10 Engineering Summer Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Jun 24
- 8 min read
If you are a high school student interested in engineering, summer camps can be a great way to gain early exposure to the field. An engineering summer camp can help you experience advanced academics, get a first-hand look at the practical applications of engineering concepts, engage in hands-on activities, and build valuable connections.
Unlike regular high school summer programs, which tend to be longer, highly structured, and primarily academic, summer camps are shorter experiences, lasting only a few days or weeks.
Summer camps also place a greater emphasis on practical, project-based learning and are often able to strike the right balance between fun and learning. This brief on-site experience can also help you explore the field of engineering in an engaging, collaborative, and stimulating way. These features often make camps more accessible and manageable than programs.
To help you find the right option, we have curated a list of top engineering summer camps based on factors such as rigor, selectivity, networking opportunities, funding availability, and the credibility of host institutions.
Location: Virtual and in-person camps held in Chicago, London, Seattle, Washington D.C., New York City, San Francisco, Dallas, and St. Louis
Program dates: June 2 – 13; July 7 – 18; July 21 – August 1; August 4 – 15 | Check the complete list of locations and dates here
Application deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Girls, gender non-conforming, and trans students ages 13 – 18Acceptance rate/Cohort
Cost: Free
Kode with Klossy is a charitable organization that offers two-week summer camps designed to introduce high school girls and non-binary students to STEM, coding, and tech. While applying, you can choose one of four main tracks—web development, mobile app development, machine learning, or data science. If you are interested in software engineering, for instance, the web and mobile app development tracks can be suitable options. Here, you will explore key concepts like front-end design, UI/UX improvement, and coding with languages such as JavaScript and HTML, and learn how to come up with webpages and applications. During the camp, you will also get some hands-on experience using tools like Xcode and Apple’s SwiftUI framework.
Location: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL
Program dates: June – August | Exact dates vary as per the program
Application deadline: Varies based on the program, but typically in April/May
Eligibility: Middle and high school students (grades 7 – 12)
Cost: $1,000 (in-person residential camps); $600 (in-person commuter); $550 (in-person day camps)
Grainger Engineering Summer Camps are designed for students interested in exploring STEM fields. Here, you will get the chance to work on real-world projects, engage with top instructors, and experience college life at an engineering school. You will also explore a variety of engineering disciplines through lab tours, demos, lectures, hands-on projects, and interactions with students, faculty, and staff. The camps are designed to offer a broad introduction to engineering fields. For instance, to learn more about mechanical engineering and how machine works, you can choose the Exploring Mechanical Science and Engineering Camp. Alternatively, you can choose CURIE: Catalyzing UR Interest in Chemical Engineering to explore how engineers utilize chemicals to make products like plastic, food, medicines, and clothes on a large scale. You can also choose from various other STEM opportunities here.
Location: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Program dates: July 14 – 18
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students who are rising 10th – 12th graders of ages 14 – 17
Cost: $500 | Scholarships are available.
Colorado State University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering organizes various summer camps for middle and high school students, of which the Designing Your World summer program is a week-long STEM experience for rising 10th to 12th graders. Here, you will engage in hands-on design activities that mirror real-world engineering challenges. First, you will identify a real-world problem and then design, build, test, iterate, and demonstrate a solution—often involving an Arduino-controlled robot. The program offers tours and opportunities to work in CSU’s state-of-the-art mechanical engineering laboratories, including the 3D printing facility, mechatronics lab, and machine shop. This experience can help you develop a scientific perspective, understand the engineering design process, and work on your critical thinking, time management, and problem-solving skills. You can check out the program flyer here for more details.
Location: National laboratories, including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA; Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), CA; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Menlo Park/Palo Alto, CA.
Program dates: Lawrence Berkeley National Lab camp: June 9 – 13; Lawrence Livermore National Lab: June 8 – 14; SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory: June 22 – 28
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: 9th-,10th-, and 11th-grade Northern California students and homeschooled students who are under 18 years old
Cost: None
The Science Accelerating Girls’ Engagement in STEM (SAGE) Camp is a free, one-week residential summer experience designed for high school students. The program aims to foster innovation, broaden gender diversity in STEM, and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. Hosted by scientists and engineers from the Department of Energy National Laboratories, SAGE Camp offers you an opportunity to explore careers in science, tech, engineering, and math (STEM) through hands-on activities, job shadowing, and professional development sessions. Hands-on small projects and interactive sessions are also part of the experience. The program is your chance to directly engage with engineering professionals and gain insights into their daily lives.
Location: Cornell University campus, Ithaca, NY
Program dates: July 13 – 19
Application deadline: February 15
Eligibility: High school sophomores and juniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, strong performance in science and math courses, and an academic history in calculus and physics | Each academy also has a few additional requirements.
Cost: $1,900; Scholarships are available.
The Cornell Engineering High School Outreach Program is a week-long, on-campus residential academy. The program offers two concurrent academies—CURIE and CATALYST, both offering an authentic college experience, hands-on engineering projects, academic lectures, and interactions with faculty, graduate students, and industry partners. In either of the academies, you get to explore various engineering disciplines, develop meaningful connections with peers, and gain insights into potential career paths in engineering. You will also attend field sessions, where you get to learn about faculty members’ ongoing research through interactive, hands-on activities. The program ends with a presentation, where you, along with your group members, share your project findings. You can check out past projects to know what to expect during the program.
Location: College of Engineering at the University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Program dates: Varies depending on the camp you choose; All four-day and residential camps are held between June and July
Application deadline: March 28
Eligibility: High school students
Cost: Residential camps: $750; day camps: $350 | Scholarships are available.
The Arizona Summer Engineering Academy (SEA) at the University of Arizona offers multiple summer opportunities, both day camps and residential camps, to school students interested in exploring engineering fields. You can choose from the options here. At camp, you will engage in hands-on projects and activities led by university professors, graduate students, and undergraduates. For instance, if you choose the Engineering to Restore and Improve Infrastructure day camp, you will work on construction projects to understand how engineers solve real-world transportation, water system, and other infrastructure problems. The program also provides opportunities to connect with current students, faculty, and industry professionals and learn about engineering degrees, research, and career paths. Beyond the classroom, you will explore the University of Arizona campus and its facilities.
7. MIT’s LLRISE
Location: MIT campus in Cambridge, MA, and Lincoln Laboratory in Lexington, MA
Program dates: July 13 – 26
Application deadline: March 12
Eligibility: High school juniors
Cost: Free
The Lincoln Laboratory Radar Introduction for Student Engineers, or LLRISE, is a two-week residential summer program hosted by MIT Lincoln Laboratory. Designed for high school juniors passionate about science, math, and engineering, LLRISE offers an immersive experience in radar technology. Here, you will engage in hands-on projects, including building Doppler and range radar systems, and receive instruction from experienced scientists and engineers. The program is primarily a workshop that can teach you how to build small radar systems and develop problem-solving skills in the process.
Location: Virtual
Program dates: July 7 – 18 (Exclusively for U.S. students) | July 28 – August 8 (for all students)
Application deadline: April 16
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 – 11 who identify as female, non-binary, or gender nonconforming
Cost: Free; U.S.-based students may qualify for a $300 needs-based grant.
Girls Who Code’s free summer programs are designed to help high school students establish a strong foundation in software engineering and technology with support from industry sponsors like Bank of America and Logitech. Whether you are new to coding or already have some experience in the subject, you can apply to the two-week virtual program to learn how to code through project-based learning. Like a summer camp, this program focuses on combining theory with practical learning. During the program, you will attend live classes centered on software design and development, focusing on coding fundamentals, user experience (UX), and building interactive applications. You will also get to attend Partner Events and other virtual events to learn about careers and relevant topics in the tech industry.
The program focuses on technical skill-building, teamwork, and networking—all of which can help you pursue a career in computer science and software engineering.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Columbia University, New York, NY; University of San Diego, San Diego, CA; Rice University, Houston, TX
Program dates: Multiple nine-day sessions between June and August | Check session dates here.
Application deadline: Enrollment closes 30 days before each session begins
Eligibility: High school entering grades 9–12 who are between the ages of 13 and 17
Cost: $4,095 | Scholarships are available
The TryEngineering Summer Institute is a nine-day summer camp that covers core concepts in engineering and technology through hands-on projects and real-world experiences. For this residential program, you can choose a program site from four university campuses. During the program, you will work on progressively challenging design problems, develop practical engineering skills, and collaborate with peers in team-based activities. You will also explore disciplines like mechanical, civil, electrical, and aerospace engineering through instruction and projects. Check out the detailed curriculum here. The program includes site visits to local engineering companies and interactions with practicing engineers and guest speakers about emerging technologies. You will also work with industry tools, with a program-issued laptop provided for all technical work.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starts at $2,990 | Financial aid is offered to applicants.
Application deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The upcoming summer cohort’s applications are due on May 11.
Program dates: The exact dates vary as per the cohort | Summer cohort: June – August; Fall cohort: September – December; Winter cohort: December – February; Spring cohort: March to June.
Eligibility: High school students
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research experience designed for high school students. Here, you will get 1-on-1 mentorship and research opportunities across a broad range of subject areas, including aerospace engineering and other engineering disciplines. The program will offer you a chance to work with a Ph.D. mentor on a 1-on-1 basis to complete an independent research project. So, at the end of the session, you would have developed an independent research paper! As a participant, you will also be able to seek support to continue with your research beyond the program. You can find more details about the program and application here.
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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