15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Wichita, Kansas
- Stephen Turban
- Mar 3
- 10 min read
For high school students, summer can be one of the few times to learning without daily academic pressure. Summer programs take advantage of that by offering structured opportunities to work on specific subjects, skills, or career interests in a focused setting. They allow you to step outside standard coursework and see what deeper engagement feels like. These programs often include hands-on activities, guided projects, or exposure to professional settings.
What summer programs are available for high school students in Wichita, Kansas?
Wichita offers summer programs through universities, museums, research centers, and local organizations that work closely with high school students. These programs cover areas such as science, healthcare, engineering, arts, leadership, and career exploration. Many focus on small groups and active participation, which allows you to learn by doing rather than just listening.
Because these programs are based in or around Wichita, they are easier to attend and often more affordable. They provide useful experience, guidance from instructors, and exposure to environments that feel closer to college or professional settings.
With that, here is a list of the top summer programs for high school students in Wichita, Kansas!
Note: If you’re looking for an internship in Kansas, check out this blog!
15 Summer Programs for High School Students in Wichita, Kansas
Cost: $400–$450; partial need-based scholarships are available
Location: Newman University, Wichita, KS
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohorts working in faculty-led groups; exact information on the cohort size is not available
Program Dates: One-week summer session (arrive Sunday afternoon; depart Friday afternoon/evening)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA and at least one completed high school science course
Newman University’s Investigative Summer STEM Program places you in a small, faculty-led research group for a one-week residential experience. You select a biology or chemistry research topic, review existing literature, design experiments, collect data, and analyze results. Faculty mentoring is discussion-driven and mirrors undergraduate lab research rather than lecture-based instruction. As part of the research process, you examine how scientific findings translate into real-world applications, including healthcare, materials, and environmental decision-making. You present your results to peers and faculty, practicing evidence-based reasoning and structured communication.
Location: Remote , you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid 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, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Cost: Paid, part-time internship (no application fee)
Location: Textron Aviation, Wichita, KS
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; cohort size varies by department and business need
Program Dates: June 8–July 31 (orientation June 4)
Application Deadline: Applications open in January and remain rolling until roles are filled
Eligibility: High school students age 16+; must be able to work weekday morning hours and meet department-specific requirements
Textron Aviation’s High School Internship Program places you inside a large aerospace manufacturing and services company. You work part-time in departments such as engineering, manufacturing, IT, aviation maintenance, business operations, or communications. Daily tasks expose you to how production schedules, safety standards, and operational constraints shape decision-making in advanced manufacturing. Working alongside full-time employees, you see how cost, efficiency, supply chains, and workforce planning affect aircraft production and support services.
4. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application deadline: On a rolling basis. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
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 you will have access to the in-house publication team to help you 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.
Cost: Paid camps with fees ranging roughly from $25–$200; need-based scholarships available
Location: Wichita State University, Wichita, KS
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort sizes vary by camp and fill on a first-come basis
Program Dates: June 9–July 18 (individual camps run 1–5 days within this window)
Application Deadline: Registration opens March 12; camps close when full
Eligibility: Grades 4–12; some camps recommend or require prior programming or robotics experience, depending on level
Wichita State University’s College of Engineering Summer Camps offer short, skills-focused programs across engineering and computer science disciplines. You participate in hands-on activities involving robotics, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, circuits, biomedical engineering, and design challenges. Instruction focuses on building, testing, and iterating solutions in small teams using tools like Python, robotics platforms, and basic engineering software. Many activities highlight how technical design choices connect to efficiency, optimization, and real-world constraints.
Cost: Paid program; tuition varies by class or camp
Location: The Independent School, Wichita, KS
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; cohort sizes vary by class or camp
Program Dates: Summer session (exact program dates vary by class; summer-long schedule)
Application Deadline: Registration opens February 19 and remains open until classes fill
Eligibility: High school students (through grade 12); programs also serve younger grade levels
The Independent School’s Summer at Independent program offers modular, in-person classes and camps across academics and enrichment subjects. You choose individual courses rather than following a single cohort track. Instruction is hands-on and skill-based, with offerings varying by faculty expertise and student demand. Some classes introduce applied problem-solving, communication, or creative production skills that connect to real-world work environments. The structure allows flexible exploration rather than intensive academic acceleration.
Cost: $175 per credit hour (general education) or $250 per credit hour (major courses) plus a $75 technology fee per course
Location: Friends University, Wichita, KS
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; course caps vary by class
Program Dates: June 1–July 25
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment through the start of each course
Eligibility: High school and homeschool students may enroll as high school guest students; some courses have prerequisites
Friends University Summer School allows you to enroll as a high school guest student in college-level courses for credit. You complete undergraduate-style assignments, exams, and independent work across general education or select major-area classes. Most courses are delivered online, requiring time management and self-directed learning similar to college economics or business coursework. Earning transferable credit exposes you to how academic performance is evaluated in higher education.
Cost: Free (students are responsible for transportation and any lodging, if needed)
Location: Wichita State University, Wichita, KS (WSU Connect on main campus)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Space-limited cohort; selection based on eligibility
Program Dates: August 5–6
Application Deadline: Applications typically close once capacity is reached
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (status for the upcoming academic year required)
Wichita State University’s Philosophy Summer Camp is a short, discussion-based program focused on analytical reasoning and argumentation. You engage in logic puzzles, ethical debates, and applied topics such as social justice, philosophy of medicine, and artificial intelligence. Sessions highlight evaluating claims, identifying assumptions, and weighing tradeoffs, skills closely tied to economic reasoning and policy analysis. Collaborative discussions replace lectures, encouraging structured thinking and evidence-based debate. The camp offers a brief exposure to how philosophical frameworks support decision-making in public and economic life.
Cost: $70 (includes instructional materials and final-day reception)
Location: Wichita State University, Wichita, KS (Woolsey Hall)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Space-limited cohort; registration-based with capacity limits
Program Dates: July 8–11
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until capacity is reached
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12
Wichita State University’s Young Entrepreneurs Summer Camp is a four-day, half-day program hosted by the Barton School of Business. You work through early-stage venture development using structured workshops on ideation, design thinking, business modeling, and basic financial planning. Activities focus on turning ideas into workable business concepts by thinking through costs, pricing, and value creation. Faculty and entrepreneurship practitioners guide collaborative exercises that mirror how startups test assumptions under limited resources. The camp concludes with a pitch competition and networking reception, where you present your concept in an academic business setting.
Cost: $240 (early registration) or $275 (standard); $50 deposit required; optional lunch plan available; limited tuition reduction awards are offered
Location: Wichita State University, Wichita, KS
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited to 45 students; registration-based
Program Dates: June 9–13
Application Deadline: Early registration pricing ends May 1; final registration closes May 31 or when capacity is reached
Eligibility: Students entering grades 5–12 (unchanged voices); high school students are eligible alongside younger participants
Wichita State University’s Kodály Treble Choir Summer Camp is a full-day music program centered on ensemble performance and musicianship. Daily rehearsals focus on disciplined practice, coordination, and group performance, skills that parallel how teams allocate time and effort toward shared outcomes. Instruction focuses on vocal technique, sight-singing, and musical interpretation within a structured rehearsal schedule. Enrichment activities reinforce collaboration and attentive listening. The program concludes with a formal concert, reflecting how coordinated preparation leads to collective performance results.
Cost: $200 per athlete
Location: Wichita State University, Wichita, KS (Charles Koch Arena)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; capacity-based registration
Program Dates: July 12–13
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until capacity is reached
Eligibility: Middle and high school students; high school athletes are eligible alongside middle school participants
Wichita State University’s Shocker Cheer Camp is a two-day skills clinic led by the university’s Spirit Squad. You receive hands-on instruction in cheers, jumps, stunts, pyramids, and dance routines through repeated practice sessions. Training focuses on precision, timing, and teamwork, mirroring how performance quality depends on coordination and efficiency. You learn and perform a personalized game-day routine, applying feedback under time constraints. The camp concludes with a public showcase in a collegiate arena.
Cost: Paid program; tuition varies by session and format (half-day options available)
Location: Wichita State University, Wichita, KS
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; campers grouped by age and skill level in small instructional groups
Program Dates: Summer sessions (multiple weeks; half-day formats offered)
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until sessions are filled
Eligibility: Middle and high school students; high school players preparing for school or USTA competition are eligible
Wichita State University’s Shocker Tennis Camps provide structured on-court training directed by university coaches. Daily sessions focus on stroke mechanics, footwork, serving, and match strategy through drills and supervised play. Instruction highlights tactical decision-making, such as shot selection and point construction, where choices carry opportunity costs. Campers are grouped by skill level to maximize efficient learning. The format reflects how incremental improvement and strategy affect competitive outcomes.
Cost: $100 (members) / $120 (non-members)
Location: Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, KS
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Space-limited enrollment; capacity-based registration
Program Dates: Multiple one-week sessions (Monday–Friday) offered during the summer
Application Deadline: Registration closes the Friday before the selected session begins
Eligibility: Students ages 13–17 (includes high school students)
Sedgwick County Zoo’s Zooniversity is a one-week program introducing you to zoo operations and animal care. You take part in classroom instruction and hands-on activities that explain how zoos manage habitats, staffing, and educational programming. Sessions explore how conservation goals are balanced with operational constraints such as space, resources, and visitor engagement. You practice public speaking by translating scientific and environmental information for visitors. The program highlights responsibility, observation, and applied problem-solving within a working institution.
Cost: $100 (members) / $120 (non-members)
Location: Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, KS
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Space-limited enrollment; capacity-based registration
Program Dates: Multiple one-week sessions (Monday–Friday) offered during the summer
Application Deadline: Registration closes the Friday before the selected session begins
Eligibility: Students ages 13–17 (includes high school students)
Sedgwick County Zoo’s Conservation Academy is a week-long, field-based program focused on environmental data collection and interpretation. You gather ecological data using standardized methods, learning how accurate information supports conservation decisions. Activities highlight tradeoffs between land use, biodiversity protection, and resource management. You also practice explaining findings to the public, linking data to real-world environmental choices. Most learning occurs outdoors through structured teamwork and observation.
Cost: $160 (members) / $180 (non-members)
Location: Sedgwick County Zoo, Wichita, KS
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Space-limited enrollment; selective by performance progression
Program Dates: Multiple two-week sessions (Monday–Friday) offered during the summer
Application Deadline: Registration closes the Friday before the selected session begins
Eligibility: Students ages 14–17; must meet age requirement and be prepared for physically active, outdoor work
Sedgwick County Zoo’s Introductory Zookeeper Apprentice Program is a two-week, apprenticeship-style experience focused on daily animal-care operations. You complete hands-on tasks related to animal care, facility upkeep, and farm operations while working outdoors for extended periods. The program focuses on accountability, productivity, and task completion, with hours formally tracked and performance evaluated. Advancement depends on demonstrated reliability and skill development, reflecting how labor, effort, and performance are assessed in professional settings.
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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