10 Biology Summer Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Summer camps are a great way for motivated high schoolers curious about a subject to gain exposure to a future in that field. There are summer camps available across subjects that offer an introduction to college-level academics, practical skills, and insights from experts in the field. These programs allow you to work on projects suitable for beginners and build valuable connections, often at a more affordable cost than pre-college university programs.
How are camps different from other programs in high school?
Unlike traditional high school science classes or pre-college programs offered by universities, biology summer camps are shorter and more focused. They are typically hosted by independent organizations or research institutions and emphasize hands-on learning and mentorship from experts. This makes them a great way to explore specific areas of biology without committing to a full academic program.
Why explore biology summer camps?
High school is an ideal time to explore your interests, and these camps provide a platform to deepen your knowledge and gain practical experience. Whether you want to understand molecular biology and genetics or environmental science, you will likely find a fit in one of these programs. We've curated these 10 camps to cover a range of topics in biology and different levels of exclusivity and time commitment.
Here are 10 great biology summer camps for high school students!
The Summer Science Program allows you to conduct college-level research in astrophysics, biochemistry, genomics, or synthetic chemistry. You will work in 3-person teams to tackle real-world scientific problems, such as determining the orbit of a near-Earth asteroid or analyzing enzyme kinetics. SSP has been operating for over 60 years and has a robust alumni network of nearly 4,000 students. Throughout the program, you will spend 60 hours a week working on your own research project under the mentorship of STEM graduates. There are also site visits and opportunities to interact with experts through guest lectures. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.Â
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 24-36 students per campus, with around 180 students across all campuses.​
Location: Multiple campuses, including the University of Colorado Boulder, New Mexico State University, Purdue University, Indiana University Bloomington, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.​
Dates: Six-week sessions running from mid-June to the end of July.​
Application Deadline:Â End of February.
Eligibility: High school juniors and exceptional sophomores with strong academic records in science and mathematics.​
PGSS is a fully funded five-week residential program at Carnegie Mellon University that aims to enhance the understanding and appreciation of science among high school students. The curriculum includes core courses in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science, complemented by electives, laboratory work, and team research projects. As PGSS is a non-profit that intends to provide high schoolers from under-represented communities the opportunity to pursue careers in STEM, it selects at least one qualified student from each IU based on merit.
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Approximately 72 students are selected from around 500 applicants.
Location:Â Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Cost: Free
Dates: Five weeks of 12-hour class sessions held from June 22 to July 26.​
Application Deadline: February 1.​
Eligibility: Pennsylvania residents who are high school juniors at the time of application.​
SIMR provides high schoolers with an 8-week opportunity to conduct biomedical research under the guidance of Stanford University faculty. You can engage in a research project in various disciplines, including immunology, neurobiology, and bioengineering. It’s a rare opportunity to work with Stanford faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers on a cutting-edge medical research project. You will be paired one-to-one with a faculty mentor who will help you develop skills in scientific inquiry and communication. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here. Â
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 50-60 students selected from a highly competitive pool.​
Location: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California.​
Cost: $40 application fee
Dates: Eight-week sessions running from June 9 to July 31.​
Application Deadline: February 22.​
Eligibility:Â High school juniors and seniors, including international students
The University of Illinois Springfield offers short academic summer camps in a variety of subjects. The "Exploring the Emiquon Preserve" camp lets you engage in outdoor experiments and guided hikes, providing field experience in environmental biology. It’s a good introduction to how local ecosystems work, the impact of conservation efforts, and ecological research methods. The work involves obtaining samples from the ecosystem and analyzing them via a microscope, letting you learn by experimentation.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by program.​
Location: University of Illinois Springfield, Springfield, Illinois.​
Cost: $149Â
Dates: Sessions typically run in June and July; specific dates vary by program.​
Application Deadline: Varies by program.​
Eligibility:Â High school students; specific requirements may vary by program.
RSI is a six-week summer program combining scientific theory coursework with science and technology research. You will conduct original research under the mentorship of scientists at MIT, participating in the research cycle from start to finish. You will read current literature, formulate and execute your research plan with your mentor’s help, and deliver a conference-style report on your results. RSI is an excellent opportunity to learn foundational theory and conduct advanced research in a guided environment.​ To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.Â
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly exclusive, only 100 students selected annually.​
Location:Â Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Cost: NoneÂ
Dates: Six-week sessions, typically from late June to early August.​
Application Deadline: Usually in early January.​
Eligibility: High school juniors with exceptional academic records in science and mathematics.​
The Rosetta Institute of Biomedical Research offers multiple workshops for students interested in biomedical research and molecular biology, hosted at university partners nationwide. These workshops are led by PhD level instructors and cover topics like molecular neuroscience, molecular biology of cancer, the science of aging, immunology, cancer immunotherapy techniques, and bioinformatics. The camps include guest lectures from scientists and exposure to breakthroughs in experimental design, drug development, and medicine personalization. This is a great way to build a foundation in scientific research and critical thinking.
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Selective, small cohorts
Location: UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, Columbia University, University College London
Cost: Varies according to the camp. Check the website for more information.Â
Dates: Multiple sessions from June to August
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: High school studentsÂ
This fully-funded research program allows you to work on independent projects in genetics and genomics under the guidance of scientists. Similar to other programs on this list, you will complete your own research project by developing your research plan, analyzing data, and reporting results in an end-of-program presentation. Many alumni of this program are added as contributors to research papers published by the mentors a few years later. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here.Â
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive, limited to a total of 40 high school and undergraduate students
Location: The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine and The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in Farmington, Connecticut.
Cost/Stipend: Free; a $6,500 stipend is provided
Dates: May 31 to August 8
Application Deadline: January 27
Eligibility: High school seniors
Stanford University offers multiple online two-week programs that explore bioscience, genetics, biotechnology, and biomedical engineering. The classes are held live online and in small batch sizes, allowing you to interact with both the instructor and your peers. The camps teach advanced theory that you would not learn in high school. They provide real-time discourse and project work to ensure you can apply what you learn. To learn more about Stanford’s programs for high school students, check out this blog.Â
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive, small class sizes
Location:Â Virtually offered by Stanford University, California
Cost: $3,050 (approx.)
Dates: Multiple sessions from June to July
Application Deadline:Â February
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9-12)
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory offers week-long camps to introduce high schoolers to different niches in biological sciences and DNA analysis. The camps are offered in-person in the spring and summer, and you can purchase recorded video camps for many topics. Topics for high schoolers include DNA barcoding, forensic analysis, genome sequencing, biocoding, and more. Each camp focuses on teaching laboratory techniques and advanced concepts that are grade levels ahead of your high school class.
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Selective, small cohorts
Location: DNA Learning Centers in Long Island, NY, Brooklyn, NY, Wayne, NJ, and Sleepy Hollow, NY
Cost: Varies according to camp
Dates: Summer and Spring sessions available with varied dates
Application Deadline: Varies by location and by course
Eligibility: High school students with prior biology coursework; exact requirements depend on the course selected
This 7-week summer research program is the oldest running program of its kind in the U.S., established in 1958. It is an enrichment program in multiple areas of science, engineering, and mathematics. Under the mentorship of MSU faculty, you will work on a dedicated research project on the MSU campus in Lansing. Your work will involve lab experiments as well as advanced research and data analysis techniques. The program includes workshops on scientific writing and ethics to ensure a holistic learning experience. To learn more about this program, check out our complete guide here. Â
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Location: East Lansing, Michigan
Cost:Â $4,000
Dates: June 16 to August 3
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, 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!
Image Source - Carnegie Mellon University Logo
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.