10 Aerospace Engineering Summer Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- May 12
- 8 min read
If you're a high school student interested in aviation, space systems, or flight mechanics, an aerospace engineering summer camp can be a practical way to explore the field. These camps introduce core concepts like aerodynamics, propulsion, and satellite technology through hands-on projects and guided activities. You might work on designing drones, building prototypes, or running basic experiments that reflect real-world aerospace problems.
How are camps different from other programs in high school?
Unlike typical programs for high schoolers, camps provide hands-on learning in a highly focused setting.
Unlike semester-long courses or extracurricular clubs, camps are shorter, often week-long programs dedicated to a specific subject area.
They are frequently hosted by independent organizations, universities (though distinct from their full pre-college programs), or specialized STEM outreach groups. This concentrated format allows for a deeper dive into aerospace engineering concepts and activities, all while connecting with peers, professionals, and faculty.
Aerospace engineering summer camps for high school students help develop skills such as design and fabrication, basic coding for simulations or drones, and data analysis from experiments.
Below are 10 aerospace engineering summer camps for high school students.
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: All year round, based on expedition
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students who are 15–18 years old
Location: U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL
Cost: Starts from $1,999
This intensive 6-day, 5-night camp offers high school students a deep dive into aerospace science, technology, engineering, and math through immersive simulations and astronaut-style training. You’ll take part in neutral buoyancy dives, jet aircraft simulators, rocket design and payload recovery, and engineering challenges like building rovers and heat shields.
You’ll also collaborate on a Mars mission simulation, and train on astronaut equipment like the Multi-Axis Trainer and 1/6th Gravity Chair, 5DF Chair, and Manned Maneuvering Unit, along with developing critical skills in problem-solving, teamwork, and systems thinking. U.S. participants will also earn one hour of college credit through the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
Acceptance rate: 25-40%
Dates: July 13 – 19 (Residential) | July 20 – 26 (Virtual) | June 22 – 28 (Residential)
Application Deadline: Closed for the year
Eligibility: 9th to 12th grade students; juniors and seniors are preferred for the in-person camp
Location: Virtual / University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Cost: $1,000 (residential), $150 (virtual). Scholarship available for students subject to meeting criteria.
This one-week-long aerospace engineering summer camp for high school students combines instructor-led and guest-speaker sessions and model workshops for key aerospace engineering topics, including aeronautics, astronautics, rocket propulsion, aircraft flight mechanics, and satellite design.
You’ll gain hands-on experience designing and building model gliders and rockets (or egg drop landers in the virtual version), applying computational tools using Excel and Python, and analyzing aerodynamic principles through wind tunnel experiments. You’ll be under the eye of the Ph.D.-qualified staff and will be given trial-and-error opportunities to craft your projects.
The virtual sessions are conducted on Zoom in real time and project materials are shipped to you (international students will receive a supply list).
Acceptance rate: 25-40%
Dates: July 6 – 12
Application Deadline: Closed for the year
Eligibility: 10th to 12th grade students
Location: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL
Cost: $1,000 (residential), $600 (commuter). Scholarship available for students subject to meeting criteria.
Led by Engineers Aiming for Gender Equity & Representation (EAGER), this aeronautical engineering camp supports high school students—particularly those from traditionally underrepresented backgrounds in STEM—in exploring aerospace engineering through hands-on, team-based projects.
You’ll engage in activities covering flight mechanics, aerodynamics, propulsion systems, aerospace structures, and orbital mechanics. You’ll then apply this knowledge by designing and building a boost glider and a model payload rocket, culminating in a launch at the end of the week. You will also be part of guest lectures from prominent industry members who have represented NASA, the James Webb Telescope, SpaceX, etc. You’ll also have a field trip to a local airport, where you’ll experience an actual flight in a small aircraft operated by the Institute of Aviation!
Acceptance rate: Not provided
Dates: July 14 – 18
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students who are 14–17 years old
Location: Aerospace Center for Excellence, Lakeland, FL
Cost: $500
Hosted at the Aerospace Center for Excellence in Lakeland, Florida, this day camp introduces high school students to core concepts in aerospace engineering through hands-on design and build projects, unlike lecture-based camps. You’ll explore the engineering design process, apply it to aerospace-themed challenges, and use simulations to test and refine your work.
You’ll gain experience in engineering teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking while learning about key aerospace disciplines such as structures, propulsion, and flight mechanics. There are also collaborative engineering simulations and guided projects to help you understand how engineering principles are used to develop real-world aerospace technologies.
Acceptance rate: ~ 6-7%
Dates: Based on session and location
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 9th to 12th graders; must be 13–17 during the program
Location: Various locations
Cost: $4,095 (University of Pennsylvania, University of San Diego, Rice University), $4,295 (Columbia University). Scholarships are available subject to meeting criteria.
The TryEngineering Summer Institute offers an aerospace engineering summer camp for high school students which allows you to dive into the field through hands-on projects and real-world applications. In the Aerospace Engineering Module, you’ll explore core concepts like lift, drag, propulsion, and center of gravity by designing, building, and testing your own gliders in a multi-phase engineering challenge.
The Glider & Wing Design project forms the core of the module, guiding you through the full engineering design process—from conceptual research and planning to construction, flight testing, and performance analysis. Along the way, you’ll learn to apply physics and math to optimize your designs and refine them through data-driven iteration.
You’ll gain exposure to broader fields of engineering, including civil, electrical, and mechanical, and participate in collaborative team projects, guest speaker sessions, and VIP tours and field trips. You will also develop problem solving, critical thinking, communication, teamwork, creativity, and innovation skills in this camp.
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 1 – 6
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students who are 14–18 years old. Students must be at least 14 by May 1
Location: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Prescott, Arizona
Cost: $1,700
This aerospace engineering summer camp for high school students offers a hands-on introduction to the fundamentals of flight and design. You’ll explore core concepts such as aerodynamics, propulsion systems, aircraft design, structural mechanics, and materials—all supported by computer-aided design tools.
You’ll have access to Embry-Riddle’s specialized facilities and resources and work alongside experienced faculty in advanced engineering labs, gaining practical experience in design, testing, and analysis. Throughout the week, you’ll apply your learning in interactive challenges, including the aerodynamic testing of balsa wood gliders and structural testing of 3D-printed models. You will also have the chance to build solid contacts with Embry-Riddle’s faculty members and industry professionals for future career opportunities.
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Alpha: June 8 – 13 | Bravo: June 22 – 27 | Charlie: July 13 – 18 | Delta: July 27 – August 1
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students ages 13–16
Location: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL
Cost: $1,030. Camp-specific scholarships are available.
Aerospace Career Exploration is one of the most comprehensive aerospace engineering summer camps for high school students interested in aviation and aerospace. You’ll gain exposure to a range of careers in the field—including aerospace engineering, aviation safety, meteorology, aviation maintenance, space technology, and flight—in a structured and guided environment.
You’ll have access to Embry-Riddle’s state-of-the-art facilities and get mentored by their highly acclaimed faculty. You will also engage in classroom sessions, hands-on activities, and simulator training to deepen your understanding of aerospace systems and operations. A subprogram of this camp is ‘Simulator Time’ where you will learn about several aspects of flight and air traffic control.
Acceptance rate: Moderately selective
Dates: Day camp: June 9 –12 | Overnight camp: June 15 – 18
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: High school students in the 10th to 12th grades
Location: Day camp: University of Dayton or a similar location in the Greater Dayton area | Overnight camp: University of Dayton or a similar institution of higher education
Cost: $775 (day camp), $1,145 (overnight camp). Scholarships are available.
Air Camp offers high school students an immersive experience in aviation and aerospace, blending hands-on STEM activities with real-world aeronautics applications. You’ll explore the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics of aeronautics at aviation sites around Dayton, Ohio, the birthplace of the heavier-than-air flight invented by the Wright brothers.
You’ll engage for 12-15 hours per day in a range of modules developed in collaboration with regional universities and colleges, covering topics like aeronautical navigation and engineering, UAS materials testing, CAD system utilization, airport operations, digital thread engineering, aeronautical chart interpretation, engineering design, etc. A key highlight is the opportunity to pilot a single-engine aircraft alongside an FAA-certified instructor, providing a firsthand understanding of flight mechanics and control systems.
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 15 – 20 | June 22 – 27
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students in the 11th and 12th grades
Location: University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND
Cost: $2,000
The annual International Aerospace Camp offers high school students a comprehensive introduction to aerospace careers through hands-on flight training, simulator sessions, and classroom instruction. The camp is held at the University of North Dakota, a globally respected and one of the most technically advanced centers in the world.
You’ll experience advanced simulation technologies, including flight training devices, air traffic control systems, and a 360-degree tower simulator. You’ll also explore the engineering behind human flight by analyzing aircraft structures, instrumentation, and flight navigation systems and apply these concepts through practical sessions such as aircraft preflight inspections, flight planning, and instrument-guided missions.
In addition, you’ll learn about human factors in aerospace engineering, including flight physiology and spatial disorientation, using altitude chambers and other simulation tools. The camp also introduces the fundamentals of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), which you’ll experience through drone operation and control dynamics in an obstacle course challenge.
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Rising 9th through 12th grades
Location: The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Cost: $750 (Need-based scholarships are available)
This residential engineering summer camp for high school students explores aerospace engineering alongside other key engineering disciplines in a hands-on, college-like setting. You’ll get to engage with collaborative real-world projects and the applications of engineering disciplines while having access to experienced mentors and state-of-the-art facilities.
Along with aerospace, you’ll be introduced to several disciplines, including civil, mechanical, electrical, mining, and environmental engineering, and gain insight into how different branches of engineering connect. The multidisciplinary nature of this camp also helps to develop skills such as teamwork, critical thinking, and creativity. Students also gain valuable insight into the various engineering programs and potential career paths via interactions with mentors and faculty.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research in aviation, 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.
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