15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Little Rock, Arkansas
- Stephen Turban
- 16 minutes ago
- 12 min read
Summer programs are a practical way for you as a high school student to build skills and explore academic interests outside the regular school year. Many programs offer exposure to college-level academics, introduce professional and research environments, and help you develop transferable skills that strengthen your profile. Through mentorship, collaborative work, and guided projects, these experiences also help you build meaningful connections with educators, researchers, and peers who share similar interests.
What summer programs are available for high school students in Little Rock, Arkansas?
Little Rock offers a range of summer programs across STEM, social sciences, and the humanities, hosted by universities, public institutions, and established organizations. Through these programs, you can take part in academic coursework, supervised research, internships, and structured volunteer roles that build subject knowledge while strengthening your academic and extracurricular profile. These opportunities are good for both local students seeking programs close to home and out-of-city students interested in spending the summer in Little Rock for focused academic and professional development.
In this blog, we’ve reviewed 15 summer programs for high school students in Little Rock, Arkansas.
If you are looking for online STEM summer programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Multiple work sites in Little Rock, AR
Stipend: $11/hour
Dates: 6 weeks over the summer; students may also participate during the school year
Application Deadline: Initial application is due March 31; Job Fairs are hosted in late April and early June
Eligibility: High school students living in Little Rock
Created by the city government of Little Rock, the Career Climb Program is a youth internship program connecting local students with paid summer jobs. You’ll attend a Job Fair in late spring or early summer, where you’ll explore opportunities with program partners across Little Rock. You’ll work with an option in your field of interest, with opportunities in industries including government, communications, law, nonprofits, and financial services, among others. While your work will vary based on your placement, you’ll be expected to contribute at a professional level and join projects with current employees. You’ll gain real-world career experience, network with industry professionals, receive mentorship from your employer, and explore connections between your academic interests and post-college plans. Outside of your job placement, you’ll receive program-hosted support, including career coaching, online training resources, and professional development guidance.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available
Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort
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. 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: University of Arkansas Little Rock, Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: June 15-21
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Current 8th-11th grade students with an interest in engineering
UA Little Rock’s Donaghey College of STEM hosts a fully funded Engineering Scholars Program each summer, focused on educational training and professional development. You’ll work on hands-on engineering projects under the guidance of UA Engineering faculty, studying topics across core engineering sub-fields through a combination of academic workshops and lab sessions. To learn about career opportunities in the field, you’ll also go on off-site visits to engineering plants and companies in the Little Rock area and meet with industry engineers, gaining network experience and learning about their experience entering and working in the field. You’ll also receive college-focused guidance, working with admissions counselors from UA Little Rock to prepare for the college application process and leverage your remaining time in high school to boost your engineering skills.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
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, students are 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, students 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: Little Rock Zoo, Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: Free with a $85 fee for gear/equipment
Dates: Orientation: April 18 | Initial training: April 25 | Program officially begins in the summer; participants may select a start date ranging from June 1 to July 27 | Training lasts 3 weeks, and students are expected to participate for a full year
Application Deadline: February 1
Eligibility: High school students aged 13-17
Little Rock Zoo’s Youth Zoo Crew Program offers high school students a year-round opportunity to deepen their knowledge in zoology and conservation while supporting the Zoo’s operations, beginning with an intensive summer program. You’ll start the summer by working as a counselor at the Zoofari Camp for younger kids. During the following week, you’ll learn to lead tours and events for guests and provide scientific information on zoo exhibits. You’ll finish the training program by studying topics in wildlife conservation and learning about careers in zoology from employees, scientists, and researchers across the Little Rock Zoo. During the rest of the summer, you’ll apply your skills by staffing programming, leading tours, and providing support to zoo employees. You’ll continue serving on the Youth Zoo Crew throughout the school year on a part-time basis.
Location: Museum of Discovery, Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: Students may participate at any point in the year
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18
The Museum of Discovery is a science and technology center offering a volunteer program tailored to high school students. You’ll work as a Guest Experience Volunteer, staffing the museum’s galleries, including Discovery Court, Tinkering Studio, and Room to Grow. You’ll lead educational demonstrations and STEAM activities, answer questions from guests about exhibits, and provide other administrative support to visitors. Your work will center around exhibits including a Guinness World Record-holding Tesla coil, an earthquake simulator in the Dynamic Earth gallery, or an interactive STEAM design studio. The Teenage Volunteer Program is flexibly scheduled based on your availability; you can participate as little as four hours a month while pursuing other summer programs, or make it an intensive summer commitment. After turning 18, you’ll be eligible to take on more responsibility and specialize in a field of your choice.
Location: University of Arkansas Little Rock, Little Rock, AR
Stipend: $1,200 plus fully-funded room and board for summer program | $1,800/year scholarship during freshman and sophomore years of college
Dates: 6 weeks over the summer (Summer Institute) | The program extends throughout students’ time in college
Application Deadline: TBA; as eligibility is contingent on acceptance to UA, it is likely after your admissions decision is released or at the time of submitting your college application
Eligibility: Current high school seniors who are US citizen or permanent residents with a minimum 3.0 GPA and ACT score of 19+ (analogous SAT score likely accepted as well) | Students must be accepted to UA Little Rock for a STEM major and commit to attending to be eligible | Only African Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Native Pacific Islanders are eligible
The LSAMP Program is both a summer and a college program for STEM-focused senior year high school students offered by the University of Arkansas, Little Rock. Only students who commit to attending UA Little Rock are eligible. You’ll spend your summer after senior year on campus for a six-week Summer Institute, where you’ll access exclusive programming including preparation for undergraduate-level courses, advanced STEM research, networking with faculty, and mentorship for your academic and career trajectory. You’ll be guided on navigating the world of academia as someone from an underrepresented group in the STEM field. You’ll receive continued support throughout college, including paid research opportunities, funded conference attendance, personalized academic advising and mentorship, graduate school application counseling, professional development workshops, and networking opportunities, among others.
Location: Arkansas School for Math, Science, and the Arts, Hot Springs, AR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: One week over the summer
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Arkansas students in 8th-9th grade; 9th grade students prioritized | 7th graders in the ASMSA-TIP program are also eligible)
ASMSA, a STEM and Arts-focused institution just outside Little Rock, offers a summer program in Environmental Science and Biotechnology focused on project-based learning. You’ll conduct environmental field work at Hot Springs National Park, surveying the park’s ecosystems and identifying crystal formations. You’ll also visit the Ouachita Mountains region, where you’ll learn about ecology and geology through working hands-on with the formations and natural resources you study. You’ll apply your environmental knowledge to tech-focused biology work during on-campus research, analyzing samples you collect from the field through laboratory experiments.
Location: University of Arkansas Little Rock, Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: 6 weeks over the summer
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: High school students aged 13-19 with a minimum 2.5 GPA attending Mills High School, Sylvan Hills High School, or Jacksonville High School | Must be low-income (based on federal criteria) and a potential first-generation college student
UA Little Rock hosts a branch of the federally funded Upward Bound college access program, featuring long-term support on academic and career development, including a six-week summer program. You’ll spend the summer studying advanced topics across STEM, humanities, social sciences, and specialized electives with instructors including UA faculty. Some high-level options may be eligible for transferable course credits. You’ll receive additional guidance across exploring potential colleges, standardized test prep, career planning discussions, and, for older students, college application counseling. You’ll participate in similar programming throughout the school year, in addition to community service activities, cultural events, and coursework tutoring. You can participate in the program throughout all four years of high school, and are eligible to apply in 9th or 10th grade.
Location: University of Arkansas Little Rock, Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: June 9-13
Application Deadline: May 5
Eligibility: Current high school and undergraduate students interested in AI and/or mental health
High school students with a dual interest in computer science and psychology can consider applying to the University of Arkansas’ AI and Mental Health Hackathon program, an initiative sponsored by Arkansas BlueCross BlueShield and NVIDIA. You’ll attend interactive sessions on current issues in mental health and artificial intelligence, study skills in AI and computer science, then break into 7-person teams to complete a group project addressing a problem of your choice. You’ll be challenged to create an innovative approach to the problem, and expected to leverage strong skills in both software development and psychology principles. After completing your project, you’ll present your work at a program-wide pitch competition judged by industry professionals and researchers from the technology and healthcare sectors. All participants will receive a certification in AI skills at the Beginner, Mid-Level, or Advanced level from NVIDIA, which you can use as an award entry on your resume.
Location: University of Arkansas Little Rock, Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: June 9-13
Application Deadline: March 28
Eligibility: Rising 10th- to 12th-grade students from Arkansas
Hosted by UA Little Rock's School of Human Inquiry, EPSA is a one-week summer program for high school students with an interest in philosophy and social analysis. You’ll study the philosophy subfield of ethics under UA faculty, learning how philosophical frameworks are used in practice through small-group discussions and debates on current events and social issues. The program holds a different thematic focus each year - the two most recent themes have focused on the ethics of technology and the philosophy of creativity. You’ll also be coached in argument analysis and construction, civil discourse, and rhetoric skills, leading to an Ethics Bowl competition at the end of the program. You will learn how to launch an Ethics Bowl team at your school to strengthen your leadership abilities and resume while continuing to hone your skills in philosophical debate.
Location: University of Arkansas locations at Little Rock, Hope-Texarkana, Pine Bluff, and Forge Institute | GenCyber programs are also offered at locations across the US | Virtual participation offered
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: July 7-10 and July 14-17
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 7th- to 12th-grade students
Funded through the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation, Arkansas’ GenCyber program offers training in cybersecurity and computer science to middle and high school students across the state. You’ll cover topics including cyber defense, confidentiality, and cybersecurity ethics, learning strategies to protect yourself online and train others in online safety. You’ll develop computer science skills, including Python programming, robotics, cryptography, and cryptanalysis, through a combination of coursework and simulations. You’ll meet and network with cybersecurity industry professionals, learning about careers in the field and opportunities to continue studying technology and cybersecurity in high school and college.
Location: Arkansas School for Math, Science, and the Arts, Hot Springs, AR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: One week over the summer
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: Arkansas students in 8th-9th grade | 7th graders in the ASMSA-TIP program are also eligible
If you have a passion for language learning and an interest in social studies, Arkansas Goes Global: World Languages & Cultures provides an opportunity to explore these subjects from a multicultural and interdisciplinary approach. You’ll study Spanish, French, Japanese, and Marshallese, a Micronesian language spoken in the Marshall Islands, learning core vocabulary in all four languages. Beyond the language itself, you’ll also learn about the relationship between language and society. You’ll pursue coursework and activities focused on the history, industries, culture, and economics of countries in which the languages are spoken, with a focus on socio-linguistic study. You’ll then apply your knowledge to your own community, studying Arkansas’ culture and economy and the value of internationally-focused learning.
Location: Jodie Mahony Center for Gifted Education, University of Arkansas Little Rock, Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 30 students
Dates: June 23-27
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Rising 8th- to 10th-grade students from Arkansas | Students who have already attended may not reapply in the following years
The MT Stage: From the Bard to Broadway Program at the University of Arkansas Little Rock offers an educational and acting experience for high school students focused on Shakespeare and musical theater. You’ll study Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet”, then work with your peers to create an original musical adaptation of scenes from the play, translating the story into the modern world. As you work on your show, you’ll receive training in naturally structuring songs into a theatrical scene and stage combat. At the end of the program, you’ll perform your work as a series of scenes and songs in the University of Arkansas Little Rock’s theatre.
Location: University of Arkansas Little Rock, Little Rock, AR
Cost/Stipend: $175
Dates: June 9-13
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 6th-10th graders
Hosted by the University of Arkansas Little Rock, the Emerging Writers Institute hosts middle and high school students looking to develop their writing skills in memoir, fiction, and other genres. You’ll be taught by the head of UA’s Little Rock Writing Project, and spend the week learning skills in rhetoric, style, and finding your personal voice. You’ll develop new writing pieces in your favorite genres and receive constructive feedback from your peers and instructor. Through this program, you can prepare for writing competitions and college creative writing portfolios while learning the structure of a college-level writing seminar.
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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