15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Montgomery, Alabama

If you've ever wondered how your interests might translate to college or a career, summer programs can help you explore that. Summer programs for high school students provide time to try new things and learn with peers with expert mentorship. Participating in a competitive summer program can boost your college applications by showing admissions officers your intellectual curiosity and ability. 

Why choose a summer program in Montgomery, Alabama?

From colleges to nonprofit groups and cultural organizations, Montgomery’s summer offerings offer you access to instructors and mentors with years of experience. You can work on science experiments, creative writing projects, civic memos, or apps, depending on the subject you’re interested in. A summer program can give you clarity about your interests and something to reflect on when you talk about your goals in your college essays. 

To help you get started, here are 15 summer programs for high school students in Montgomery, Alabama!

1. Upward Bound Math and Science Summer Residential Program

Location: Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL

Cost: Free

Program Dates: Six-week summer residential program. Typically, from June to July

Application Deadline: Typically opens in March

Eligibility: Current high school students, primarily recruited in 9th and 10th grade, who meet U.S. Department of Education income criteria and are first-generation college students.

Upward Bound Math and Science Summer Residential Program places you inside a university setting for a full summer, where as someone expected to keep pace. You will take math and science classes that mirror college expectations, using campus labs, libraries, and study spaces. Academic work is paired with steady support like tutoring when you hit a wall, advising when college feels abstract, and structured guidance around exams, applications, and financial aid. The idea is slow exposure, not pressure. By the end, college feels less distant and more navigable because you’ve already lived a version of it.

2. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Location: Remote

Cost: Varies by the program. Full financial aid is available 

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective

Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year

Application Deadline: Varies by cohort

Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students; strong academic performance

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. You are paired one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor and work on an original research project in a field of your choice. Subjects range from computer science and data science to chemistry, economics, and psychology. Over the program duration, you develop a full research paper under close mentorship. The flexible structure allows you to participate from anywhere. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here. 

3. Federal Defender Program Summer Internship

Location: Montgomery, Alabama

Cost: None. Pays a stipend

Program Dates: Summer (Typically June–August)

Application Deadline: Rolling basis; students encouraged to apply in early spring

Eligibility: High school students interested in law, public service, or the criminal justice system

The Federal Defender Program for the Middle District of Alabama offers a paid summer internship designed to introduce high school students to the federal criminal justice system. You’ll work alongside attorneys and professional staff who represent individuals charged with federal crimes, gaining exposure to legal processes and public defense work. After completing training and orientation, you assist with a range of tasks that support client representation. Responsibilities may include organizing case materials, assisting with administrative duties, contacting community resources, and helping with office operations. Assignments are tailored based on your skills and interests. 

4. Veritas AI

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies by the program. Financial aid is available. 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. 

5. Baptist Health Summer Teen Volunteer Program

Location: Montgomery, Alabama

Cost: Free to participate

Program Dates: June 6 – July 25

Application Deadline: April 1

Eligibility: High school students from the River Region with a minimum B average; prior volunteer experience and an interview are required.

The Baptist Health Summer Teen Volunteer Program places you inside a working hospital where your role is service-based. You commit to regular volunteer hours and assist staff, patients, and visitors across different departments depending on placement. Some days involve patient interaction, others focus on behind-the-scenes support that keeps the system running. Along the way, you see how hospitals function as coordinated workplaces rather than isolated departments. The experience gives you a grounded sense of healthcare settings, routines, and professional expectations.

6. Trenholm State Upward Bound

Location: Trenholm State Community College, Montgomery, Alabama

Cost: Free

Dates: Summer, a six-week in-person

Application deadline: Varies by school year

Eligibility: High school students currently in grades 9–10 from select Tri-County area schools; first-generation college-bound students and/or students from low-income households.

Trenholm State Upward Bound is built for continuity. The summer component brings you onto a college campus for classes and skill-building. Support continues through the school year, helping you stay organized, improve academic habits, and plan for college requirements. The focus is on showing up, tracking progress, and learning how to manage expectations over time. Instead of a single intensive experience, you get a longer runway to adjust to academic demands and college planning.

7. Alabama Youth Institute

Location: Henderson Hall, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama

Cost: Free; meals provided

Program Dates: One-day intensive institute; June 27 (tentative, verify current year date)

Application Deadline: Approximately one week before the event 

Eligibility: High school students, grades 9–12

Alabama Youth Institute brings you to campus for an intensive day centered on food systems and global challenges. Before you arrive, you will research a food security issue and write it up. Discussions are led by faculty experts and professionals who work directly in agriculture and development, turning research into practical conversations. Activities focus on how food access, agriculture, and policy intersect in real communities. Beyond the event itself, the program opens a door to international research and internship opportunities and connects you with peers across Alabama who are thinking seriously about agriculture and social impact.

8. Montgomery Public Schools Summer Learning Academies

Location: Montgomery Public Schools, Montgomery, Alabama

Cost: Free

Dates: June 9 – July 3

Application Deadline: Rolling, based on program capacity

Eligibility: K–12 students enrolled in Montgomery Public Schools, including high school students entering grades 10–12

The Montgomery Public Schools Summer Learning Academies are designed to keep academic momentum going when school is out. You attend structured sessions that focus on core subjects, test preparation, or advanced coursework, depending on your track. Some offerings concentrate on ACT readiness or AP-level math, while others blend academics with creative or STEM-focused activities. The environment is classroom-based but less rigid than the regular year, giving you room to strengthen weak areas or prepare for what’s coming next without the pressure of grades.

9. City of Montgomery Parks & Recreation Summer Program

Location: Goodwyn Community Center, Montgomery, Alabama

Cost: $40

Dates: June 2 – July 25

Application deadline: Rolling registration

Eligibility: Children and teens ages 6–17

The City of Montgomery Parks and Recreation Summer Program is an in-person summer enrichment option designed to keep children and teens active, engaged, and supervised during the summer months. You can expect a mix of open gym time, arts and crafts, swimming, archery, special events, and field trips. This program functions best as a general enrichment and activity-based option, particularly for those seeking a low-cost, full-summer program within Montgomery city limits.

10. Nike Basketball Camp at Montgomery Academy

Location: Montgomery Academy, Montgomery, Alabama

Cost: Varies by registration options

Program Dates: July 22–July 26 (tentative, based on previous year dates)

Application Deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: Boys and girls, youth and high school–age basketball players, all skill levels

Nike Basketball Camp at Montgomery Academy, directed by Elite Hoops Basketball in partnership with Nike Basketball Camps and hosted at Montgomery Academy, centers on skill development and competitive play. You will take part in daily drills focused on position-specific skills for guards, wings, and post players. Training sessions are paired with structured scrimmages, including 3-on-3 and 5-on-5 play, to apply skills in live game settings. The camp follows a structured schedule led by experienced coaches in a supervised athletic environment.

11. Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) Summer Camps for High School Students

Location: Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama

Cost: Mostly free; select programs priced at $200 per week

Dates: Late May–July, varies by camp

Application Deadline: Varies by program; enrollment is limited for free camps

Eligibility: Middle school and high school students

Auburn University at Montgomery uses its summer camps to open campus spaces to short skill-focused programs. You choose a camp based on interest and spend the week working through projects rather than sitting through lectures. In STEAM and digital arts offerings, you learn by building, experimenting, and revising, often using university equipment and labs. Creative camps lean toward production, while technical programs mix coding or modeling with communication exercises. The experience feels contained and practical, giving you exposure without long-term commitment.

12. Summer@MA  High School Academic & Enrichment Camps

Location: Montgomery Academy, Montgomery, Alabama

Cost: Varies by camp and duration

Dates: Seven-week program in the summer

Application deadline: Rolling, based on camp availability

Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12

Summer@MA High School Academic & Enrichment Camps, run by Montgomery Academy, offer subject-focused summer courses designed for academic skill-building and exploration. You can enroll in camps that emphasize ACT preparation, speech and debate, and other topic-based courses. Instruction centers on strengthening critical thinking, communication, and structured academic work while using campus classrooms and facilities. The format allows you to focus on specific interests in a classroom setting rather than research or lab-based work.

13. Teen Art and Activism Camp

Location: Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, Montgomery, Alabama

Cost: $60

Dates: June 12–June 15

Application deadline: Advance registration required; limited to 15 students

Eligibility: Ages 13–18

Teen Art and Activism Camp, hosted by the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, focuses on how art can be used to engage with social issues and public dialogue. You will spend time in guided studio sessions working with different materials while discussing how artists have responded to social movements. The program includes conversations with local artists and guest speakers, including voices connected to civil rights work. A guided visit to The Bias Inside Us exhibition helps you connect creative practice with real-world narratives around identity, bias, and social change.

14. Behind the Curtain: Tech Camp

Location: Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Montgomery, Alabama

Cost: $300

Dates: July 14– July 18

Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment; financial assistance applications due by May 31

Eligibility: Rising grades 8–12

Behind the Curtain: Tech Camp is a one-week, full-day, in-person summer program designed for middle and high school students interested in the technical and behind-the-scenes aspects of live theatre. During the program, you’ll gain experience alongside technical theatre professionals in areas such as costumes, scenic construction, lighting, stage design, and production management. In addition to learning core technical skills, you’ll contribute technical elements to one of ASF’s performance-based summer camps, offering a real-world production context for your work. The camp also includes a Technical Theatre Olympics challenge, encouraging teamwork, creative problem-solving, and applied learning in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

15. Maxwell Air Force Base Youth Centers Summer Programs

Location: Maxwell Air Force Base Youth Center, Montgomery, Alabama

Cost: $30 for members; $40 for non-members per program activity

Program Dates: Year-round with expanded summer offerings; specific dates vary by activity

Application Deadline: Rolling; register through military youth systems (CYPBMS) or by phone

Eligibility: Youth ages 9–18, including high school students; military families with base access (dependents of active duty, retirees, and DOD civilians).

Maxwell Air Force Base Youth Centers offer summer programming that blends structure with flexibility inside a military community setting. You can join leadership-focused clubs that emphasize service responsibility and personal development while taking part in sports, creative activities, and STEM sessions. Some programs are built around long-term goals like leadership recognition and scholarships, while others are designed as weekly or daily activities that keep you engaged. Staff members are trained in youth development and mentorship, and the environment reflects the diversity of military family life.

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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