20 Summer Extracurricular Activities for High School Students

If you are in high school and wondering how to spend your summer, extracurricular activities can be a smart way to use your time. Summer break gives you more freedom than the regular school year, which makes it a good chance to try new things, build skills, and explore your interests.

What do extracurricular activities entail? Why should I do an extracurricular activity in high school?

Extracurricular activities can mean many different things. You might join a sports camp, take part in a music workshop, volunteer at a local organization, or learn a technical skill like coding or photography. The main idea is that you are doing something outside of your regular classes that helps you grow in some way.

Colleges often look for students who show initiative and curiosity beyond the classroom. More importantly, extracurriculars can help you discover what you actually enjoy doing, which is useful when you think about future studies or careers. They also let you meet new people, learn teamwork, and sometimes even earn credentials or certifications that will stay with you.

To help you start, we’ve put together 20 summer extracurricular activities for high school students!

20 Summer Extracurricular Activities for High School Students

1. Volunteering at a Local Hospital or Clinic

Volunteering at a hospital or clinic puts you in a setting where responsibility, teamwork, and communication are part of daily life. Even if your tasks are basic, showing up in a space where people are vulnerable demonstrates resilience and genuine care for others. Colleges see this as proof that you can commit to service, stay dependable under pressure, and find meaning in helping your community. On your resume or in essays, it gives you real experiences that show compassion, growth, and a willingness to take on challenges.

Skills Demonstrated: Communication, teamwork, consistency, commitment to community service.

2. Creative Writing Workshops

Attending a creative writing workshop over the summer shows that you are committed to developing how you express ideas and experiences. You practice writing stories, essays, or letters and receive feedback that helps you refine your voice and structure. Colleges see this as evidence that you can communicate clearly and think critically, while your resume and essays benefit from the skills you gain in organizing thoughts, telling compelling stories, and presenting your experiences effectively.

Skills Demonstrated: Communication, creativity 

3. Science Competitions

Participating in science competitions over the summer shows that you are willing to explore STEM beyond the classroom. Preparing projects, conducting experiments, or tackling research questions demonstrates problem-solving, analytical thinking, and commitment to long-term goals. Colleges see this as evidence of initiative and curiosity, while your resume and essays benefit from concrete examples of your skills, dedication, and interest in your chosen field.

Skills Demonstrated: Research skills, understanding of scientific concepts

4. Debate Camps and Clubs

Attending a debate camp or joining a debate club shows that you can analyze complex ideas and communicate them clearly. You practice structuring arguments, defending your points, and listening to opposing views, which strengthens critical thinking and public speaking skills. Colleges view debate experience as evidence of intellectual engagement and the ability to handle challenging topics, while your resume and essays provide examples of confidence, reasoning, and effective communication.

Skills Demonstrated: Critical thinking, communication, public speaking

5. Summer Sports Training or Camps

Attending a summer sports camp or training program shows that you can commit to physical challenges and work as part of a team. You develop collaboration, discipline, and time-management skills while staying active and focused. Colleges see sports participation as evidence of dedication, resilience, and the ability to balance multiple responsibilities, and it can provide strong material for essays or even scholarship opportunities.

Skills Demonstrated: Teamwork, physical ability.

6. MOOCs

Taking a MOOC over the summer shows that you are motivated to learn independently and explore subjects beyond school. Online courses allow you to dive into topics at your own pace while building knowledge and relevant skills in areas that interest you. Colleges view MOOCs as evidence of initiative and curiosity, and completing courses in your field can strengthen your resume and provide examples to reference in essays.

Skills Demonstrated: Initiative, intellectual curiosity

7. Hackathons and Innovation Challenges

Joining a hackathon or problem-solving challenge is a way to push yourself and work with a team. You often have just a short time to brainstorm, build, and present a project, which teaches you to think fast and stay creative under pressure. It shows that you enjoy a challenge and are motivated to come up with solutions. Colleges like this because it proves you can handle high-stakes situations and think on your feet.

Skills Demonstrated: Creativity, problem-solving, public speaking, and basic programming.

8. Journalism at Local Press

Contributing to newspapers or magazines is a good idea to improve your writing and express your thoughts to others. You can write for a local paper or magazine, or you can start your own blog. It proves that you care about your surroundings and have the initiative to put your voice out there. Being a published writer, even at a smaller establishment, goes a long way in building credibility.

Skills Demonstrated: Writing, creativity, communication

9. Internships with Local Businesses

An internship gives you the chance to step into the professional world and try real projects. You learn teamwork, communication, and how to adapt when things do not always go as planned in your day-to-day life. Any experience working at an organization automatically makes you better at task and time management. Colleges like to see this because it proves maturity and initiative. 

Skills Demonstrated: Professionalism, work ethic, time management, task tracking, and prioritization.

10. Teaching Young Students

If you are a high school student who is good at a particular subject, you can teach middle or high school students in your spare time in the summer. Teaching something is a good way to revise yourself, plus you’ll be contributing to education by guiding students in something you’re good at. You’ll also learn how to prepare for a lecture, how to empathize with students, and how to frame concepts in a way that students will understand. 

Skills Demonstrated: Public speaking, communication

11. Art or Music Camps

Going to an art or music camp over the summer develops your creative side. You spend time practicing, performing, or creating alongside other students, which builds focus and discipline. It also helps you express yourself in new ways and gives you confidence in your talents. Colleges like to see this because it shows balance and dedication to passions outside of academics. 

Skills Demonstrated: Focus, creativity, discipline.

12. Model United Nations (MUN) Summer Conferences

At a MUN, you typically represent a country in a simulated version of a UN agency (for ex., WHO or UNICEF). You learn to research global issues, write position papers, and build coalitions with other nations to implement your recommendations. This builds teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills uniquely. If it’s an international MUN, you get the chance to meet students from around the world!

Skills Demonstrated: Communication and consensus-building, negotiation, teamwork

13. Environmental Volunteering

You can help the local body or an NGO in their environmental projects. Generally, students help out in cleanups, tree planting, or similar activities. Volunteering shows a proactive nature and willingness to contribute to society. You can also take initiative and start projects of your own, and get interested people to join. 

Skills Demonstrated: Initiative, teamwork, and environmental awareness.

14. Summer Coding Bootcamps

A coding bootcamp is a good way to show you are motivated to learn skills for the future. It teaches problem-solving and logical thinking as you figure out how to make programs work. Colleges recognize coding as both a technical skill and a marker of persistence, since it takes effort to learn and apply. On your resume, coding experience signals focused creativity, and in essays, you can connect it to qualities like creativity, persistence, or building something meaningful from scratch.

Skills Demonstrated: Logical and structured thinking, problem-solving, basic computer programming

15. Volunteering at an Animal Shelter

Spending your summer at an animal shelter shows compassion and commitment. You help care for animals, assist with adoptions, or support fundraising events. It teaches patience, responsibility, and empathy, especially when working with injured animals. You will also get to learn basic care methods for animals in a shelter, which will help when you have your own pet. Additionally, colleges like this because it demonstrates kindness and service to the community.

Skills Demonstrated: Responsibility, teamwork

16. Outdoors Survival Programs

Connecting with nature is a good way to spend a summer, especially if you learn survival skills while doing it. You can enroll in programs like first responder training or disaster management, which teach you how to survive and help others in difficult times. Typically, these programs give you a certification that you can add to your profile, plus it’s good to know basic survival skills like first aid and CPR. These programs also help build teamwork and camaraderie.

Skills Demonstrated: Adaptability, teamwork

17. Joining a Summer Theater Production

Being part of a play or musical during summer teaches you how to perform in front of others, practice discipline through rehearsals, and adapt when things go wrong on stage. It also builds communication skills since acting requires expressing emotions clearly. Colleges like this because it shows dedication and willingness to put yourself out there. Exposure to an audience is a great way to increase your confidence and body language.

Skills Demonstrated: Confidence, communication, teamwork

18. Filmmaking Project

You can choose a topic to make a film on. You can make a fictional short film or a documentary about something in your neighborhood, such as a place of historic importance. Making films is a lot of fun, especially if you’re doing it with friends! It is also a great way to channel your creativity in scripts, shoot angles, and lighting. Once a film is shot, you can also edit it as you want using free editing tools. You can put your film on YouTube and showcase it when you’re back in school.

Skills Demonstrated: Creativity, light and sound, editing

19. Foreign Language Class

A foreign language is a great tool to have, especially if your education and work are going to involve speaking to other nationals. In business and engineering, learning languages like German, Chinese, or Japanese can help you build a unique profile that opens opportunities for you that are not accessible to others. Learning a second (or third) language has also been proven to improve cognitive abilities and memory. It’s also a great way to talk to people around the world, whether it's pen pals or people you meet while traveling in that particular country.

Skills Demonstrated: Communication, cultural awareness, networking.

20. Volunteering at a Local Library or Museum

Helping out at a library or museum is a great way to combine service with learning. You may assist with events, help younger kids with reading programs, or support visitors. This shows that you are responsible, community-minded, and passionate about learning. On a resume, it highlights community engagement, and in essays, you can talk about how supporting education inspired you.

Skills Demonstrated: Organization, communication

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!

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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