13 Summer Programs for High School Students in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
- Stephen Turban
- Mar 17
- 8 min read
If you’re a high school student interested in exploring a subject beyond the classroom curriculum, a summer program can be a worthwhile way to build foundational skills and knowledge. Summer programs often combine practical work with mentorship from faculty, graduate students, or industry professionals, allowing you to build useful skills and make connections.
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, offers a variety of opportunities for high school students, be it in science, music, or the arts. You could participate in biomedical research, shadowing professionals in a lab, or explore a career in horticulture! You can learn printing or explore multimedia options. Such options give you a head start for your career and prepare you for undergraduate-level study.
To help you get started, we’ve put together 13 summer programs for high school students in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, selected based on the rigor of the curriculum, networking opportunities, and the program's reputation. The list includes research-based programs, camps, and one-day events and workshops in Sioux Falls, along with a few fully virtual programs open to students in Sioux Falls.
Location: Sanford Research Laboratory, Sioux Falls, SD
Cost/Stipend: $4,000 scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 26 – July 31
Application Deadline: January 9
Eligibility: Students at least 16 years old by May 26 and entering their senior year in the fall; home-schooled students are eligible
The PROMISE Scholars Summer Internship places you in a Sanford biomedical research lab for ten weeks. You will work with scientists on research projects and contribute as part of the laboratory team. You will learn to design experiments, analyze data, and read scientific literature through journal discussions. You’ll study research ethics, including data integrity, authorship, and responsible treatment of research subjects. Finally, you will present your work as a scientific poster at the Sanford Research Symposium and earn undergraduate elective credit through the University of South Dakota. The internship is designed for students who want a serious, full-time introduction to biomedical research before college.
Location: Remote; open worldwide
Cost: Varies by program type; full financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Program Dates: Vary by cohort (summer, fall, winter, spring); programs range from 12 weeks to 1 year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students with strong academic achievement
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program that offers extensive research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs you with a Ph.D. mentor to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, and data science, among others. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Location: Southeast Technical College, Sioux Falls, SD, and on-site locations in SD
Cost/Stipend: Earn around $5,000
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 10-week program; classes begin May 26
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and older
The Construction Career Academy introduces you to the construction industry through a ten-week work experience in the field. You will split time between classroom instruction and job sites with local construction professionals. You’ll learn core construction skills such as job-site safety, basic hand and power tools, blueprint reading, and workplace skills needed to function on a professional crew. You will earn five college credits and leave with a clearer understanding of what a career in construction actually involves.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling basis; varies by cohort
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, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students passionate about artificial intelligence. If you're new to AI, ML, and data science, the AI Scholars program is a good fit. Over 10 sessions, you'll learn the basics of AI and data science and get to work on real-world projects. For those who are more experienced with AI concepts and Python, there's the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase, where you’ll work one-on-one with mentors from top universities on a unique project. You’ll also have access to the in-house publication team to help you get your work published in high school research journals. You can apply to the program here.
Location: Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD
Cost/Stipend: Not specified, check the application form here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Shadow opportunities available during the school year and the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 years old
The Sanford Research Shadow Program lets you observe daily work inside a biomedical research lab in Sioux Falls. You will spend a focused two-hour block with research staff and see how scientists approach experiments, data, and lab routines. You can choose specific research groups, such as cancer biology, genetics, or pediatrics. This option works well if you want a low-commitment way to explore biomedical research before applying to longer internships.
Location: Southeast Technical College, Sioux Falls, SD, and on-site locations in SD
Cost/Stipend: Work hours and salary vary by company
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Vary by company
Application Deadline: Classes begin in May
Eligibility: High school students aged 16 and older
The Horticulture Career Academy at Southeast Technical College introduces high school students to plant science. You’ll study plant biology, plant physiology, and pest management through both classroom instruction and lab work. The program also emphasizes workplace skills and career awareness in horticulture and sports turf management. You apply what you learn through on-the-job training with local professionals. The experience shows how plant science connects to real landscapes, turf systems, and maintenance work. By the end of the program, you earn three college credits that apply toward an associate degree in Horticulture Technology or Sports Turf Management.
Location: Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD
Cost/Stipend: $125 or pay-what-you-can
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – 27
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Girls ages 14–18
Levitt Songwriting Jam Camp focuses on songwriting, performance, and creative confidence for high school students interested in music. You will learn how to write lyrics, develop melodies, and shape original songs through guided sessions led by music educators and local female songwriters. You work closely with instructors who actively write and perform music. The week ends with a live performance on the Levitt stage as part of a public concert. Campers perform their original work alongside a professional musical artist, giving clear exposure to what live performance involves in a real concert setting.
Location: Education Camps & Classes, Washington Pavilion, Sioux Falls, SD
Cost/Stipend: $112–$125
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: April 7, 14, 21, 28
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
The Mixed Media session focuses on three-dimensional sculpture and personal visual expression. You will design and build an original piece using wire and papier-mâché as the core structure. You will learn to focus on form, balance, and construction in sculptural work. You’ll apply paint and surface details to complete the final piece. Finally, you will leave the sessions with a finished sculpture that shows your creative decision-making from start to finish.
Location: Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD
Cost/Stipend: No cost
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 15 students
Dates: February 16
Application Deadline: First-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: Students in grades 10–12
Sanford PROMISE Biomedical Research Investigation Day is a one-day program hosted at Sanford Research in Sioux Falls. You spend the day learning from research scientists inside a biomedical lab. This session focuses on brain development through work led by the Bustos Lab. You will understand how to design research questions, study lab methods, and understand how scientists study brain development at the cellular level. The program is designed for students who want early exposure to biomedical research before college.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $25
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots; exact details not available
Dates: July 27 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling, with a priority deadline of April 25
Eligibility: Rising 9th–12th graders
The WIE RISE! Summer Research Program is a fully virtual week-long introduction to engineering research for high school students. You will explore a different engineering discipline daily, and visit the University of Maryland research labs through guided virtual tours. You will read scientific papers, analyze data, and communicate research findings. There are structured at-home experiments and activities using common household materials, like building a simple circuit or modeling a dataset. Current Maryland Engineering undergraduates will help you with academic pathways. You conclude the program with a virtual presentation of your mini research project with peers.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive application
Dates: June 15 – July 23 (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays)
Application Deadline: February 9
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Neuroscience High School Scholars Program is a free, virtual six-week program that introduces you to neuroscience with a focus on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. You will attend seminars three days a week on topics such as brain imaging, neurodegeneration, and public health challenges. There are journal clubs, virtual lab activities, and case-study discussions to understand how neuroscientists investigate brain disorders. The program also includes Neurology Grand Rounds, where you’ll have the opportunity to observe presentations from clinicians and researchers on current topics in neurology. You will work on a final research project, explore a specific question, and present your findings.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive application
Dates: June 15 – July 23 (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays)
Application Deadline: February 9
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The University of Texas Southwestern Inspiring Careers in Mental Health Internship is a two-week virtual program for high school students aiming to pursue mental health professions. You’ll engage with licensed clinical social workers, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, and physician assistants to learn their daily responsibilities and training pathways. The program is designed to give you a clearer understanding of the mental health workforce and how different roles contribute to patient care.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $45 application fee + $2,400 program fee; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 50 students
Dates: June 15 – 26 | July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: February 20 (financial aid deadline: February 13)
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+ entering grades 9–12; U.S. citizens or permanent residents
The Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship is a two-week virtual program designed to introduce high school students to the use of artificial intelligence in medical research. You will attend lectures on the fundamentals of machine learning and applications of AI in clinical settings. You will attend sessions with guest speakers from different fields, including academia, industry, government, etc. You’ll work on a group project to solve a real problem in the medical space using AI. Throughout the program, you’ll be mentored by Stanford faculty, graduate students, and research staff. Students receive a certificate on completion.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. 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 - UCLA logo