15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Boise, Idaho
- Lydia Park
- Feb 25
- 10 min read
If you’re a high school student looking for a summer experience that lets you explore your interests, programs can give you that. Summer programs for high schoolers offer focused time to work on projects, learn more about topics, and collaborate with peers.
Why attend a summer program in Boise, Idaho?
Boise offers a range of summer programs for high schoolers through its universities, museums, nonprofit groups, and research partners. You can spend your summer learning in places that look and feel like college settings, like labs, performance spaces, studios, or fieldwork sites. Being part of a summer program gives you a clearer sense of what kind of work you might enjoy and what you’d want to study in college. When it comes time to apply to colleges, summer programs help show that you’ve taken time outside required classes to pursue learning.
To help you get started, here’s a list of 15 summer programs for high school students in Boise, Idaho!
Location: City of Boise, Boise, ID
Cost: Free; transportation available within Boise city limits
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified; application-based
Dates: Three-week program during summer (specific dates vary annually)
Application Deadline: Typically opens in the spring
Eligibility: Boise residents ages 12–15; enrolled in school
The SHIELD Summer Youth Program is a three-week, in-person experience led by School Resource Officers and members of the Boise Police Department’s Community Outreach Division. As a participant, you’ll engage in leadership development, team-building activities, and field trips to places like Boise State University and the Idaho Black History Museum. The program emphasizes confidence-building, communication skills, and positive community engagement. You’ll also take part in discussions on goal-setting and hear from local guest speakers about careers and public service. Students ages 15–17 can apply separately to serve as SHIELD mentors, helping facilitate the experience.
Location: Virtual
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. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Boise State University, Boise, ID
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate or cohort size: 50 students; selective enrollment
Dates: Varies by year (overnight summer session)
Application Deadline: Confirmed participants notified by mid-May
Eligibility: Current 9th–11th grade students, ages 14–17
STEM Gems is a free, overnight summer program designed to give you exposure to a wide range of STEM fields through interactive workshops and real-world applications. You'll explore topics such as artificial intelligence, game animation, and physics through sessions led by college students, professionals from the Society of Women Engineers, and industry mentors. The program takes place on the Boise State campus, giving you a brief but immersive college experience. Each year’s workshop lineup is different, offering a fresh set of topics and perspectives. You'll also have opportunities to collaborate with peers who share an interest in science, tech, and engineering.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate or Cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter
Application Deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November); You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.
Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, you will be introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.
Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals.
Location: Nonprofit placement in Ada County + Summit in Washington, D.C.
Cost: Paid internship; all expenses for the D.C. summit are covered
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Highly selective; over 300 students chosen nationally
Dates: Eight weeks in summer, including July 21–26 for the D.C. Summit
Application Deadline: January 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors residing in Ada County, ID; must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.
As a Student Leader, you’ll be placed in a paid, full-time internship at a local nonprofit, where you'll contribute to meaningful community projects while developing leadership and workplace skills. Your experience culminates in a national summit in Washington, D.C., where you’ll engage with peers from across the country, explore civic engagement, and learn how businesses, government, and nonprofits work together. The program is aimed at students who show strong community involvement and leadership potential. All travel, lodging, and meal expenses for the summit are covered by Bank of America.
Location: Multiple sites across the US (including Boise, ID)
Cost: Free to participate; includes a paid stipend for students
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Competitive; 19 research projects hosted in Idaho
Dates: June – August (8–10 weeks)
Application Deadline: April 14
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors from low-income families; must have completed at least one chemistry course
ACS Project SEED offers an immersive summer research experience where you’ll work alongside scientists and mentors in professional lab settings, whether at a university, research facility, or industry site. As a participant, you’ll engage in chemistry-focused projects while receiving college prep guidance and exposure to STEM careers. In Idaho, 19 SEED projects are planned, including placements in the Boise area. Selected students are provided a stipend and expected to fully commit to the 8-week experience, which may be in-person, hybrid, or virtual, depending on the host site.
Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, ID
Cost: Paid internship
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Competitive; hundreds of students placed each year
Dates: Summer; duration varies by assignment
Application Deadline: Varies by internship cycle; typically early spring
Eligibility: Full-time high school students (must be enrolled in the semester before and after internship); minimum 3.0 GPA
At Idaho National Laboratory (INL), you can gain hands-on experience working on real-world science, energy, and national security projects alongside expert mentors. As a high school intern, you'll be paired with INL scientists and engineers to explore STEM fields such as nuclear engineering, physics, computer science, and chemistry. The program includes weekly seminars, lab tours, and networking events focused on career development. Interns work collaboratively with staff to define a project scope and may complete a final presentation or report at the end of the term. The experience is designed to build your skills, confidence, and exposure to federal research environments.
Location: Statewide (including Boise and Southwest Idaho)
Cost: Paid apprenticeship; no program cost
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Varies by employer and trade; over 500 apprentices placed statewide
Dates: Rolling start dates; length varies by program
Application Deadline: Rolling; contact the regional coordinator to apply
Eligibility: Ages 16–24; must be a student or recent graduate
The Idaho Youth Apprenticeship Program offers you the chance to earn while you learn, pairing classroom education with on-the-job training in high-demand fields like healthcare, IT, construction, auto tech, and early childhood education. In Boise and surrounding areas, placements include employers like St. Luke’s, Micron, Bish’s RV, YMCA, and Heritage Auto. You'll gain technical experience, mentorship, and potentially a nationally recognized credential—all with little to no debt. Apprenticeships vary in length and intensity, with many students transitioning into full-time work, college, or both after completion. Local contacts help match you with openings aligned to your interests and location.
Location: Boise State University (serving Caldwell, Meridian, Nampa, Owyhee, and Rimrock High Schools)
Cost: Free to participants; includes opportunity for cash stipends
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified; limited to students from partner high schools
Dates: School-year support + 6-week summer residential program
Application Deadline: Rolling; varies by school
Eligibility: Ages 13–19; must attend a partner high school
If you attend one of the listed partner high schools, Boise State's TRIO Upward Bound offers long-term academic support to help you get ready for college. You'll get year-round tutoring, mentoring, college visits, and help with everything from study skills to financial aid. During the summer, you'll live on the Boise State campus for six weeks while taking courses designed to prepare you for college life. You can even earn a stipend for your participation. This federally funded program focuses on helping students who are the first in their families to attend college or come from limited-income backgrounds.
Location: Boise State University, Boise, ID
Cost: $395; limited partial scholarships available
Acceptance rate or cohort size: 50 students; first-come, first-served
Dates: June 16–18
Application Deadline: Registration opens in January; closes when full
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
This 3-day camp gives you the chance to explore a range of healthcare careers through hands-on sessions, campus experiences, and career-oriented presentations. You’ll connect with Boise State faculty, current students, and alumni working in healthcare while participating in workshops and simulations focused on human health professions. Each day runs from 9 AM to 3:30 PM, followed by structured campus activities and recreation time in the evenings. You’ll also stay in university housing, giving you a brief but immersive look at college life. The program includes working lunches featuring speakers from the healthcare industry and campus departments.
Location: The Cabin Center for Readers and Writers, Boise, ID
Cost: Varies; financial aid available based on need
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Camps run with a minimum of 6 participants; capacity is limited
Dates: July 14–18 (for 9th–12th graders)
Application Deadline: Rolling; scholarships awarded as spots are filled
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th grade students
At The Cabin’s Summer Writing Camp for high schoolers, you’ll immerse yourself in a sci-fi and fantasy fiction week called “Strange Lands,” where you’ll build an original world with your fellow writers. Guided by a writer, you’ll learn how to develop character, dialogue, plot, and setting while creating your own short story. The program blends creative instruction with local exploration, often including visits to community spaces that inspire writing. You’ll be part of a collaborative and supportive literary environment tailored to young authors.
Location: Idaho Shakespeare Festival’s School of Theater, Boise, ID
Cost: $535
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective; audition required
Dates: Session I: June 1st – June 19; Session II: June 29 – July 17
Application Deadline: Audition-based; Enrollment will open March 11
Eligibility: High school students in the Treasure Valley region
Working through Shakespeare line by line is the focus of the Shakespeare Intensives at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival School of Theater, part of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. You will read the play together, break down the language, and figure out how scenes work on stage through movement and voice. Rehearsals are practical and physical, with attention to character, timing, and how actors respond to one another. You also take part in shaping basic design ideas like costumes and staging, so the production feels complete. The program ends with a short performance of a Shakespeare play, giving you experience working as part of a full theatrical ensemble.
Location: Boise State University, Boise, ID
Cost: Financial aid available
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective; audition required
Dates: June 15–July 25 (multiple 2, 4, or 6-week sessions available)
Application Deadline: Auditions January 31 or February 7
Eligibility: High school students and older with intermediate to advanced dance technique
Summer DanceFest is Boise State's premier intensive dance training program, offering two weeks of professional-level instruction in ballet, pointe, men's class, pas de deux, jazz, and modern dance. You'll work with choreographers and professional instructors to refine your technique, build core strength, and gain versatility across multiple dance styles. The program culminates in two performances on the Boise State stage, allowing you to showcase your work in a professional setting. Each session features different choreography and curriculum, so you can attend multiple weeks without repeating content.
Location: One Stone Creative Studios, Boise, ID
Cost: Paid internship
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Selective; application-based
Dates: Design internship: June 12–23; Video internship: July 31–August 11
Application Deadline: June 10 (design track) or July 15 (video track)
Eligibility: Current high school students (rising 9th–12th grade) and recent graduates
Two Birds is a professional creative internship where you'll gain real-world experience working with actual clients on design and video projects. The program offers two tracks: a graphic design internship focused on typography, imagery, color, and brand identity, and a video internship centered on capturing, planning, producing, and editing professional video content. This hands-on experience allows you to build a professional portfolio while contributing to meaningful client work for organizations throughout the Treasure Valley. Past clients have included Treefort Music Fest, Bogus Basin, and the Idaho Nonprofit Center.
Location: YMCA Camp Horsethief Reservoir, Cascade, ID (near Boise)
Cost: $799 per week for non-members; $679 per week for members (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate or cohort size: Not specified; rolling registration
Dates: June 27–August 8 (nine weeks; one-week sessions)
Application Deadline: Rolling registration; register through the YMCA online system
Eligibility: Rising 9th–11th grade students
The YMCA's Summer Leadership Camp is designed to help you develop collaborative and youth development skills in a supportive group setting. Rather than focusing on traditional camp activities, leadership campers work on practicing leading peers and others while still enjoying all standard camp amenities. You'll reside at camp for the week alongside counselors and fellow participants in the mountain setting at Horsethief Reservoir. The program emphasizes building confidence, teamwork, and practical leadership skills you can use in your school, church, and community. While you develop leadership competencies through structured sessions and peer mentoring, you'll also participate in standard camp activities like rock climbing, archery, sports, arts and crafts, and evening campfires.
Lydia is an alumna from 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.
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