Before you apply to a winter program, check the list below to figure out programs that have elements that will be helpful for future applications.
Look for programs with a strong output: Programs that end with a report or project give you something you can refer to for your college applications. OHSU's Partnership for Scientific Inquiry has you develop your own research proposal, and Fralin Biomedical Research Institute ends in a final presentation.
Find programs with a mentor or supervisor: Mentors and supervisors can structure your program and give you useful, actionable feedback. More than that, they can provide valuable recommendation letters during your college applications. Our admissions report found that students with sustained mentored research were roughly four times more likely to be admitted to a top university, with 97% using their project somewhere in their application; read the full admissions report for the details.
Sustained research outperforms short enrichment: A short winter research program by itself would have a small impact on your applications. However, a longer program, or continuing your research with a summer program, can increase your chances.
Timing matters more for seniors: If you've already submitted your applications, a January program will not appear on them.
How we selected these programs
We built this list by checking every program against what students and families need to decide, so you can pick the program that’s best for you.
We verified details against each program's own page: Every cost, date, deadline, and eligibility line here traces to the program's official website rather than a third-party listing, and each entry links to that source so you can confirm it before applying.
We labeled estimates as estimates: Most winter programs do not publish acceptance rates. Where a rate is missing, we describe how the program actually selects participants, whether that is open enrollment, an interview, a faculty sponsor, or a capped cohort, and we mark the assessment as an estimate rather than presenting a number we cannot source.
We prioritized programs that produce something: Placements ending in a paper, presentation, portfolio, transcript credit, or documented service hours ranked above programs offering attendance alone.
Section | Top programs | Cost | Best for |
Winter volunteer programs | Cedars-Sinai, Kaiser Permanente LA, San Francisco Free Clinic, Habitat for Humanity, Asian Art Museum | Free to $30, plus travel costs for IVHQ | Students who want documented service hours and patient- or community-facing experience close to home |
Online winter programs | Lumiere Research Scholar Program, Cornell Precollege, OHSU Partnership for Scientific Inquiry, Veritas AI | Free to $8,400 | Students without local university access, or who want credit or a mentored research output remotely |
In-person winter research and enrichment | Fox Chase Immersion Science Program, Jackson Lab, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, UMBC, Girls Garage | Free to $6,426 | Students within commuting distance of a lab, hospital, or campus who want in-person research or build work |
In-Person Winter Research & Enrichment Programs
These take place on a campus or at a physical site, ranging from hands-on lab research to math, construction, and outdoor programs.
Location: Virginia Tech, VA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; placements are limited by how many mentors have capacity, which makes spots genuinely scarce (estimate)
Dates: Rolling
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors
Working under a Virginia Tech mentor, you complete a small independent biomedical research project from start to finish, choosing from labs spanning the neuroscience of motivation to synaptic mechanisms. The program ends with a final presentation, giving you a genuine sense of how an academic research lab operates.
Who it's best for: A student near Roanoke who wants to own a project end to end rather than shadow one, and can work independently under a mentor.
Location: University of Maryland, Baltimore County, MD
Cost/Stipend: $439 to $6,426 depending on credits and residency
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; admission requires school permission and college comparable academic standing rather than a competitive review (estimate)
Dates: January 2 to January 26
Application deadline: December 20
Eligibility: Rising juniors and seniors
As a visiting student you earn college credit through in person, online, or hybrid tracks covering subjects like biology, economics, history, media studies, and languages. It is a structured way to test college level coursework and expectations firsthand.
Who it's best for: A Maryland student who wants real college credit at the lowest cost on this list, and whose school will sign off on it.
Location: Girls Garage, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students per season, so competition depends on local demand for a very small free cohort
Dates: 3 weeks, offered fall, winter, and spring
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Girls and gender expansive high schoolers
You build carpentry, welding, and design skills while working on a real community project, guided by instructors with professional backgrounds in construction and fabrication. Discussions on equity and inclusion within the construction and STEM fields run alongside the hands on technical training.
Who it's best for: A Bay Area girl or gender expansive student who wants to learn welding and carpentry properly, in a small cohort, at no cost.
Location: Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 16 students per winter session; free, competitive, and limited to the Philadelphia tri-state area, so demand well exceeds spots (estimate)
Dates: Early January to mid March, an 11 week winter session
Application deadline: Opens in October, closes early November
Eligibility: Age 16 or older, completed biology and chemistry
You work alongside scientists and researchers exploring pathways studied in cancer research and the biological effects of dietary and environmental factors, affiliated with Fox Chase, Temple University, and Drexel University. The program combines lab based activities, research discussions, and structured mentorship, ending with a final student presentation.
Who it's best for: A Philadelphia area student who has finished biology and chemistry and wants serious cancer research lab time at no cost, and can apply months ahead in October.
Location: Cleveland, OH
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; there is no central application, so your odds depend entirely on whether an individual investigator says yes (estimate)
Dates: Flexible
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Age 16 or older
Rather than a formal application process, you search the Institute's lab directory or science pages to find a lab that interests you, then email that Principal Investigator directly to introduce yourself and describe relevant coursework and past experience. It is a self directed way into hands on biomedical research.
Who it's best for: A Cleveland area student confident enough to cold email researchers and handle rejection, in exchange for access most programs gatekeep.
Location: Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA
Cost/Stipend: No cost; a stipend is not guaranteed
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; you must secure a faculty sponsor before applying, so admission depends on that individual match (estimate)
Dates: Flexible, depending on the mentor
Application deadline: None specified
Eligibility: US residents, sponsored by a College of Medicine faculty member
Options range from a one or two day shadowing experience to a multi week or month long internship, where you observe a research mentor's daily activities, laboratory procedures, and data analysis methods. Students first browse Penn State's faculty research database to identify and secure a supervisor before applying.
Who it's best for: A student who wants to sample medical research over just a day or two before committing, or scale up to a longer internship if it clicks.
Location: Farmington, CT or Bar Harbor, ME
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; the commuting distance requirement and lab by lab placement keep cohorts small and competitive (estimate)
Dates: TBA
Application deadline: July 7 for Bar Harbor, September 15 for Farmington
Eligibility: Age 16 or older, junior or senior, within commuting distance of either campus
You join a Jackson Lab research group and design an independent project within that lab's ongoing work, mentored by faculty, postdocs, or graduate students. Alongside the science, you build problem solving, communication, and time management skills as a working member of the research team.
Who it's best for: A student living near Farmington or Bar Harbor who wants genomics research at a nationally known institute and can plan a full year ahead for the summer deadline.
Location: California school district campuses
Cost/Stipend: Free for eligible participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment with priority for students qualifying under California's Expanded Learning Opportunities Program; effectively non-competitive for eligible students (estimate)
Dates: January 4 to January 8
Application deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: TK through 12; priority given to students qualifying under California's Expanded Learning Opportunities Program
These district run camps focus on keeping students engaged over break through collaborative, project based workshops that build teamwork, communication, and problem solving. They sit alongside the district's other expanded learning offerings, including after school programs and summer academies.
Who it's best for: A Fresno Unified student who wants a free, structured week over break close to home, with no application hurdle to clear.
Location: Oakland and Piedmont, Berkeley, and Lafayette, CA
Cost/Stipend: Half day $300 a week, full day $480 a week; sibling and multi session discounts available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; no competitive selection, though students are placed by skill level and sessions fill early (estimate)
Dates: December 22 to 26 and December 29 to January 2, excluding holidays
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Ages 6 to 16
Morning classes cover number theory, algebra, geometry, combinatorics, graph theory, and introductory computer science, taught through collaborative exercises and guided investigations. Puzzles, math games, and math based magic tricks keep the material approachable while still pushing analytical thinking.
Who it's best for: A younger East Bay student, or one who has not yet found math enjoyable, who would respond better to puzzles and games than to drills.
Location: Santa Clara, CA, in person, or virtual
Cost/Stipend: Online $950; in person $1,250; early registration discounts available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; placement is by diagnostic testing rather than an admissions decision, so most students are placed at an appropriate level rather than rejected (estimate)
Dates: December 26 to 31
Application deadline: Rolling; super early registration by October 30, early registration by November 15
Eligibility: Advanced middle and high schoolers interested in competition math
Across levels like AMC 8 Advanced and AIME Basic or Advanced, the camp preps students for competitions including AMC 8, MathCounts, AIME, and ARML through instructor-led problem solving and daily practice tests. The format mixes concept review with exam strategy sessions matched to each student's competition background.
Who it's best for: A student already competing in AMC or MathCounts who wants targeted score improvement before the next contest cycle.
Location: Stevens Park
Cost/Stipend: Varies by session length
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; sessions are capped by group size and fill first come, with no competitive selection (estimate)
Dates: Multiple single and multi day sessions between December 22 and February 16
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Ages 3 to 12; teen leadership track for ages 13 to 15, counselor in training track for ages 15 to 18
Younger campers hike, explore creek and terrestrial ecology, and take part in team building and bouldering, while older teens can move into leadership or counselor in training roles mentoring the younger kids. The program leans on outdoor, challenge based activities to build confidence and social emotional skills.
Who it's best for: An older teen who wants documented leadership and mentoring experience outdoors, rather than another classroom based program.
Online Winter Programs
Each of these runs entirely online, so location and travel are not a factor, and most can be completed alongside a normal school schedule.
Location: Virtual, over Webex
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; the mentor pairing model and academic year length keep cohorts small and make admission competitive (estimate)
Dates: January 15 to May
Application deadline: November 24
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, and seniors only
You meet weekly for a lecture series covering ongoing research projects at Oregon Health and Science University, paired with a dedicated mentor. You gain hands-on knowledge of research methods, present a published article journal club style, and develop your own research proposal, with the option to join a lab or clinical research the following summer and present at a poster symposium.
Who it's best for: A student aiming at medicine or biomedical research who wants free one on one mentorship and a possible path into a summer lab placement.
Location: Remote, from anywhere in the world
Cost/Stipend: Individual Research Program $2,600, Premium Research and Publication Program $4,800, Research Fellowship $8,400
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; admission is based on academic review with a 3.3 or higher unweighted GPA rather than a fixed cutoff (estimate)
Dates: Multiple cohorts year round, spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: Rolling; cohorts open in January, May, September, and November
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school student with an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher; no prior subject knowledge required
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs high school students one on one with a PhD mentor for an independent research project, with options ranging from a 12 week paper to a full year of extended work. You can choose from subjects including psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, and international relations, and finish with a completed research paper of your own.
Who it's best for: A student who wants a genuinely individual, mentored research paper rather than a group program, and doesn't need prior subject expertise going in.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $1,940 per credit (rate through summer 2026), plus a $75 nonrefundable application fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Cornell does not publish a rate for this program; admission is rolling and moderately selective, based on holistic review with a minimum GPA requirement (estimate)
Dates: Two week winter session, January 2 to 17 for the 2026 cycle
Application deadline: Rolling; specific cutoff varies by session, check the current cycle before applying
Eligibility: High school students who have completed sophomore year, ages 15 to 19
You take a real undergraduate Cornell course entirely online, choosing from subjects like architecture, business, health and humanities, international relations, science and technology, and veterinary medicine, and study alongside Cornell undergraduates through discussion boards, video conferencing, and email. Grades and credits earned go on an official Cornell transcript, so the course carries the same weight as one taken on campus.
Who it's best for: A student who wants transferable Ivy League credit on a real transcript and is prepared for a graded university course where the grade follows them.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Varies by course load and quarter
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; admission requires an application and academic review, and most qualified applicants are placed (estimate)
Dates: January 5 to March 12 (winter quarter)
Application deadline: Varies by quarter
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors, age 16 or older
You can enroll in up to two college level creative courses per quarter, taught directly by SCAD faculty, covering subjects like advertising, drawing, design thinking, digital communication, photography, and business. The program introduces professional creative practices through virtual instruction, collaborative projects, and portfolio based assignments, and credits earned transfer toward a future SCAD degree.
Who it's best for: A student building a creative portfolio who is seriously considering art and design school, especially if SCAD is on their list.
Location: Online, live evening webinars
Cost/Stipend: $700; scholarships available for a tuition waiver
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; admission is based on meeting the biology prerequisite rather than competitive selection (estimate)
Dates: February 3 to April 9, 2026, Tuesdays and Thursdays, with no classes during school recess weeks
Application deadline: January 31, 2026; scholarship applications due January 17, 2026
Eligibility: Completed NYS Regents Living Environment or an equivalent biology class
Delivered twice weekly through live online webinars, the course covers how the brain controls movement, how the nervous system is organized and repaired, and what happens in stroke and Alzheimer's disease. It is built to prepare you for college level biology while giving you a foundation that can lead to further research opportunities at the Institute or elsewhere.
Who it's best for: A student specifically interested in neuroscience who wants a real subject foundation rather than a survey course, and who could use the tuition waiver.
Location: Live online
Cost/Stipend: Varies by course level
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; enrollment is rolling with limited space, and advanced levels require completing earlier courses first (estimate)
Dates: Varies by course
Application deadline: December 18 for the winter cohort
Eligibility: High school students; prerequisites vary by course level
Run by UC San Diego's Department of Bioengineering with UC San Diego Extended Studies, this track moves students through a clear progression, starting with the foundational BE-BOAT courses and continuing through BE-ROW, a home lab based research and design workshop, and finally BE-SHIP, where you independently propose, run, and present a bioengineering research project with a university lab.
Who it's best for: A student who wants a multi term pathway rather than a one off course, and is willing to work up through the levels toward independent research.
Location: Live online
Cost/Stipend: $2,700
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; space is limited and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until the cohort fills (estimate)
Dates: January 10 to March 1
Application deadline: December 18
Eligibility: Grades 9 to 12
This entry point into UC San Diego's bioengineering track focuses on how two dimensional and three dimensional biological image data is acquired, stored, and manipulated, along with how medical and anatomical models can be converted into 3D printable designs. Lectures, guided labs, and take home lab kits combine to build both technical skill and scientific communication.
Who it's best for: A student drawn to the engineering side of medicine who wants hands on lab kit work at home, and is open to continuing into the wider track.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Roughly $155 to $895 depending on the course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; no selection process, though each course has a recommended skill level and sections fill up (estimate)
Dates: Multiple sessions available
Application deadline: Rolling until sections fill
Eligibility: Middle and high school students; placement depends on course level
Through live online classes and self paced options, you can study everything from pre-algebra through calculus, number theory, counting and probability, Python programming, physics, and Olympiad level mathematics. The courses lean on proof based reasoning and challenging, multi step problems, worked through interactive instruction and contest style practice.
Who it's best for: A student who already enjoys math and wants harder problems than school provides, especially one preparing for competitions.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $799
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment for the online certificate; no audition or competitive selection required (estimate)
Dates: Winter I, January 12 to February 8; Winter II, February 17 to March 15
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Grades 6 to 12
Three four week courses, covering monologues, scene study, and improvisation and character development, can be taken in any order to build a flexible foundation in acting. Professional actors and coaches lead the sessions, giving personalized feedback as you analyze scripts and prepare audition ready material.
Who it's best for: A student who wants coaching from working actors and audition ready material, without needing to audition to get in.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $1,895 per course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; enrollment based rather than competitive, open to students meeting the age requirement (estimate)
Dates: Year round, including winter
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Age 13 or older
Built around Dartmouth's liberal arts approach, the program lets you choose from courses in biology, entrepreneurship, finance, law, psychology, and regenerative medicine. Each course pairs structured video lessons with individualized mentor support and ends in a capstone project you present or submit creatively.
Who it's best for: A younger student, as early as eighth grade, who wants to explore a subject before committing to it, with a finished capstone to show at the end.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $799
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment for the online certificate; no portfolio review or competitive selection required (estimate)
Dates: Winter I, January 12 to February 8; Winter II, February 17 to March 15
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Grades 6 to 12
Three sequential four week courses, Digital Animation 101, Designing Animated Characters, and Digital Animation Techniques, build toward original character design for film, games, or personal projects. You get personalized feedback from professional artists while learning animation software and applying principles like timing and expression.
Who it's best for: A student interested in animation or game art who wants structured software training and original character work for a portfolio.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Enrichment courses $1,895; college credit courses $3,995
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; enrollment based rather than competitive, open to students meeting the age requirement (estimate)
Dates: Year round
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Age 13 or older
You can choose between shorter enrichment courses focused on exploration and skill building or longer courses that award official college credit, across subjects such as biology, psychology, cybersecurity, international relations, business, and law. The format is fully online and flexible enough to fit around a normal school schedule.
Who it's best for: A student interested in policy, international relations, or law who wants to choose between a lighter exploratory course and a full credit bearing one.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $1,595 per course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; enrollment based rather than competitive, open to students meeting the age requirement (estimate)
Dates: Multiple 2 and 4 week sessions, year round
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Age 13 or older
Designed by University of Rochester faculty, winter offerings cover personalized medicine and genetics, orthopedic medicine, and biomedical engineering, giving you exposure to both clinical and technology driven sides of healthcare. Each course pairs you with a dedicated mentor and ends with a capstone presentation or creative submission.
Who it's best for: A student weighing a medical career who wants to test a specific niche like genetics or orthopedics in a short two to four week commitment.
14. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $2,290 for the 10-week AI Scholars program, $5,400 for the 15-week AI Fellowship, $6,900 for both; need-based aid available for AI Scholars
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; the AI Fellowship requires completing AI Scholars or showing prior AI or Python experience (estimate)
Dates: Multiple 12 to 15 week cohorts year round, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application deadline: Rolling; cohorts open in January, May, September, and November
Eligibility: Ambitious high schoolers anywhere in the world; AI Fellowship applicants need prior AI Scholars completion or existing AI or Python experience
Founded and run by Harvard graduate students, Veritas AI offers two tracks for students interested in artificial intelligence. The AI Scholars boot camp introduces the fundamentals of AI, machine learning, and data science through real world projects, while the more advanced AI Fellowship pairs you one on one with a mentor from a top university to develop an individual project, with in-house support toward publishing in a high school research journal.
Who it's best for: A student who wants a structured entry point into AI, and can move up to fellowship level one on one mentorship once they have the foundation.
Winter Volunteer Programs
These run through hospitals, museums, libraries, and community organizations, and most ask for an ongoing weekly or seasonal commitment rather than a single shift.
Location: Virtual, or anywhere in the USA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No selection process; you organize the drive yourself, so participation is effectively open (estimate)
Dates: Flexible, self organized
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students and youth groups, such as high school clubs
You organize a food drive at your school or in your neighborhood, spread the word to encourage donations, and coordinate with a local food bank so what you collect reaches families who need it. Some students run a virtual version instead, raising money that the food bank uses to buy whatever is in short supply. The work gives you a close look at how a large nonprofit operates locally while building real experience organizing people and communicating with your community.
Who it's best for: A student who wants to lead something rather than join something, and can rally a school club or neighborhood behind a short campaign.
Location: Local Feeding America affiliates nationwide
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; affiliates accept nearly all volunteers who sign up for a shift (estimate)
Dates: Year round, including winter
Application deadline: None
Eligibility: Open to all ages; middle schoolers typically volunteer with adult or group supervision
You help sort, pack, and distribute food donations at a local food bank, which might mean bagging groceries, stocking shelves, or assembling meal kits at a distribution site. It is a hands on way to see how communities respond to food insecurity and build organization and teamwork skills while working toward a clear, immediate goal.
Who it's best for: A student who wants to start volunteering this week with no application process, and would rather show up and work than wait on a selection cycle.
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; interviews are held monthly and most applicants who clear the interview and screening are placed (estimate)
Dates: Rolling start dates
Application deadline: Year round
Eligibility: Able to commit to 100 volunteer hours
After completing onboarding such as a health screening, orientation, and background check, you take on a full year placement inside a working hospital, helping with visitor guidance, patient communication, and paperwork so departments run smoothly. Over time you see how a large medical center actually functions day to day, and speaking an additional language can be especially useful given the hospital's diverse patient population.
Who it's best for: A Los Angeles student set on healthcare who can realistically commit to 100 hours across a full year, not just over the break.
Location: Los Angeles, CA (multiple sites)
Cost/Stipend: Free; a $30 fee covers the required volunteer jacket
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; no published rate, and the teen program regularly reaches capacity and closes applications early, so apply the day the window opens (estimate)
Dates: January 26 to April 5
Application deadline: December 1 to 4 for the winter cycle
Eligibility: Ages 14 to 18, minimum 3.2 GPA
You help keep hospital operations running behind the scenes, which could mean staffing a front desk, organizing records, managing phone calls, or supporting a patient services team depending on where you are placed. The schedule is structured so you build real responsibility over consistent shifts rather than one off tasks, giving you a close view of how a major medical center coordinates across departments.
Who it's best for: A Los Angeles student with a 3.2 or higher GPA who wants a recognized hospital name on their record and can apply within the tight four day window.
Location: Jersey City, NJ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; admission depends on medical clearance and shift availability rather than academic competition (estimate)
Dates: Year round, including winter
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Age 16 or older, medical clearance required
Responsibilities include patient escorting, clerical support, and internal messenger duties, which together give you a clear view of how a hospital's departments communicate and manage visitor flow. You complete orientation and a health clearance before starting, and you receive formal documentation once you pass 50 service hours.
Who it's best for: A North Jersey student who wants documented hospital hours on a rolling schedule and does not need a competitive credential attached.
Location: Houston, TX
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; volunteer intake is open to interested local students (estimate)
Dates: Year round, including December
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students living in Houston
You help people understand how voting works and how to take part in elections, spending time at voter registration drives, libraries, and community events answering questions and sharing accurate information. Some days involve setting up booths or preparing materials, and others are mostly about talking with community members, which builds real communication and organizing skills within a nonpartisan civic group.
Who it's best for: A Houston student interested in government, law, or public policy who is comfortable striking up conversations with strangers.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; placement depends on event schedules and studio capacity rather than selection (estimate)
Dates: Year round, event based
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Age 14 or older
You help a working printmaking and book arts studio run its workshops and public events by setting up materials, organizing tools, and supporting instructors during demonstrations. Over time you grow comfortable around presses and binding equipment, and you spend a lot of time around artists and educators, which gives you a clear sense of how a community arts organization actually runs.
Who it's best for: A Bay Area student drawn to design, printmaking, or publishing who wants studio access and time around working artists.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; intake is limited by available volunteer slots and requires a long term commitment (estimate)
Dates: Year round, including winter
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Age 16 or older
You support cultural events, workshops, and public programs at a major museum, which can include setting up events, assisting visitors, and helping different departments stay coordinated during busy periods. Because the commitment is long term, you gradually take on more responsibility and start to understand how exhibitions, education teams, and public programming work together.
Who it's best for: A Bay Area student considering art history, curation, or museum education who wants to stay with one institution long enough to grow into real responsibility.
Location: New Britain, CT
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; requires an interview, clearance, and a recommendation, so admission is screened but not academically competitive (estimate)
Dates: Year round, including winter
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Age 14 or older
You assist with patient transport, reception duties, and unit coordination, giving hands on support to staff while interacting with patients and their families. The role requires an interview, clearance documentation, and a recommendation beforehand, helping prepare you for a professional environment while you learn how hospital departments manage their workflow.
Who it's best for: A younger Connecticut student, as early as ninth grade, who wants genuine patient facing hospital experience before they are old enough for most programs.
Location: Stamford, CT
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; the narrow 16 to 17 age window and set session structure limit cohort size (estimate)
Dates: Winter session, September to February
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Ages 16 to 17
Depending on your placement in areas like the emergency department, cancer services, or patient experience, you might assist with reception duties, provide comfort services to patients, or support administrative projects. Weekly shifts help build professionalism and communication skills, and volunteers complete a health clearance before starting and may gain access to special events as a perk.
Who it's best for: A Fairfield County junior or senior who wants a shot at emergency department or oncology exposure rather than general administrative work.
Location: 50 or more countries, including Costa Rica, Tanzania, Nepal, Bali, Fiji, and Peru
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies by country; a $20 per day stipend is included
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; enrollment is open to applicants who meet age and consent requirements and can cover program fees (estimate)
Dates: Flexible start dates year round
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Ages 16 to 18; under 18 applicants need parental consent
You choose a placement based on what you care about, whether that is helping in classrooms, supporting conservation work, or assisting with childcare, and you work under local supervision with clear structure. Before you begin, you receive orientation covering culture, safety, and daily responsibilities, and each project is shaped around what the local community actually needs.
Who it's best for: A student with family support for international travel who wants immersion in a new country and has the budget for program fees and flights.
Location: Local Habitat for Humanity sites, national network
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; local affiliates accept nearly all volunteers who register and meet age requirements (estimate)
Dates: Year round; builds continue through winter in many regions
Application deadline: None
Eligibility: Juniors and seniors, ages 16 to 18, with parental consent for construction work
You take part in supervised activities such as painting, gardening, landscaping, and organizing materials, along with helping at Habitat ReStores by sorting donations and assisting with store operations. You may also join fundraising drives and community outreach events, which together build teamwork and organizational skills while contributing directly to affordable housing projects.
Who it's best for: A student who would rather work with their hands outdoors than sit in a classroom, and wants an option available almost anywhere in the country.
Location: Carrollton, TX, near Dallas
Cost/Stipend: $15 program fee for a 4 hour session
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; sessions are capped and fill on a first come basis across several cohorts a year (estimate)
Dates: Winter sessions available
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Ages 13 to 18; ages 13 to 15 must be accompanied by an adult
Through supervised, behind the scenes activities at one of Texas's leading no kill shelters, you help with daily shelter tasks and spend time caring for cats and dogs. The program builds empathy and responsibility while giving you insight into careers in veterinary science, animal rescue, and shelter management.
Who it's best for: A Dallas area student curious about veterinary medicine or animal welfare who wants a low commitment single session rather than a months long placement.
Location: San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; the clinic maintains a waitlist, so demand exceeds available spots (no published rate)
Dates: Year round
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Grades 6 to 12
You help with front and back office tasks such as filing, greeting patients, and supporting staff in the waiting area, which gives you a firsthand look at how a public health clinic delivers care to its community. The year long commitment includes mentorship from medical professionals, making it a good fit if you are exploring a healthcare career.
Who it's best for: A San Francisco student serious enough about medicine to wait for a spot and commit to a full year, and who values mentorship over a large brand name.
Location: Olathe, KS
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No published rate; roles are open to local teens with placement depending on monthly shift availability (estimate)
Dates: Year round, monthly shifts
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Grades 6 to 12
As a Teen Ambassador you attend planning meetings, help coordinate youth programs, and promote library services to your peers, and you can also take on a Gaming Assistant or Tech Assistant role running sessions or workshops for younger kids. Additional opportunities include helping with storytime, craft workshops, and book displays.
Who it's best for: A Kansas City area student who wants leadership experience running programs for younger kids, with a light monthly time commitment.
Frequently asked questions: winter programs for high school students
Can high schoolers do winter programs online?
Yes, and 14 of the programs here run entirely online, so location and travel are not a factor. Options range from graded university courses through Cornell, Dartmouth, and Georgetown to free research internships like OHSU's Partnership for Scientific Inquiry. Most fit around a normal school schedule, and several run on a part-time track of about eight hours a week. You'll still work with a mentor or instructor, just remotely.
When should you apply for winter programs?
Earlier than most students expect, since many winter deadlines fall in October and November for a January start. Jackson Lab's Bar Harbor deadline is July 7 for the following academic year, Fox Chase opens in October and closes in early November, and Cedars-Sinai runs a four-day window from December 1 to 4. Others accept applications on a rolling basis until the cohort fills, including Habitat for Humanity placements and Art of Problem Solving courses. If you're already in December, start with the rolling and open enrollment options.
Are there winter research programs for high school students?
Yes, though fewer than in summer, and most require you to be near the institution. Fox Chase Cancer Center, Jackson Lab, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, and the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute all take high schoolers into working labs during the academic year, and all four are free. Cleveland Clinic has no central application, so you email a Principal Investigator directly. If you want research mentorship that runs during the break and is not tied to your location, the Lumiere Research Scholar Program runs a winter cohort from December to February.
Do you need prior experience to get into a winter program?
Usually not, though some programs set coursework prerequisites rather than experience requirements. Fox Chase requires biology and chemistry. Volunteer placements and open enrollment courses ask for nothing beyond meeting the age minimum. When a program does gatekeep, it is almost always based on completed classes or a GPA floor, not a research track record.
How old do you have to be for a winter program?
Most programs here are open to students ages 14 to 16, with a handful accepting students as young as 13. Hospital and clinical placements set the highest floors, with Jersey City Medical Center and Jackson Lab requiring 16 and Stamford Health limiting its junior program to ages 16 to 17. On the other end, Dartmouth and Georgetown's online programs accept students from age 13, and Operation Kindness takes 13-year-olds with an adult present. Several research placements are restricted to juniors and seniors regardless of age.
How many hours do winter volunteer programs require?
Anywhere between 4-100 hours total. Operation Kindness runs capped four-hour sessions, Jersey City Medical Center documents your service once you pass 50 hours, and Kaiser Permanente's Los Angeles program requires 100 hours over a full year. San Francisco Free Clinic also requires a year-long commitment and maintains a waitlist. Check the commitment before applying, since abandoning a long placement in February helps you less than finishing a short one.
Stephen Turban is the co-founder of Lumiere Education and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics before beginning a PhD at Harvard Business School. A former McKinsey & Company consultant and former researcher, his research has been covered by the Harvard Business Review, The Economist, BBC News, Freakonomics Radio, and the Washington Post. In his articles for Forbes, he writes on what students and professionals can learn from high school research, high school passion projects, critical thinking, and mentorship. At Lumiere, he leads a selective research program where students work one-on-one with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper. Connect with him on LinkedIn.