14 Summer Programs for High School Students in Chattanooga, Tennessee
- Stephen Turban
- 5 hours ago
- 9 min read
Summer programs can be a great way to explore your interests, build new skills, and learn in a setting outside your regular school environment. These opportunities cover a wide range of fields, including STEM, research, entrepreneurship, outdoor education, visual arts, environmental science, and leadership development. They also allow you to connect with mentors and peers while gaining exposure to subjects and activities that may not be available during the school year.
Chattanooga is home to a variety of summer programs offered through universities, schools, museums, research organizations, community groups, and local institutions. From academic enrichment and technical training to outdoor adventure and creative arts experiences, students can find programs that match different interests, goals, and experience levels.
Why should I do a summer program in high school?
Summer programs allow you to explore a subject or activity in greater depth while developing skills that can support your future academic and personal growth. Depending on the program, you might conduct research, learn technical skills, work on creative projects, explore STEM fields, participate in leadership activities, engage in outdoor learning, or collaborate with other students on group challenges. Whether you're interested in academics, career exploration, the arts, or practical experiences, Chattanooga's summer programs provide opportunities to learn, grow, and discover new interests.
With that, here are 14 summer programs in Chattanooga for high school students!
If you’re looking for online summer research programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
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: Chattanooga State Community College, Chattanooga, TN
Cost: Free (Fully funded by BASF)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective; limited enrollment
Dates: June 8–12
Application Deadline: April 20
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
BASF TECH Academy is a free, one-week summer program hosted by BASF Chattanooga in partnership with Chattanooga State Community College, designed to introduce high school students to technical and manufacturing careers in chemistry and industrial operations. Throughout the week, you explore areas like chemical facility operations, laboratory services, robotics, engineering, welding, and process technology through hands-on workshops and industry tours. The program also includes visits to BASF’s Chattanooga facility and other industrial sites, which gives you direct exposure to how large manufacturing and chemical production environments operate day to day. Sessions are led by industry professionals, so much of the learning comes from seeing how technical roles function in real workplaces rather than through classroom lectures alone.
3. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort size not publicly disclosed
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students looking to get started in AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and have the opportunity to work on real-world projects. Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students have the opportunity to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
Location: Multiple school sites, Chattanooga, TN
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Open enrollment for eligible students; large cohorts
Dates: June 1 – June 26 (4 weeks)
Application Deadline: Registration-based (via school portal)
Eligibility: Primarily rising K–9 students (limited relevance for high schoolers)
Summer Reach is a free summer learning program run by Hamilton County Schools for rising kindergarten through ninth-grade students. The program combines daily reading and math instruction with enrichment activities, physical activity, and hands-on learning over a four-week period in June. Depending on the site and grade level, your day includes structured academic support alongside activities designed to keep students engaged during the summer rather than sitting through traditional summer school classes all day. The program also provides free transportation to zoned Reach sites for families who register before the transportation deadline. Some locations also offer before- and after-care options through the district’s School Aged Child Care program.
Location: Chattanooga Christian School, Chattanooga, TN
Cost: $225–$900, depending on the session type
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: June 8–12
Application Deadline: Registration-based
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12
Chattanooga Christian School Summer Camps offer a broad mix of day camps and specialty programs for students ranging from preschool through high school. The camp structure is designed around exploration, with options tied to STEM, theatre, cooking, LEGO building, sports, robotics, music, and arts-based activities, depending on the week you choose. Many of the specialty camps are hands-on and project-based, so the schedule changes significantly from one camp theme to another rather than following a single curriculum across the summer. The program also includes supportive camps for students who benefit from additional guidance and smaller environments.
Location: Joint initiative between UTC and UTK Tickle College of Engineering
Cost: $100
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Capped at 30 students per site
Dates: June 2–13
Application Deadline: Rolling until capacity is reached
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–11 who need to strengthen foundational math skills
The Summer Algebra Enrichment Program at the University of Tennessee is designed for students who struggled with Algebra I during the school year and want to strengthen those skills before moving deeper into STEM subjects. Over two weeks, you spend mornings in focused Algebra instruction, while afternoons are built around STEM activities, mentoring, and college exposure sessions on campus. The program also includes engineering-related experiences, lab visits, and conversations about STEM careers, so the structure goes beyond remedial math support alone. UT engineering students serve as mentors throughout the camp, guiding activities and answering questions about college life and technical fields. Cohorts are intentionally capped, which keeps the environment smaller and more interactive than large summer camps.
Location: McCallie School, Chattanooga, TN
Cost: Paid (varies by camp; day and boarding options differ in price)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Open enrollment; varies by camp type
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling (until spots fill)
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students (varies by camp)
McCallie Summer Camps offer a wide range of residential and day camps focused on sports, outdoor activities, technology, and leadership experiences on the McCallie School campus in Chattanooga. The programs range from traditional boarding sports camps to specialty options in areas like coding, game design, Minecraft & AI, maker activities, and leadership development. Depending on the camp you choose, your schedule might involve athletics, outdoor excursions, technical projects, or team-based activities throughout the day. The boarding camps especially focus on structured campus life, with students living in dorms while participating in sports competitions, excursions, and evening group activities.
Location: Chattanooga, TN (outdoor locations)
Cost: Paid (financial assistance available)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Small cohorts; selective for certain programs
Dates: Multiple sessions during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students (varies by program, including dedicated high school tracks)
Young Explorers Society runs outdoor adventure and wilderness education programs around Chattanooga, Tennessee, with a strong focus on climbing, canoeing, hiking, and outdoor exploration. Their summer camps are organized by age group and activity type, so you can choose from multisport adventure camps, outdoor rock-climbing camps, and whitewater canoeing programs based on your interests. Most days are spent outside rather than in classrooms, with activities built around local rivers, cliffs, trails, and wilderness areas across the region. The programs also keep groups relatively small, which creates an atmosphere that feels more mentor-driven and community-based than in large commercial camps.
Location: Tennessee Aquarium, Chattanooga, TN
Cost: $240–$400 per session (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective; capped enrollment per session
Dates: Weekly sessions from June 8 to early August
Application Deadline: Registration opens February 2 (early access for members)
Eligibility: Ages 5–16; teen counselor-in-training roles available for older students
Tennessee Aquarium Summer Camps are built around animal science, freshwater ecosystems, and hands-on environmental learning inside one of the largest aquariums in the United States. Depending on the week you choose, the focus might shift toward Tennessee wildlife, global ecosystems, survival adaptations, or prehistoric life. Older students can also apply for specialty camps like Nature Detectives and Nocturnal Wonders, which include fieldwork, overnight experiences inside the Aquarium, and off-campus environmental activities. Most days are spent moving through Aquarium galleries, conducting lab-style activities, and engaging in outdoor investigations rather than sitting in classroom-style instruction.
Location: Chattanooga Zoo, Chattanooga, TN
Cost: $300 for Zoo members / $350 for non‑members (per week)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Open enrollment with limited weekly spots
Dates: Weekly sessions from June 1 to July 31
Application Deadline: Registration‑based; see Zoo website for current‑year openings and closures.
Eligibility: Rising 6th–12th graders
Animal Care 101 gives you behind-the-scenes insight into how zoo animal care actually works, beyond the general visitor experience. Over the week, you work alongside zoo staff while learning about feeding routines, enrichment activities, habitat care, animal training, and daily husbandry practices connected to different species at the Chattanooga Zoo. The program also includes close wildlife encounters, conservation discussions, and conversations about careers in animal care and veterinary science. Alongside the zoo-focused activities, the schedule includes outings and recreation time at Warner Park, which keeps the structure active throughout the week.
Location: Signal Centers, Chattanooga, TN
Cost: $300 for the one‑week session
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Open enrollment with limited seats per age group
Dates: July 7–11 (High School Art Camp week)
Application Deadline: Registration‑based (first‑come, first‑served)
Eligibility: High school students (Hart Gallery Art Camp serves ages roughly 6–18 in age‑specific weeks)
Hart Gallery’s high school art camp offers older teens a more studio-focused environment where they spend the week working on larger, more detailed creative projects. The sessions span different artistic media and include discussions of art history, visual storytelling, and contemporary artistic practice. The structure encourages experimentation and longer-form project development throughout the week. The camp is hosted by Signal Centers and maintains an intentionally supportive, discussion-based environment, especially for students interested in developing their artistic voice more seriously.
Location: Baylor School, Chattanooga, TN
Cost: Varies by session (published annually as part of Baylor Summers)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Overnight program with limited camper slots each session
Dates: Multiple four‑day sessions offered between June 15 and July 19
Application Deadline: Registration‑based; families are encouraged to register early, as overnight sessions fill
Eligibility: Boys and girls ages 13–18
Baylor’s Sporting Clays Overnight Camp is a residential shotgun sports program where you spend several days training on Baylor School’s riverfront campus. The instruction focuses on sporting clays technique, safety, consistency, and shooting fundamentals through supervised practice sessions and coaching. Since the camp runs in an overnight format, you also experience boarding-school-style campus life with shared meals, evening activities, and dorm living throughout the session. The environment is designed for teens specifically interested in competitive shooting sports and outdoor training rather than general recreation camps. Multiple four-day sessions are offered during the summer.
Location: Baylor School, Chattanooga, TN
Cost: Varies (tuition set each year within Baylor’s overnight camp lineup)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Limited overnight cohort of rising 8th–10th graders
Dates: June 19–21
Application Deadline: Registration‑based; early registration is recommended due to limited spots
Eligibility: Rising 8th–10th grade boys and girls
Launchpad to Leadership is a short overnight entrepreneurship program designed for middle and early high school students interested in business and leadership. Across three days on Baylor’s campus, you work in teams to brainstorm ideas, develop solutions, and practice pitching concepts through hands-on business activities. The sessions are built around collaboration and communication, so much of the learning happens through group challenges and startup-style exercises rather than lectures. Since the cohort is intentionally small, the atmosphere stays interactive and discussion-based throughout the experience.
Location: Girls Preparatory School, Chattanooga, TN
Cost: $550
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Limited enrollment for a focused group of experienced dancers
Dates: August 3–7
Application Deadline: Registration‑based; open until the session fills
Eligibility: Experienced dancers entering grades 9–12
The Modern Dance Intensive at Girls Preparatory School is designed for experienced high school dancers who want concentrated training in modern dance, jazz, and choreography. Across five days, you work with professional dance instructors and GPS faculty on technique, composition, performance quality, and movement exploration inside a small cohort environment. The sessions are designed for dancers with a foundation in training, so the focus is on refinement and creative experimentation rather than beginner instruction. Throughout the week, you also develop original choreography and prepare work for a final showcase performance on Friday.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. 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.