11 Political Science Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 4 hours ago
- 7 min read
For high school students interested in government, policy, or international affairs, political science camps offer a great way to explore the field. These programs help you understand how political systems function, how policy decisions are made, and how leadership plays out at local, national, and global levels.
Unlike semester-long academic programs, political science camps are typically short and intensive, combining lectures with simulations, debates, mock trials, or visits to government institutions. You’ll collaborate with peers, learn from professors and policymakers, and build skills in public speaking, negotiation, and critical thinking. These experiences help you explore your academic interests and can give you a head start on careers in law, public service, advocacy, or diplomacy.
In this blog, we’ve rounded up 11 political science camps for high school students.
11 Political Science Camps for High School Students
Location: Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: Fully funded | $10,000 college scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Two students per state + D.C. and DoDEA; extremely competitive
Dates: March 7 – March 14
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors or seniors in leadership positions
The USSYP is one of the nation’s most competitive political science camps for high school students. It brings together the best young leaders from across the country for a week-long deep dive into government, policy, and civic leadership. During “Washington Week,” you’ll meet senators, Supreme Court justices, cabinet members, and even the President. The experience gives you an unparalleled understanding of how the federal government functions. On top of that, you’ll receive a $10,000 scholarship for your undergraduate studies.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small mentorship groups.
Dates: Multiple cohorts (Summer: June – August; Fall: September – December; Winter: December – February; Spring: March – June)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic performance (GPA 3.3+)
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 Ph.D. 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.
3. CBA Law Camp
Location: University of Connecticut School of Law, Hartford, CT + a few sessions at the court in Hartford, CT
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots available
Dates: July 7 – July 11
Application Deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Connecticut high school students.
This week-long camp introduces you to the legal profession through court visits, mock trials, and advocacy workshops led by judges and practicing attorneys. You’ll gain first-hand exposure to courtroom procedures, legal reasoning, and the roles of lawyers in public service. The program emphasizes building competence in public speaking, persuasive argumentation, and teamwork, which can be fundamental to law, politics, and civic leadership. For aspiring law students or those keen to explore how justice systems operate, this camp offers a structured, applied experience and helps you test your interest early.
Location: Oxford, Cambridge, Singapore, Sydney, Toronto, and Boston
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective, small classes of 4–10 students
Dates: 2 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions for multiple cohorts
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18 currently enrolled in school
The Academic Insights Program provides school students with an opportunity to take undergraduate-level classes at universities around the world. Here, you will work with academics from universities like Oxford, Cambridge, and Harvard in classes of 4–10 students. You will attend university-style lectures and 1:1 weekly sessions with your tutor. The program offers practical experiences such as dissections in medicine, robotic arm building in engineering, or moot courts for law. You can choose from over 20 subjects, including architecture, artificial intelligence, business management, computer science, economics, medicine, philosophy, and more. By the end of the program, you will complete a personal project and receive written feedback and a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.
Location: University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), El Paso, TX
Cost/Stipend: None; free with lunch and snacks provided.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohort.
Dates: June 9 – June 20 (tentative, based on previous years)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
This two-week law camp allows students to engage in mock trials, meet attorneys and judges, and visit courts or local legal organizations to see how law is practiced. You’ll participate in workshops on legal reasoning, persuasive speaking, and case analysis, gaining a clearer concept of pre-law and political science paths. Because it’s free and supports students from underrepresented backgrounds, it offers accessible exposure to law for those who might otherwise face barriers. The camp’s exploration of legal systems, advocacy, and public-sector careers provides a strong overlap with political-science topics such as governance, civic structures, and public policy.
Location: James E. Rogers College of Law, Tucson, AZ
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students
Dates: May 27 – May 29
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11
The UA Law Camp provides a compact, intense introduction to law and justice. Over three days, you’ll experience legal advocacy firsthand by attending workshops with law professors and practicing attorneys, observing a live court session, and participating in a mock trial. With only 30 seats and no cost to accepted students, the program is competitive and provides strong résumé value for those interested in pre-law or political science tracks. Through simulations and professional interaction, you’ll build public-speaking, legal-analysis, and reasoning skills while deciding whether a legal career fits your interests.
Location: University of California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: ~$2,456; scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohort sizes.
Dates: June 23 – July 11
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12 who are at least 15 years old
At UCLA’s Political Science Summer Institute, you’ll dive into the foundations of American politics and explore why people organize collectively to bring change. Through discussions, simulations, and guest lectures, you’ll study how the U.S. political system was created and how it continues to adapt. You’ll analyze political events, elections, and historical case studies to understand the logic of political decisions. You’ll also participate in a career panel with professionals in politics and public service, gaining clarity on the diverse paths available after studying political science. For students who want a university-level experience, this is a strong political science camp for high school students in the country. You’ll also earn five units of college credit, giving you a real academic edge.
Location: Virtual + optional in-person conference in Washington, D.C.
Cost: $500; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – July 24
Application Deadline: Applications open in March
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors; GPA 3.0+
This hybrid leadership camp emphasizes the connection between civic leadership, entrepreneurship, and ethics in public service. You’ll take part in expert-led seminars, leadership challenges, and entrepreneurial simulations that help you think critically about public policy. Graduates earn a certification from the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative, enhancing their college and career profile. You’ll also get the chance to attend the ILF Leadership & Business Conference in Washington, D.C., where you can meet influential community leaders and policymakers.
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost/Stipend: $7,000 + small application fee; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; international student mix
Dates: Session I: June 21 – July 3 | Session II: July 5 – July 17 | Session III: July 19 – July 31
Application Deadline: Early: October 15 | Regular: January 7
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors, ages 16–18
In this two-week residential program at Yale, you’ll explore the intersections of politics, law, and economics through interdisciplinary seminars and lectures taught by Yale faculty and guest experts. You’ll engage in small-group seminars that emphasize critical thinking, debate, and policy analysis, with questions such as “How should markets be regulated?” or “What role does law play in global governance?” You’ll live on campus with peers from over 150 countries, offering a richly diverse community and global perspective. The experience also includes public-speaking workshops, a capstone project, and structured reflection on leadership, power, and ethical decision-making.
Location: Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Boca Raton, FL
Cost: $450
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate; limited enrollment.
Dates: June 9 – June 13
Application Deadline: Open until filled
Eligibility: High school students interested in ethics and leadership
At LEAP, you’ll spend a week developing leadership and moral-reasoning skills through simulations, decision-making games, and interaction with ethics scholars and public administration professionals. You’ll engage in workshops where you analyze real-world public policy dilemmas, practice structured debate, and reflect on how ethical leadership functions in public service and administration. The day-camp format offers bite-sized immersion without requiring full residential commitment, and lunch/snacks are provided to keep focus on learning. While not traditionally a political science camp, LEAP’s focus on ethics, public-policy reasoning, and leadership development aligns closely with key themes in political science and public administration
Location: Washington State (Cispus Learning Center & Eastern Washington University)
Cost/Stipend: Prices announced annually; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open but selective for leadership roles
Dates: Multiple summer sessions (June–August)
Application Deadline: Rolling (registration opens in March)
Eligibility: High school students
At AWSL Summer Leadership Camp, you’ll participate in workshops focusing on ethical leadership, teamwork, civic engagement, and social awareness. You’ll work in small cohorts on collaborative problem-solving tasks, explore what leadership in community and organizational contexts looks like, and prepare for advanced roles through public speaking drills and project planning. A distinctive feature of the camp is that participants may be nominated for the prestigious U.S. Senate Youth Program, providing a pathway to national recognition. This camp is well-suited to students who already hold or aspire to hold leadership roles and want focused, practical growth before college.
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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