15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Des Moines, Iowa
- Stephen Turban
- 1 hour ago
- 10 min read
For high school students, summer programs are one of the easiest and most practical ways to explore interests outside regular classes. Summer programs give you a chance to work on projects, learn new skills, and spend time in environments that feel closer to college or professional settings. Whether in science, healthcare, the arts, or technology, summer programs help you see what a subject involves at more advanced levels.
What summer programs are available for high school students in Des Moines?
Des Moines offers a mix of opportunities for high school students. With universities, research centers, museums, and science organizations in the area, you can find programs that offer practical learning and mentorship. Summer programs help you learn more about your subject, develop industry-specific skills, and prepare for college academics. Participating in a summer program can strengthen your college applications by showing intellectual curiosity and achievement.
With that, here are 15 summer programs for high school students in Des Moines, Iowa!
Location: Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa
Cost: Free; students receive monthly stipends
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer program takes place in June-July
Application Deadline: Typically in Spring
Eligibility: High school students aged 13-19 attending Marshalltown High School, Fort Dodge Senior High, or Perry High School | Must be a US citizen or permanent resident
Serving three high schools in the greater Des Moines region, Iowa State’s branch of the federal college access Upward Bound program offers both year-round programming and an intensive summer program for high schoolers. You’ll spend your summer on campus at Iowa State, where you’ll take intensive courses across literature, laboratory science, world language, and math. You’ll additionally attend electives focused on social awareness, career planning, and college preparation. You’ll deliver a presentation on your achievements and learning experiences at the end of the program. You’ll finish your summer with a fully-funded trip to a US city, with locations rotating yearly, where you’ll both participate in fun activities and tour local colleges.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.
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.
Location: Science Center of Iowa
Cost: None; free one-year membership to SCI after 40 hours of service
Dates: Camps are offered throughout the summer
Application Deadline: Applications reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18
The Science Center of Iowa offers a specialized Junior Counselor volunteer program for high schoolers with an interest in both STEM and education. You’ll serve as a camp counselor for SCI’s Summer Camps and SCI Day Camp, working alongside Camp Educators to lead science learning activities, facilitate camp curriculum, and provide guidance during field trips. You’ll have the choice to support camps including Game Design Studio, SCI Girls: Invent, iEarth, and Create 3D; counseling positions at camps aligned with your own academic interests are particularly strategic for your resume. You’ll receive training from professional STEM educators at SCI in both educational and leadership skills, build connections with SCI staff, and serve as a community ambassador for the Science Center.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Program dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
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 will 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. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.
Location: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: No information available
Dates: July 13-26
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-17
Iowa State’s AgDiscovery summer program is a USDA-funded opportunity to explore majors and careers in agriculture while living on campus. You’ll study topics across conservation, wildlife biology, diagnostics, and animal science with Iowa State professors. Throughout your work, you’ll learn about Iowa State’s majors in fields such as Wildlife Ecology, Veterinary Medicine, and Laboratory Technology. You’ll participate in hands-on activities, including performing diagnostic tests, conducting bacterial culture experiments, and working in animal research facilities. You’ll also participate in diversity workshops, leadership training, and team-building exercises. To build industry exposure, you’ll network with professional scientists from the U.S. government and animal management organizations, tour a food processing plant, and visit conservation areas and zoological facilities.
Location: Des Moines Art Center, Des Moines, IA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited openings offered
Dates: Year-round; participation is flexible based on volunteers’ schedules
Application Deadline: Varies based on openings; check the site for updates
Eligibility: High school students
The Des Moines Art Center offers a structured volunteer Docent Program to Iowans interested in art and education. You’ll complete a training program to learn about the Art Center’s exhibits, tour structure, programming, and best practices in guest engagement under the guidance of museum staff. You’ll then begin leading tours across the Art Center’s permanent collection, special exhibitions, and the outdoor Pappajohn Sculpture Park museum. You’ll educate small tour groups on works across prints and photographs, paintings, sculptures, and time-based media, and answer questions on both artworks and the Art Center. While Docents are unpaid, you’ll receive a free membership to the museum, early tours of new exhibitions, field trips, and special resources. You’ll have access to networking opportunities, including meetings with artists visiting or exhibiting works at the Art Center and behind-the-scenes events with professional curators.
Location: Des Moines Area Community College, Des Moines, IA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by course prerequisites and number of openings
Dates: 4- to 12-week courses are offered beginning May 20
Application Deadline: No information available
Eligibility: Iowa high school students | Some courses may have additional prerequisites
DMACC’s Career Advantage is a free dual enrollment program for Iowa high school students, offering a wide array of courses with transferable college credits. You’ll choose from hundreds of course offerings, with the ability to begin specializing in a discipline not offered at your high school and strengthen skills in your intended college major. DMACC has strong career-oriented programs in Health Science, Information Technology, Architecture, Engineering, Human Services, and Education, allowing you to supplement academic enrichment with professional development. Other options include medical courses in Surgical Technology or Respiratory Therapy, art courses in Fashion Design and Interior Design, and corporate-focused offerings like Business Law and Investments.
Location: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Cost: $450 ($500 for payment after June 26); financial aid offered
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: July 12-16 | Session 2: July 19-23
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions beginning January 15
Eligibility: Rising 11th-12th grade students intending to pursue a STEM major in college
RISE with WiSE at Iowa State University is one of the strongest STEM summer programs in the Midwest for high school students who are thinking seriously about science or engineering. You will spend a week on campus exploring either an Engineering or Life Sciences track and learning from Iowa State faculty in classrooms and labs. You sit in on sessions tied to majors like software engineering, cybersecurity, environmental science, microbiology, and related fields, while also talking openly with current Iowa State students about coursework and campus life.
Location: Des Moines, IA
Cost: $475 (before June 7) or $650 (after June 7); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 5 days over the summer
Application Deadline: No information available
Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12
The Iowa Association of Business and Industry hosts a five-day entrepreneurship event for high school students, offering business education, professional development, and an innovation competition. You’ll work in a small group to compete in an innovation simulation, designing an innovative business proposal. You’ll participate in three competition rounds, simulating the lifecycle of launching a business: pitching to investors, screening an infomercial, and promoting your project at a trade show. Outside of the competition, you’ll attend keynote speeches from industry professionals, network with Iowan entrepreneurs, and participate in educational and career planning workshops. One team will be given the “best product” award at the end of the program.
Location: Drake University, Des Moines, IA
Cost: Early Bird: $465 | Regular: $575 | Late: $650; Scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 7-10
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions beginning in January
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders and graduating seniors
Media Now supports students interested in media creation through a specialized, project-based summer program. You’ll choose a focus area out of 14 options, including Multimedia Storytelling for Web, Advising Publications, Sports Broadcasting, and Editorial Leadership. In a small-group setting, you’ll develop technical and professional skills in your chosen field through project-based learning. You’ll expand your focus through field trips and off-site events like visiting Des Moines news organizations, publishing houses, and sports stadiums to conduct interviews, record footage, and experience life in the media industry.
Location: Multiple locations in Iowa, including Jewel Academy in Des Moines, IA
Cost: Varies by site
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by site; typically one day to one week during the summer
Application Deadline: No information available
Eligibility: Grades 4-12
Funded through the Iowa Space Grant Program, NASA Astro Camp offers students a hands-on learning opportunity with a focus on future planning. You’ll learn about topics in astronomy, physics, technology, engineering, and mathematics through a series of NASA-developed presentations and activities. You’ll study NASA’s current and past space missions with a focus on human explorations in space, and complete analog simulations of NASA’s missions to the moon and Mars. You’ll also explore academic and professional paths in the fields of space exploration and science, engineering, computer science, rocketry, and robotics, including discussions on NASA careers.
Location: State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines, IA
Cost: $200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 23-25
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Rising 7th-12th-grade students aged 13-18
The State Historical Society of Iowa offers a unique History Podcast Camp summer opportunity, supporting students with an interest in media, history, archival research, and journalism. You’ll study materials on Iowa history from the museum’s collections, learning about both Iowa history and research skills from museum staff. You’ll work with award-winning professionals in the radio and audio industries to develop skills in interviewing, podcast scripting, and audio production. You’ll then hone in on a topic of your choice in Iowa history to complete a final project, for which you’ll conduct research, interview museum historians, record, and produce a podcast segment.
Location: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 24-26. Students may also choose the Early Arrival option beginning June 22
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions from April 1 to June 1
Eligibility: Rising 9th-12th graders and graduating seniors
Iowa State hosts a yearly 4-H Youth Conference for high school students, focused on leadership, future development, and academic exploration. You’ll pursue one of three tracks based on your interests: Mission Moon focuses on aerospace and STEM, Animal Science Roundup focuses on animal agriculture and health, and an interdisciplinary Choose Your Adventure program. Throughout the conference, you’ll attend a series of academic workshops on topics including plant propagation, epidemiology, AI, food science, and photography. You’ll complete hands-on activities such as soldering, space mission simulations, working at animal research farms, and chemistry experiments. You’ll attend career planning workshops tailored to your academic focus area, including networking opportunities and discussions with industry experts.
Location: Drake University, Des Moines, IA
Cost: $200; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 10-12
Application Deadline: June 2
Eligibility: Current 9th-12th grade students and recent high school graduates
Drake’s Opportunities for Gaining Skills (D.O.G.S) in Healthcare is an on-campus residential summer program focused on academics and careers in nursing, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and other healthcare fields. You’ll study topics in health and medicine through workshops, laboratory experiments, and lectures from Drake professors, and learn ethical healthcare practices. You’ll prepare for college by speaking with current Drake students, attending college admissions workshops, learning about healthcare-focused majors, and planning your coursework and extracurricular involvements for your remaining time in high school. You’ll additionally learn about future careers through breakout sessions on varied career fields, networking with current healthcare providers, and visiting a local health organization.
Location: Des Moines Civic Center, 221 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA
Cost: $515 (includes daily snack); Scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13-18
Application Deadline: General Public registration begins January 29
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-12; Previous theater training or experience necessary
The Broadway Intensive at Des Moines Performing Arts brings professional Broadway performers to Des Moines for a focused six-day summer program built for high school students serious about musical theater. You will train with working Broadway actors, dancers, and vocalists through classes in acting, dance, and singing. You’ll also learn how auditions work, how casting decisions are made, and what a theater career actually looks like. You come in with one or two musical theater songs and receive direct vocal coaching and feedback in small sessions, along with Broadway-style dance technique classes and acting workshops. The week runs like a real rehearsal process, with long days that build toward a final Saturday showcase where you perform scenes, songs, dance pieces, or full ensemble numbers on stage.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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