15 Healthcare Camps for High School Students

If you’re a high school student planning to explore healthcare, joining a summer camp can be a practical starting point. A healthcare camp shows you what studying and working in this field looks like in real settings. You learn basic skills, meet professionals, and get early exposure to different healthcare environments without committing to a long or expensive program.

What is the difference between camps and programs in healthcare for high school students?

Camps and longer programs serve different purposes. Programs often run for several months and focus on structured academic study. Camps, on the other hand, last a few days or weeks and emphasize active participation. You might take part in workshops, lab activities, or hospital visits, which help you learn by doing rather than sitting through long classroom sessions. Their shorter format makes them easier to fit alongside your school schedule.

Why should I do a healthcare camp in high school?

Taking part in a healthcare camp also adds strong value to your resume. It shows that you’ve already applied your knowledge in a real setting, which helps you stand out in college or job applications.

With that, here’s a list of 15 healthcare camps for high school students!

15 Healthcare Camps for High School Students

1. Quinnipiac University Healthcare Career Exploration Academy

Location: Hamden, Connecticut

Cost/Stipend: $3,700 (overnight) or $2,700 (commuter)

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Not specified

Dates: July 6–17

Application Deadline: Rolling, with $100 discount for full payment by January 15

Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12 or recent graduates

Quinnipiac University Healthcare Career Exploration Academy is a two-week program that introduces you to ten different healthcare fields through hands-on lessons. You practice skills such as suturing, gait training, orthotics, and basic lab techniques. You also earn certifications in CPR, First Aid, Stop the Bleed, and Teen Mental Health First Aid, and can receive up to two Quinnipiac-transferable college credits. The program includes a visit to the Hartford Hospital simulation center, giving you exposure to clinical environments. Residential students join evening activities and weekend trips, while all participants gain an early understanding of how different health professions work together.

2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program: Medical Track 

Location: Virtual, hosted by Lumiere Education

Cost: Varies; Need-based financial aid offered 

Acceptance Rate: Highly selective

Dates: 12-week program; Multiple cohorts in a year 

Application Deadline: Varies by cohort

Eligibility: High school students with a GPA of 3.3+

The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a research-focused opportunity designed for high school students who want to explore academic topics in depth. You work 1-on-1 with a Ph.D. mentor on an independent project in a subject area you choose. Over the course of twelve weeks, you learn how to form a research question, gather information, and develop your ideas into a full research paper. You can select from fields such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and several others. 

3. King’s College Health Sciences Summer Camp

Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Cost/Stipend: $695 (overnight), $495 (commuter)

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Not specified

Dates: July 13–17 (overnight); July 14–17(commuter)

Application Deadline: May 16, 2025

Eligibility: High school students

King’s College Health Sciences Summer Camp gives you hands-on exposure to a range of health science careers, including physician assistant studies, occupational therapy, athletic training, nursing, and more. You explore core topics such as biology, neurology, and healthcare ethics through short lectures and interactive activities like patient assessments, suturing, and injection practice. You also train with medical simulators and may choose to take part in a cadaver dissection lab. Small group sizes provide direct interaction with instructors who are practicing professionals.

4. Immerse Education’s Career Insights Pathway

Location: London, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo

Cost: Varies according to program. Financial aid available

Application Deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions

Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer

Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18 

The Career Insights Program offers high school students an introduction to professional environments across multiple industries.. As a participant, you can expect to engage in hands-on projects with established companies and connect with industry experts through interactive workshops. You'll also visit operational sites, including offices, factories, and headquarters. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work to industry professionals. You can explore career paths in subjects such as medicine, engineering, law, business, journalism, fashion, and more. The program also includes weekly 1:1 career coaching sessions and sessions where you will receive personalized feedback. You can find more details about the application here!

5. University of Portland High School Summer Nurse Camp

Location: Portland, Oregon

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Not specified

Dates: Typically held as a 4-day summer day camp

Application Deadline: Typically announced in early spring

Eligibility: Current high school students (must be 16+ by the first day of camp; graduating seniors not eligible)

University of Portland High School Summer Nurse Camp is a four-day program that introduces you to the basics of nursing through academic, clinical, and service-focused activities. You learn how to measure vital signs, practice infection control, and get guidance on nursing school admissions from faculty, alumni, and current students. The camp includes hands-on sessions in the Learning Resource Center and a tour of the UP campus. There is no residential option, so participants must live locally.

6. Hudson Mohawk AHEC’s MASH Camp

Location: Multiple sites in New York (including Albany, Glens Falls, Johnstown, and Ticonderoga)

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Not specified

Dates: Varies by the site 

Application Deadline: Typically in Spring 

Eligibility: Students entering grades 8–12 in the 10-county HM AHEC region

MASH Camp is a one-day immersive experience where students engage directly with healthcare professionals and educators across various clinical settings. You will take part in hands-on simulations and demonstrations that introduce essential healthcare practices and procedures. Each session includes interactive lessons on career pathways, required training, and real-world job responsibilities in the health sector. You will also receive guidance on academic preparation for college-level health programs. 

7. Harvard Medical School MEDscienceClinical

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Cost/Stipend: $2,800 (5-day), $2,250 (4-day)

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Not specified

Dates: June–August

Application Deadline: Opens January 1

Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12

Harvard Medical School MEDscience Clinical is a program that places you in simulated emergency room scenarios using high-fidelity mannequins and real clinical protocols inside Harvard Medical School’s simulation labs. You rotate through different roles while evaluating and treating patients, with guidance from physicians, EMTs, nurses, and medical students. Each day focuses on teamwork, clinical decision-making, and applying critical thinking under pressure. You also receive structured training in core skills such as diagnostics, taking vital signs, and triage.

8. Harvard Medical School MEDscienceDental

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

Cost/Stipend: $2,800

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Not specified

Dates: July 21–25

Application Deadline: Opens January 1

Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 who have not completed other MEDscience programs

Harvard Medical School MEDscience Dental is a five-day program that introduces you to how medicine and dentistry connect through immersive clinical simulations. You train in Harvard’s medical simulation lab, where you diagnose and treat simulated patients with a focus on oral health and its links to overall health. You learn core dental procedures, work with tools used in dental practice, and receive guidance from dentists and dental students. The curriculum highlights diagnostic reasoning, hands-on clinical skills, and the academic path toward dental education.

9. Health Career Exploration Camp

Location: Fremont, Nebraska

Cost/Stipend: $45

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: 30 students

Dates: June 24–25

Application Deadline: First-come, first-served 

Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12

Health Career Exploration Camp is a two-day program that introduces you to a wide range of healthcare professions through hands-on simulations and direct interaction with medical staff. You rotate through areas such as radiology, pharmacy, nursing, and physical therapy, taking part in structured activities that show you the basic skills used in each field. The camp includes facility tours and lessons that help you understand the tools, work environments, and responsibilities involved in different healthcare roles. You also join Q&A sessions on scholarships, shadowing, volunteering, and academic pathways.

10. CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Cost/Stipend: Free

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: 27 students per session (highly selective)

Dates: June 23–27 and July 21–25

Application Deadline: Opens December 15

Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors (must be 16+ by the first day)

CDC Museum Disease Detective Camp is a five-day program that introduces you to public health and epidemiology through simulations, investigations, and case studies. You analyze data, trace outbreaks, take part in mock press conferences, and learn about public health law, chronic disease surveillance, and global health concerns. Sessions are led by CDC professionals, and you hear directly from scientists and field experts about different public health careers. The camp focuses on collaborative problem-solving and evidence-based decision-making in a fast-paced setting. 

11. Bryan College of Health Sciences Health Career Camp

Location: Lincoln, Nebraska

Cost/Stipend: $100 (includes lunch; financial assistance available)

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Not specified

Dates: June 9–10

Application Deadline: Rolling until full

Eligibility: Students entering grades 10–12

Bryan College of Health Sciences Health Career Camp is a two-day program that introduces you to a range of healthcare professions through hands-on simulations and guided activities. You practice clinical skills such as suturing, work with laparoscopic surgery trainers, and learn about emergency response tools, including the StarCare medical helicopter. The sessions are led by healthcare professionals who explain their roles and career paths. The camp focuses on the skills, technologies, and teamwork involved in modern healthcare, giving you a clear look at possible future careers in medicine and allied health.

12. University of Missouri Health Sciences Summer Camp

Location: Columbia, Missouri

Cost/Stipend: $550 (overnight), $400 (commuter)

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Not specified

Dates: July 21–25

Application Deadline: July 1

Eligibility: High school students interested in health care careers

University of Missouri Health Sciences Summer Camp is a week-long program that introduces you to a wide range of healthcare careers through case-based learning, labs, and simulation activities. You explore clinical and non-clinical paths such as physical therapy, radiography, health administration, and public health. Sessions include outbreak tracing, hospital design exercises, diagnostic challenges, and hands-on activities like blood typing. Faculty and healthcare professionals lead workshops and facility tours that show you how different parts of the health system operate.

13. NC State University VetCAMP

Location: Raleigh, North Carolina

Cost/Stipend: $750 (day); $1,000 (overnight)

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: 40 students per week

Dates: July 6–10 and July 13–17

Application Deadline: April 6

Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors, and incoming college freshmen (age 15+ by June 1)

NC State University VetCAMP is a five-day program that introduces you to veterinary medicine through hands-on training and academic activities. You take part in dissections, small-animal and clinical skills labs, and supervised work with livestock such as pigs, sheep, and horses. You also tour NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine and learn about pre-vet academic pathways and campus resources. Faculty and veterinary professionals guide you through skills related to surgery, animal care, and basic diagnostics.

14. Wake Forest University Sports Medicine Institute

Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Cost/Stipend: $3,500

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Not specified

Dates: June 21–26 and July 12–17

Application Deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12

Wake Forest University Sports Medicine Institute is a week-long program that gives you hands-on exposure to sports medicine through guided labs, surgical simulations, and instruction from specialists. You study injury mechanics, orthopedic procedures, concussion management, and rehabilitation while working with orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, and athletic trainers. Activities include cadaver dissections, arthroscopy practice, casting and splinting, and visits to Wake Forest’s biomechanics labs. Academic sessions show how science, anatomy, and performance analysis come together in the care of athletes.

15. Saint Louis University’s Doisy College of Health Sciences Summer Health Care Exploration Camp

Location: St. Louis, Missouri

Cost/Stipend: Free (full-tuition scholarship for selected students)

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Not specified

Dates: June 8–13

Application Deadline: March 31

Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA; preference for students from underrepresented backgrounds

Saint Louis University’s Doisy College of Health Sciences Summer Health Care Exploration Camp is a week-long program that introduces you to a range of allied health careers through academic workshops and hands-on lab activities. You explore fields such as physical therapy, medical imaging, speech-language pathology, physician assistant studies, and health informatics. Faculty and practitioners lead sessions that build basic knowledge in clinical and diagnostic sciences. The curriculum focuses on career exploration, developing practical skills, and preparing you for future college pathways in healthcare.

Lydia is an alumna of Harvard University and studied Molecular and Cellular Biology & Economics. In high school, she was the captain of her high school’s Academic Decathlon team and attended the Governor's School of Engineering and Technology. She is working as a life sciences consultant after graduation. 

Image Source - Harvard University logo