15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Oregon
- Stephen Turban
- Jul 18
- 11 min read
If you're a high school student in Oregon, summer is an ideal time to explore new interests, build skills, and gain early exposure to college-level academics. Many universities, research institutions, and nonprofits across the state offer structured summer programs designed specifically for high school students. These programs often combine classroom learning with hands-on projects, giving you a more engaging and practical experience than what you typically find during the school year.
These programs are a simple way to get a feel for college-level classes and campus life without committing to a full course. You’ll find options in engineering, writing, computer science, and environmental studies, among others. They also give you a chance to build connections with students and teachers who share the same interests.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 15 summer programs for high school students in Oregon!
15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Oregon
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 1-on-1
Location: Virtual - you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Summer (June - August), Fall (September - December), Winter (December - February), and Spring (March - June).
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort - Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school with a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students, offering extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a diverse range of subject areas with program duration options ranging from 12 weeks to 1 year. You do not require prior knowledge or expertise in your field of interest!
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 will have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as STEM, psychology, economics, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25
Location: Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, OR
Dates: June 24 - June 27
Application Deadline: May 23 or until spots are filled
Cost: Free ($25 non-refundable application fee)
Eligibility: High school students in Grades 9 - 12 who are considering a degree in education, paraprofessionals in the field of education, and college graduates considering a graduate degree in education
The Eastern Oregon Teacher Academy (EOTA) at Eastern Oregon University (EOU) offers an intense five-day residential program with activities that will provide insight into the teaching profession to help decide on whether or not to pursue a career in education. You will get one-on-one time with academy instructors and earn one EOU college credit on completion!
You will interact with professional educators, including award-winning teachers, as well as faculty and current students in EOU's undergraduate and graduate programs. You will attend keynote presentations and seminars on leadership and self-improvement, as well as participate in roundtable discussions and team-building activities. Earlier program curricula have included academic sessions on early childhood education, teaching diverse learners in a classroom, student mental health, study abroad opportunities, and more! Recreational activities such as scavenger hunts, wall climbing, and games are also scheduled. The program wraps up with a formal concluding ceremony and reception.
3. Veritas AI
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; group-learning programs have a small cohort size
Location: Virtual
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).
Eligibility: Ambitious high school students located anywhere in the world. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python
Veritas AI is a research program founded by Harvard graduate students that offers two main tracks for high school students interested in artificial intelligence. If you’re just starting out, the AI Scholars program is a 10-session boot camp where you learn core concepts in AI, machine learning, and data science while working on real-world projects.
For students with prior experience, the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase lets you work one-on-one with a mentor from a top university on a personalized research project. You can check out some examples of past projects here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Typically 15 - 25
Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Cost: Free
Dates: July 12 - 19
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Grades 9–12 in Oregon or SW Washington with interest in writing or storytelling. Must meet one additional criteria. Check more details here.
OSU’s High School Journalism Institute is a fully funded, on-campus program for high school students from Oregon and Southwest Washington, focused on students from underserved backgrounds. You spend a week at Oregon State University learning journalism by doing real reporting with professional journalists from The Oregonian/OregonLive. You write, edit, and photograph stories in and around Corvallis, and your work is published on OregonLive.com/teens. You also get access to the Orange Media Network newsroom and take part in activities like movies and bowling with other students. At the end of the program, you earn one college credit.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not available
Location: Clackamas Community College, Oregon City Campus, OR
Cost: Free
Dates: August 11 - 15
Application Deadline: June 8
Eligibility: Grades 9–12 in fall, must live and study in Clackamas County. Priority for underserved students. CCC student ID# required.
Clackamas Community College offers free in-person Career and Technical Education summer programs for high school students in Clackamas County. You choose from hands-on courses in areas like horticulture, green building, medical assisting, CNC machining, renewable energy, music and film, or makerspace innovation. Each course lets you explore a specific career path. For example, you learn organic gardening in Horticulture, audio recording and movie production in Music and Film, or tools and technology in Makerspace. You earn college credit when you complete the course.
Cohort size: 150 across various programs
Location: Chemeketa Community College, Salem, OR; Diesel Technology program is at the Brooks Center, OR
Cost: Free
Dates: June 23 - 26
Application Deadline: May 20 or until spots are filled
Eligibility: Students age 14 - 16 years who live in Marion, Polk or Yamhill County
CTE Exploration Week is a free summer program at Chemeketa Community College’s Salem campus for high school students from Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties. You explore hands-on career paths in fields like health, robotics, early childhood and K-12 education, horticulture, and computer information systems. Mentors guide you through practical activities that reflect real-world work environments. If you are interested in diesel technology, you can also take part in sessions at the Brooks Centre, where you learn about diesel equipment used in agriculture, construction, and forestry.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not available
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: June 23 - July 26
Application Deadline: June 20
Eligibility: Current high school students Grades 9 - 12 within Chemeketa's service district; some courses require minimum placement assessment requirements; homeschooled students registered with the Willamette Education Service District (ESD) are also eligible
Summer Bolt Classes are free online college courses for rising seniors and recent high school graduates living in Chemeketa’s service district. You take a five-week accelerated course through the Canvas platform in a fully asynchronous format, and study books are provided at no cost. You can choose from subjects like STEM, business, humanities, and more.
For example, Digital Literacy builds tech skills with applications in agriculture, skilled trades, and business. Intro to Business covers basics in finance, management, and marketing. Intro to Psychology explores core psychological concepts with links to fields like health, emergency services, and criminal justice. Explore current courses here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not available
Location: OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, OR
Cost: Free with a stipend (approximately $11 an hour/40 hours a week) + bus pass for program duration
Dates: June 23 - August 15 (8 weeks, 40 hours/week)
Application Deadline: December 15
Eligibility: Oregon sophomores, juniors, or seniors from underrepresented backgrounds with 3.0+ GPA, age 16+, and at least one lab science class. Check more details here.
Ted R. Lilley Cancer Continuing Umbrella of Research Education Program is a summer research internship at Oregon Health and Science University for high school students in Oregon from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. You are matched with a cancer researcher at the Knight Cancer Institute and work alongside scientists in a lab, gaining hands-on experience in cancer research. You also attend weekly seminars with oncology experts, take part in lab meetings, and join workshops on essay writing and academic skills.
Cohort size: 200+ overall
Location: University of Oregon, Eugene campus, OR
Cost: Free
Dates: July 14 - 18
Application Deadline: Till spots are filled
Eligibility: Rising 11th or rising 12th-grade high school students who are Oregon residents from low-income, first-generation, and disadvantaged backgrounds
The Summer Academy to Inspire Learning is a free pre-college program for Oregon high school students hosted at the University of Oregon. You spend a week on the Eugene campus exploring college-level topics in STEM, business, education, humanities, and more. You attend faculty-led sessions, tour labs and campus facilities, and take part in workshops that prepare you for college.
You can also choose academic tracks like Psychology and Linguistics, Physics and Physiology, Business, Economics and Math, or Cinema Studies and Design. The program includes themed days, field trips, cultural events, and games. You can also join year-round mentoring and apply for scholarships as a SAIL alum. Work-study stipend options are available based on need and availability.
Cohort size: Varies for each course, typically 2 - 8
Location: Cottonwood Canyon State Park, OR
Cost: $350 + $25 non-refundable application fee, with scholarships offered
Dates: June 15 - 20
Application Deadline: May 15 or until spots are filled
Eligibility: Grades 9 – 12
The Cottonwood Crossing Summer Institute is a one-week field-based program offered by Eastern Oregon University for high school students. You stay at Cottonwood Canyon State Park and choose one of four hands-on courses: Rocks, Rivers and Ancient Life, Visual Storytelling, Neuroscience, or Natural Resources. Each course includes fieldwork and outdoor learning led by EOU faculty and professionals.
In the Rocks course, you study local geology and fossils. Visual Storytelling focuses on photography, journaling, and observation. The Neuroscience course explores how invertebrates use sensory input to navigate, while the Natural Resources course looks at how climate and invasive species affect the river ecosystem. A special River Day includes kayaking with mentors and instructors. You present your project on the final day and earn two college credits from EOU.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not available
Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Cost: $650 for the non-residential option (day camp only) + $65 optional meal card for lunch M-F; $1400 for the residential option. Need and merit-based scholarships offered
Dates: June 22 - 27
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 - 12
JumpstART is a one-week pre-college summer program offered by the School of Visual, Performing, and Design Arts at Oregon State University. You choose one core class and one focus class in visual art, fine art, or digital media. Options include graphic design, drawing, sculpture, photography, Plein air painting, and sequential arts like comics.
You take part in morning, afternoon, and evening sessions led by professional artists, including painters, printmakers, and curators. The program includes discussions on creative process, skill-building workshops, and critiques of your work. It ends with a student exhibition at the Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts in Corvallis. A residential option is available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not available
Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Cost: $250 (payable upon arrival) with partial/full scholarships offered
Dates: July 13 - July 18
Application Deadline: June 2
Eligibility: A girl or a member of an ethnic minority (others also eligible); current high school freshman, sophomore or junior; should be able to participate for the entire week of the program
SESEY is a week-long summer program at Oregon State University for high school girls and students from underrepresented backgrounds in STEM. You work in engineering labs on a hands-on research project with guidance from OSU faculty and college student mentors. Past projects have focused on topics like biomedical polymers, plastic recycling, and bioprocesses.
Your week includes lab work, computer instruction, guest lectures, and a field trip to the Marine Science Institute in Newport. You also take part in group activities like swimming, sports, and an ice cream challenge. The program ends with a student project presentation and award ceremony at Corvallis da Vinci Days.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 60
Location: Oregon State University, Bend, OR
Cost: Registration fee $1,000 for the day option, $1,500 for the overnight option. Partial/full need-based financial assistance is available based on funding availability
Dates: July 20 - 25 (Session 1), July 27 - August 1 (Session 2)
Application Deadline: Rolling dates
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10 - 12 in fall
OSU Cascades Summer Academy is a multi-day program for high school students with both residential and overnight options. You choose an academic track such as engineering, kinesiology, art and media, outdoor product design, or technology. In each track, you work on hands-on projects and join sessions led by OSU faculty.
You also attend leadership and career development workshops and take part in outdoor and group activities like hiking, campfires, floating on the Deschutes River, and creative expression nights. The program includes Student Success 101, where you learn about college life, wellness, clubs, and future planning.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information not available
Location: Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR
Cost: $195
Dates: July through August
Application Deadline: Till spots fill up
Eligibility: Students ages 8-18 (each program has age-specific requirements)
Oregon Sea Grant runs summer camps for students at the Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center in Newport. High school students can join either the Marine Ecology camp for ages 15 to 18 or the Coastal Connections camp for ages 13 to 14. In Marine Ecology, you get hands-on field experience by designing and running your own experiments, collecting and analyzing coastal data. In Coastal Connections, you explore how coastal species adapt to their environments and learn research techniques from visiting scientists.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies for each program
Location: Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR
Cost: Varies, $1,800 - $3,800 with need-based partial scholarships offered
Dates: Vary, June - August
Eligibility: Rising 9th - 12th graders; Rising 10th - 12th graders for the Fir Acres Writing Workshop
Lewis and Clark College offers high school students the chance to explore college-level courses through hands-on summer programs in fields like data science, creative writing, health, and theatre. You choose from options such as Data in Action, Fir Acres Writing Workshop, Future Health Leaders, Immersive Summer Theatre, and the Portland Speech and Debate Institute. Programs include workshops, college prep sessions, and off-campus field trips. You also take part in evening activities like trivia nights and group games.
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.
Image Source - Lumiere Research Scholar Program logo