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11 Summer Programs for High School Students in Montana

Writer's picture: Stephen TurbanStephen Turban

If you’re a high school student in Montana who’s interested in exploring education beyond the classroom, you should consider doing a summer program. Summer programs are an opportunity for you to explore an area of interest or discover a new one. They can help you get a glimpse into college life and potentially even earn credit. If you are interested in journalism, music, paleontology, or anything in between, this article lists some programs you can look into. 


Participating in summer programs can even enhance your college applications, showcasing your commitment to your academic interests and your ability to handle advanced coursework. As college admissions become more competitive, participating in a selective summer program is one way to stand out in the admissions process. 


Here are 11 summer programs for high school students in Montana to consider. 


Location: Virtual 

Cost: Individual Research Program ($2,990), Premium Research & Publication Program ($5,900), the Research Fellowship ($8,900), Professor Premium Publication Program ($8,900). Financial aid available

Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.

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 that you can explore as a high schooler. 


The program pairs high school students with PhD 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.


Program Dates: June 10 – 15

Location: University of Montana, Missoula, MT

Admission Deadline: April 30

Cost: Free 

Eligibility: High school students

 

The University of Montana's Safe Empowered Accelerated (SEA) Change summer camp is a week-long program focused on gender equality and empowerment. You’ll have the chance to learn about gender equity and share your own experiences with the cohort. This fully funded program provides students with free on-campus housing, meals, and amenities while they learn how to empower women to make a difference in the world.


Location: This program is 100% virtual, with live, interactive workshops 

Cost: The total cost to attend the 3-week program is $2,900. There is need-based financial aid

Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort. November 24 for the upcoming Winter cohort. You can access the application link here!

Program Dates: Multiple, year-round sessions. December 21 – January 5 for the Winter cohort 

Eligibility: The program is currently open to all high school students


The Young Founder’s Lab is a real-world start-up boot camp founded and run by Harvard entrepreneurs. In this program, you will work towards building a revenue-generating start-up that addresses a real-world problem. You will also have the opportunity to be mentored by established entrepreneurs and professionals from Google, Microsoft, and X.


Apart from building the start-up itself, you will also participate in interactive classes on business fundamentals and business ideations, workshops and skill-building sessions, case studies, panel discussions, and more. The program is an excellent opportunity to delve into the world of business in high school and have a space to explore multiple theoretical as well as practical frameworks that lead to a successful business. You can check out the brochure for the program here.


Dates: June 24 – 28

Location: University of Montana, Missoula, MT 

Admission Deadline: May 1

Cost: Free

Eligibility: Students enrolled in Missoula-area high schools


If you are a student from Missoula who is fond of history, this one-week-long camp offered by the University of Montana could be a great choice for you. In the past, students took a course called ‘U.S. Foreign History Relations with Latin America: Sources and Perspectives,' which charted America’s relationship with various Latin American countries over the 19th and 20th centuries. The course was taught by two UM professors and a graduate teaching assistant.  


This program enhances your knowledge through lectures, film viewings, and group discussions. You will also complete a group research project on a topic related to the year’s course material. You’ll analyze a range of historical sources, such as newspaper articles, letters, photographs, and oral accounts to build your argument. The program ends with a research presentation, where each group gets to showcase their findings. 


Dates: TBA

Location: Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

Application Deadline: No information available

Cost: Free

Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12 from rural Montana communities

 

This free program offered by Montana State University allows ninth through twelfth graders to explore journalism in theory and practice. Over the course of one week, you’ll learn about the issues contemporary journalists face and refine your reporting skills by covering local stories in Bozeman. Your engagement with the program will continue when you reach home, as you’ll write a journalistic piece about your hometown. 


Dates: July 13 – 26

Location: University of Montana, Missoula, MT

Application Deadline: April 15

Cost: $3,000. Limited $500 scholarships are available

Eligibility: Current high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors, including international students

 

The Summer Exploration program offered by the University of Montana gives sophomores, juniors, and seniors the chance to live on the UM campus for 2 weeks and experience college life. You’ll pick one class from the summer catalog. For past programs, students could choose from Montana Habitats, CSI Missoula, Creating Your Own Narrative, and Environmental Ethics: Climate Change and Sense of Place. These courses carry two college credits from the University of Montana. 


Dates: June 11 – 20

Location: University of Montana, Missoula, MT; Flathead Lake Biological Station, Polson, MT; UM’s Lubrecht Forest Field Site, Greenough, MT

Application Deadline: Applications will open in December

Cost: TBD

Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors


The Schwanke Honors Institute offers students an opportunity to immerse themselves in the campus life and academic environment of the University of Montana's Honors College. For two weeks, you will reside on the UM campus, attending classes, exploring the Missoula community, and experiencing what it's like to be a university student. The program features two environmentally-themed courses, allowing you to delve into important sustainability issues. Upon successful completion of the program, you will earn two college credits.


The courses are ‘Creative Writing in the Environment’ and ‘Wildlife Wonders: Exploring Ecology and Conservation in Montana.’ In the creative writing course, you’ll conduct field research in the natural settings the program visits. You’ll attend readings and Q&A sessions with Missoula writers and write a portfolio of poetry, creative nonfiction, or short fiction. The ecology course uses the scientific method, introducing you to lab exercises and report writing. You will measure how humans have impacted local wildlife in Montana. 


Dates: TBA. Three sessions were offered in the past:

  • Piano: June 16 – 22

  • Band, Strings, Jazz, World Music, Song Writing: June 23 – 28

  • Jazz: July 21 – 26

Location: University of Montana, Missoula, MT

Application Deadline: July 10

Cost: $395 to $1,100, depending on instrument and length of program

Eligibility: Students entering 7th grade through recent high school graduates

 

University of Montana’s summer music camps offer a diverse range of musical opportunities for students, including in piano, band, strings, jazz, world music, and songwriting. Established in 1952, this program provides a platform for young musicians to explore their talents, collaborate with peers, and learn from experienced professionals. You will have the chance to play in an ensemble, receive individual guidance from UM's faculty, and participate in enriching workshops and masterclasses. To apply, you have to submit an audition tape. See audition requirements here. 


Dates: July 8 – 12

Location: Montana State University, Bozeman, MT

Application Deadline: TBA

Cost: $300 to $850, depending on commuter/resident status and registration timing

Eligibility: Rising 9-12 grade students

 

This writing workshop offered by Montana State University’s English department offers a valuable opportunity for teenagers in Montana. The program helps you develop your writing skills in a supportive environment. You’ll have the chance to explore various different genres, including through writing games and exercises. The feedback you’ll receive on your writing will help you improve your work. The program balances recreation with writing practice through activities and games.


Dates: August 11 – 16

Location: Carter County Museum, Ekalaka, MT

Application Deadline: Rolling

Cost: $1,400

Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12

 

This six-day camp offers Montana students a unique opportunity to delve into archaeology and paleontology. You will engage in the excavation and retrieval of fossils, contributing to the collection of the Carter County Museum. You will also identify microsites, harvest plant fossils, and collect amber. Beyond the hands-on experience of uncovering relics, you will also receive exclusive tours of the museum, gaining insights into the preservation and display of historical artifacts.

 

Dates: July 14 – 18

Location: Montana Learning Center, Helena, MT

Application Deadline: Rolling

Cost: $850 per camper, includes housing, meals, snacks, supplies and all activities

Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12


High school students in Montana who are interested in astronomy can study the night sky from the largest observatory in Montana. During nightly ‘star parties,’ you’ll get the chance to observe planets, stars, galaxies, and nebulae. You will learn to identify Jupiter and Saturn, and to identify the different phases of the moon. In addition to these activities, you will also get to participate in scavenger hunts, play games, and practice drawing planets. 


Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. 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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