10 Summer Leadership Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Apr 28
- 7 min read
Looking for a way to explore leadership and business during your high school summer break without committing to lengthy pre-college programs? That’s where summer leadership camps come in. These short, focused programs place you in college-level academic settings, challenge you to solve real problems, and introduce you to people leading in different industries.
Camps, as opposed to research programs or pre-college programs, are more intensive and have a specific focus. They are also placed at a lower price point and run for a few weeks, if not days.
As a camper, you’ll learn how to analyze complex issues, manage group projects, negotiate, and make strategic decisions under pressure. These are the same skills that top universities look for in applicants because they show you can think critically, work with diverse teams, and take initiative. If you see yourself in a leadership role, whether in business, politics, social activism, or STEM, these camps provide an accessible, bite-sized experience.
To make your search easier, we’ve put together a list of the 10 summer leadership camps for high school students!
10 Summer Leadership Camps for High School Students
This fully funded 10-day program brings around 150 academically talented students to the University of Notre Dame for an immersive leadership experience. You’ll take part in college-level discussions on topics like inequality in America, ethical leadership, financial decision-making, and solving problems with data, all taught by Notre Dame faculty.
The program focuses on helping you grow as a thinker and leader. You’ll build skills in critical thinking, ethics, and community engagement, all while living on campus and connecting with peers from across the country.
Cost: None
Location: University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, with only about 150 students admitted annually.
Dates: July 19 to July 30
Application Deadline: January 22
Eligibility: Open to rising high school seniors.
The Sadie Nash Leadership Project Summer Institute’s six-week program is for young women and gender-expansive youth in New York City and Newark who want to build leadership skills and work on social justice issues. You’ll take part in workshops, discussions, and field trips, covering topics like power, privilege, feminism, and activism.
You’ll also practice public speaking, advocacy, and community organizing, helping you develop your voice as a leader. Throughout the program, you’ll meet and learn from women and gender-expansive leaders, including elected officials, business owners, and artists.
Cost: Free
Location: New York City, NY, and Newark, NJ (multiple sites).
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective admissions process with a small batch size.
Dates: June 30 to August 11.
Application Deadline: April 14.
Eligibility: Open to young women and gender-expansive high school students enrolled in a New York City or Newark high school.
Hosted by the Telluride Association, TASS-CBS is a fully funded, six-week program where you’ll study the histories, politics, literature, and art of people of African descent. Held at Cornell University and the University of Maryland, the program involves college-level discussions, workshops, group projects, and lectures focused on African American studies.
You’ll develop skills in critical analysis, public speaking, academic writing, and collaborative problem-solving, all while engaging in democratic self-governance, meaning you’ll have a say in how the program is run.
Cost: Free (fully funded, including travel, housing, and meals)
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, or University of Maryland, College Park, MD.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective, with only 56 students admitted annually.
Dates: Choice of one of two six-week programs offered from June 22 to July 26.
Application Deadline: December 3
Eligibility: Open to rising juniors and rising seniors.
Offered by George Washington University, Caminos al Futuro is a fully funded summer program for rising high school seniors interested in leadership, civic engagement, and public policy within Latinx communities. You’ll take part in college-level lectures exploring political and social changes affecting Latinx communities while also sharpening your writing skills in workshops designed to help you succeed in college.
The program includes a college prep academy, where you’ll get insider guidance on the admissions process, from crafting strong essays to understanding financial aid. You’ll also practice public speaking, advocacy, and community organizing, all while working on projects that address real issues in Latinx communities.
Cost: Free
Location: George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective.
Dates: Three-week program during the summer; specific dates for this year are yet to be announced.
Application Deadline: Typically mid-March.
Eligibility: Open to rising high school seniors with a demonstrated interest in the Latinx community.
Camp Rising Sun is a fully funded, international leadership program for high school students, held in New York. Over seven weeks, you’ll join students from around the world to work on projects, discussions, and hands-on activities that push you to think like a leader. The camp runs on self-governance, so you and your peers will make decisions together, plan activities, and take on responsibilities that shape daily life. You’ll also practice problem-solving, teamwork, and public speaking.
Cost: None
Location: Clinton, NY
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective.
Dates: June 24 to July 22 for boys, July 28 to August 25 for girls.
Application Deadline: Varies by region; different states have different deadlines.
Eligibility: Open to students aged 14–16 worldwide.
The Young Leaders Summit (YLS), presented by the Youth Leadership Consortium, is a free college empowerment program targeting high-achieving, low-income high school juniors from diverse backgrounds. The summit focuses on equipping you with the tools necessary for successful college applications, access to scholarships, and strategies for academic and career success. You will engage in workshops, networking sessions, and mentorship opportunities designed to enhance leadership skills and community involvement.
Cost: Free (fully funded, including travel, housing, and meals for residential components).
Location: Virtual and Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Extremely selective acceptance process that requires strong academics, as well as a low-income background.
Dates: Two-day virtual component (June 7 - 8), followed by a five-day residential component (July 30 to August 3) at Princeton University.
Application Deadline: March 25.
Eligibility: Open to high-achieving, low-income high school juniors from diverse backgrounds.
Subiendo is a free, five-day leadership program at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business. It’s for high school juniors in Texas who want hands-on experience solving real-world issues in healthcare, education, and energy.
You’ll work in teams to develop solutions, present your ideas at the Texas State Capitol, and get mentorship from business leaders, politicians, and educators. You’ll also take part in a public speaking workshop to improve how you pitch ideas, plus networking sessions to meet professionals in law, business, and policy.
Cost: None
Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective process admitting a small cohort.
Dates: June 8 - 12.
Application Deadline: January 31.
Eligibility: Open to current Texas high school juniors.
Babson Summer Study is a free three-week program for high school students who want to learn entrepreneurship and leadership by actually doing it. You’ll work in teams to develop business ideas, build prototypes, and pitch solutions to real-world problems, all based on the United Nations' Global Goals like climate change, poverty, and sustainability.
You’ll take college-level business classes at Babson College, learning how to do market research, create financial plans, and think like an entrepreneur. You’ll also get mentorship from business leaders and network with successful entrepreneurs.
Cost: $6,300 (includes $6,295 tuition + $95 application fee; financial aid available)
Location: Primarily virtual with an optional in-person component at Babson College
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Fairly selective application process.
Dates: July 7 to July 28.
Application Deadline: March 14.
Eligibility: Open to rising high school juniors and seniors with a strong interest in entrepreneurship and leadership.
The National Student Leadership Conference gives you a chance to explore different career paths while building leadership skills. You can choose from programs in medicine, engineering, business, and more, all hosted at top universities like Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and UC Berkeley.
You’ll take part in hands-on simulations, workshops, and group projects designed to teach problem-solving and decision-making. You’ll also meet professionals in your chosen field, giving you real insight into career options while sharpening your ability to lead and collaborate.
Cost: $2,895 to $6,995. Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by program; specific numbers not publicly disclosed.
Dates: Multiple sessions throughout the summer; specific dates vary by program and location.
Application Deadline: Varies by program; applicants should check the official website for current deadlines.
Eligibility: Open to high school students; specific requirements may vary by program.
The Wharton Leadership in the Business World (LBW) program is a two-week residential experience for rising high school seniors, hosted by the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. You’ll take part in leadership workshops, team projects, case studies, and business simulations, all guided by Wharton faculty and guest speakers from the industry.
The program helps you build skills in negotiation, management, and strategy. You’ll also go on field trips to local businesses in Philadelphia, giving you a closer look at how real companies operate and a chance to network with professionals.
Cost: $7,500 (financial aid available).
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective, 100 students annually
Dates: Jun 8 - Jun 28; Jun 29 - Jul 19; Jul 20 - Aug 9
Application Deadline: April 2
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors with an interest in business and leadership.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent business 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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