15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Idaho
- Stephen Turban
- 6 hours ago
- 10 min read
If you’re a high school student thinking about ways to explore ideas, build skills, or test out your academic interests, summer programs can be an excellent choice. These programs give you a chance to study subjects in more depth than regular school classes, often in settings that reflect how learning works at the college level.
Why consider a summer program in Idaho?
Idaho offers a range of summer programs for high schoolers hosted by colleges, universities, educational organizations, and community institutions. Many of these programs are designed to introduce you to practical skills. You can explore areas such as STEM, writing, leadership, research, or the arts. These programs help you decide what you may want to pursue in college and add value to your college applications by showing curiosity and a willingness to learn beyond the classroom.
Without further ado, here are 15 summer programs for high school students in Idaho!
15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Idaho
Location: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho
Cost: Paid internship
Dates: 6–8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Exact postings and deadlines are listed on the specific internship announcements
Eligibility: High school students enrolled full-time at an accredited school before and after the internship, with a minimum 3.0 GPA.
At Idaho National Laboratory, you work on real projects that support research and operations in areas like energy, science, engineering, and technology. You will be placed on a team with scientists, engineers, or technical staff to contribute to ongoing work. You learn how large research projects are planned and carried out, including how data is collected, analyzed, and shared. Mentors guide you through tasks and explain how your work fits into the lab’s broader goals. Along the way, you may attend talks, lab tours, or professional sessions that show how research connects to national and industrial needs.
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Full financial aid is 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: Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho Falls, Idaho
Cost: Free
Dates: Multiple dates between June and July
Application Deadline: Registration is based on a lottery system
Eligibility: STEM Scholars: Students entering grades 1–12 | CyberCore: Students entering grades 6–12
Idaho STEM Summer Camps give you hands-on experience with science and engineering in a national laboratory setting. As a high school student, you can take part in the STEM Scholars program, which runs as a focused four-day session. You will work through engineering problems using examples tied to the local environment, and you will practice asking questions, testing ideas, and explaining your results. If you are interested in computer science, CyberCore offers a more targeted experience. In this camp, you learn the basics of programming, networking, and cybersecurity through guided activities, short lectures, and demonstrations. You also tour facilities and talk directly with professionals working in the field, which helps you see how cybersecurity skills are used outside the classroom.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program. Need-based financial aid is available for AI Scholars. You can apply here.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November).
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 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.
Location: University of Idaho campus, Moscow, ID, and McCall Outdoor Science School, McCall, ID
Cost: Free, stipend provided upon successful completion
Dates: July 6–July 18
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Native American high school students who have completed at least 9th grade from the 11 Tribal Reservations with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of Idaho. Graduated seniors planning to enroll at U of I in the fall are also eligible.
HOIST is an in-person summer program that supports Native American high school students who want to explore STEM, prepare for college, and learn in a community-centered setting. You spend the summer on campus getting early exposure to what university-level STEM study looks like. During the program, you take structured classes in math, English, and science that focus on building core academic skills. You also take part in a STEM internship, where you work with university researchers or local professionals on real projects. Outside the classroom, you join field trips, workshops, and talks with people working in STEM fields, which helps you understand different career paths.
Location: Idaho State University (ISU), Pocatello, Idaho
Cost: Varies by workshop, typically $50–$125
Dates: Summer sessions held June 9– June 13 and July 7– July 11
Application deadline: Registration remains open until about one week before each session, subject to availability.
Eligibility: Students entering grades 8–12
Ignite Their Future Summer Camp Series is offered by Idaho State University Continuing Education and Workforce Training and is a set of STEM workshops for youth. You take part in activities like building and programming robots, learning about electronics, and working with data and technology. Through projects and tasks, you learn how technology and engineering tools are used to collect information, analyze patterns, and solve problems, giving you a basic sense of how quantitative thinking supports economic and technical decision-making.
Location: Idaho State University (ISU), Pocatello, Idaho
Cost: Day program: $310 | Program with room & board: $540
Dates: June 21 – June 26
Application deadline: Registration opens January 20
Eligibility: Intermediate to advanced pianists and string players entering grades 8–12
The Summer Institute for Piano and Strings at Idaho State University is a focused music program for students who want structured, serious time with their instrument. You will work on piano or string repertoire through daily lessons, technique sessions, and coached rehearsals. A large part of the experience is ensemble work, where you practice chamber music and learn how to listen, adjust, and perform with others. Alongside performance, you take part in music theory and history sessions that help you understand the structure and context of the pieces you are playing. The program ends with performances that reflect the work done during the week.
Location: Boise, Idaho
Cost: Varies by camp
Dates: Multiple sessions from June to August
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students
The Idaho Shakespeare Festival Summer Camps give you a hands-on way to explore theater from multiple angles. You can focus on acting, musical theater, improvisation, writing, or backstage work while learning in a professional arts setting. If you enjoy performing, you can join programs like Shakespeare Intensives, where you will rehearse and perform a shortened Shakespeare play as part of an ensemble. Camp Improv centers on improvisation, listening, and working with others through structured games and a final show. Musical theater options focus on singing, movement, acting, and ensemble work, with time spent preparing for a live performance. If you prefer to work off stage, programs in stagecraft or storytelling let you study set design, costumes, props, or playwriting.
Location: College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, Idaho
Cost: $249
Dates: June 9 – June 13
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: High school students with prior experience on their declared instrument
CSI MusicFest is a week-long summer music program built around daily performance and practice. You choose one main area, such as voice, piano, strings, band, jazz, or percussion, and spend each day working deeply in that focus. Your schedule includes ensemble rehearsals, masterclasses, listening sessions, and recitals, with optional sessions in areas like musical theatre, jazz improvisation, and collaborative performance. Most days involve several hours of hands-on instruction with faculty who work closely with you in rehearsals and small groups. You perform regularly during the week, often alongside instructors, which helps you learn how musicians prepare, rehearse, and present work in a concert setting. The program ends with formal concerts and recitals.
Location: College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, Idaho
Cost: $215
Dates: June 23 – June 27
Application Deadline: Registration open until capacity is reached
Eligibility: Students ages 10 –18
CSI Youth Theater Camp gives you a full week of hands-on work in theatre, with daily classes and rehearsals that build practical stage skills. You can join beginner or advanced tracks and spend time learning acting, audition techniques, musical theatre, movement, voice, and choreography. You also explore how productions come together behind the scenes through sessions on costuming, makeup, set design, lighting, and props. Classes are led by working theatre professionals who guide you through the process step by step. Each day ends with full cast rehearsals, all leading to a final performance where you take the stage and present what you’ve learned to an audience.
Location: College of Western Idaho, Ada County Center, Boise, Idaho
Cost: $200
Dates: June 23 – June 27
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until spots are filled
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7–12
The College of Western Idaho Cyber Summer Camp lets you spend a week learning how computers and cybersecurity actually work through hands-on activities. You work in person on CWI’s campus and learn by doing, not by sitting through long lectures. During the week, you will explore basics like computer hardware, operating systems, and core cybersecurity ideas using games and guided exercises. You also learn how defensive cybersecurity teams operate and get introduced to CWI’s Dual Credit options, helping you see how these skills can carry into high school courses, college programs, and technical careers.
Location: College of Eastern Idaho – Applied Technology & Innovation Center (ATIC), Idaho Falls, Idaho
Cost: Not specified
Dates: July 20 – July 24
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students ages 12–17
Cybercore Youth Career Academy is a five-day, in-person summer program that introduces you to the fundamentals of computing and cybersecurity through hands-on, project-based learning. Designed in collaboration with regional education partners and industry organizations, the program gives you early exposure to cybersecurity concepts in a supportive learning environment. Throughout the week, you’ll learn computing basics using Windows and Linux, explore programming with Python, and experiment with circuit design, encoding, cryptography, and safe online behavior. You’ll work with a Raspberry Pi to build practical skills in programming and cyber-physical systems. The experience culminates in a cybersecurity “capture the flag” challenge, where you apply what you’ve learned to solve technical puzzles.
Location: Northwest Youth Corps, Boise-based crews with projects across Idaho
Cost: $300
Dates: Session 1: May 31 – July 5 | Session 2: July 12 – August 16
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students ages 16–18
Northwest Youth Corps Youth Camping Program is a residential summer program where you live outdoors and work on conservation projects with a crew. You camp for the full session and spend your days doing hands-on work in national forests and parks. Projects often include trail building, reforestation, invasive species removal, fuels reduction, and fencing, all led by trained field staff. Alongside the conservation work, you build practical skills that translate beyond the outdoors. You learn how to work as part of a team, follow instructions, use tools, and take responsibility for shared living spaces. The program includes training and mentorship throughout the session, and you earn a weekly stipend, with the option to receive high school credit after completion.
Location: Boise State University, Boise, Idaho
Cost: $395
Dates: June 16 – June 18
Application Deadline: Registration opens in January; limited capacity of 50 students
Eligibility: Incoming high school juniors and seniors for the academic year
Boise State University Health Sciences Camp gives you a short, focused look at how healthcare careers actually work. You will learn from faculty, staff, and current students in the College of Health Sciences, with sessions that focus on human health, public health, kinesiology, and different healthcare pathways. The learning is hands-on, so you are not just hearing about careers but seeing how skills and training connect to real work in health fields. Across the program, you take part in interactive sessions and structured activities that show what health science study looks like at the college level. You also talk with health professions advisors and alumni who share how they moved from school into healthcare roles.
Location: University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho
Cost: Not specified
Dates: Summer, week-long residential academy
Application Deadline: Invitation-only, based on performance in the ISAS coursework
Eligibility: High school juniors selected through the ISAS program
Idaho Science and Aerospace Scholars ends with a selective Summer Academy held in person at the University of Idaho. You will start the program during the school year with an online course built using the NASA curriculum, and then a smaller group of students will be invited to campus for a residential experience. During the academy, you work in teams on a simulated human mission to Mars. You apply ideas from science, engineering, and technology to plan, test, and solve problems as the mission develops. Alongside the mission work, you take part in hands-on activities that show how STEM is used in real projects across Idaho.
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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