Opportunity Guide I Summer, Enrichment & Activities Guide

If your child loves singing, dancing, acting, playing an instrument, composing music or painting and designing, she will find a plethora of outstanding fun and instructional programs where she can develop her talents and meet people who love what she does. Check out extracurricular arts activities, including performance opportunities, at your child’s school or at local community centers. Specialized private weekend classes and summer programs for students of all levels are sponsored by various art institutes, music festivals, universities and professional music and dance companies.

To perform at the highest levels, many arts, especially music and dance, require private lessons and enrichment. If your child likes to perform, look for audition opportunities at local fairs, festivals, community orchestras and theaters. Many professional theaters and ballet companies sponsor summer intensive programs from talented youth. A child who enjoys competing may be interested in participating in arts contests where her work can earn recognition and win awards. The best students compete, at national arts contests that offer scholarship prizes.



  1. The Pre-College Art Experience (PCAE) is a dual-scholarship program available to only current high school students. The program provides classes for students to take at no tuition charge as well as… Read more
  2. The Academy's Conservatory for Young Actors (ACYA) is a four-week summer intensive for students ages 12-16. The program is taught by the same professional and encouraging instructors who oversee The… Read more
  3. Act out and dream big! At our Tony Award–winning conservatory, students ages 8 to 19 develop their talents, perform in professional-caliber productions, and gain the confidence to succeed—all in a… Read more
  4. The Ailey School is the official school of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and offers world-class dance training to students ages 2-25 in the heart of New York City's theater district. The school… Read more
  5. Residential camps covering topics such as: video, traditional and experimental print media, and large format digital print media. During the first morning of each of these camps, there will be an… Read more
  6. Alfred University welcomes high school students to our beautiful campus each year to take part in this exciting overnight summer camp. This two-week program, for students interested in learning more… Read more
  7. The curriculum of the ABT Summer Intensive includes advanced technique classes and critical lecture courses to contribute to the development of a complete dancer. ABT’s teaching philosophy is to… Read more
  8. AMDA is the performer's alternative to summer camp. The High School Summer Conservatory offers intensive performing arts training in a college environment for high school students. Our unique… Read more
  9. Twice every summer, The ASC Theatre Camp (ASCTC) plunges 39 high-school students into three weeks of intensive, immersive, incomparable programming in the Shakespearean Shangri-La of Staunton,… Read more
  10. Welcome to Discover the World of Communication, where you will learn to build a digital portfolio, write a script, shoot and edit a film, write a news story like a pro, speak with confidence,… Read more
  11. Try out college life and take college-level courses in special programs for high school students. High school students with a B or better grade point average may enroll as non-degree students in… Read more
  12. Through on-site arts education programs, outreach to schools and community-based partnerships, Appel Farm provides people of all ages, cultures and economic backgrounds with a supportive, cooperative… Read more
  13. Why Early College Program Summer Institute (ECPSI)? Study with our amazing faculty, passionate teachers and acclaimed practicing artists, designers, and scholars, many of whom teach in the… Read more
  14. ArtWorks is an internship program in the arts for high school (9th – 12th grade) students. Each year, Arts for Learning hires student interns to work in co-ops to flex their creative muscles and… Read more
  15. The Asian Art Museum’s Art Speak internship offers on-the-job training and monthly stipends to seven public high school students in grades 10–12. Interns discover Asian art and cultural traditions,… Read more
  16. Summer programs offered: Summer in the City: Students take two courses of their choice over the span of four weeks. As part of the program, students both participate in admissions and career… Read more
  17. The Bel Canto Institute Summer Program and Youth Division Summer Program has been held in residence in Florence, Italy (see website for location details). Singers and coaches will be chosen by means… Read more
  18. embARC is a four week summer design program at UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design that brings together high school students from diverse backgrounds to explore architecture, urban design… Read more
  19. Berkeley Pre-College Scholars: Summer Residential Program This program offers you the opportunity to live on-campus and be a part of a community of high school students enjoying their summer at… Read more
  20. Berklee summer programs will give you a taste of Berklee—the preeminent institute of contemporary music and the performing arts—on the stage, in the studio, and in the classroom. With programs in… Read more
  21. Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, a summer school of the arts located on a 1,600 acre campus in Michigan’s Manistee National Forest, offers fine arts education for all ages. Each summer, the principal camp… Read more
  22. Summer Academy has been introducing high school students to the fields of architecture and spatial design since 1973. Are you considering a career in architecture or design? Are you working on your… Read more
  23. Vocal/Choral Intensive (VCI) is a two-week summer program for high school-aged singers who are focused on musical theater or classical music. Led by faculty with years of experience training young… Read more
  24. For two weeks, experience life on a college campus and take on new academic challenges in our residential summer program for rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Summer Challenge… Read more
  25. The Boston University Summer Theatre Institute is a five-week conservatory experience for highly motivated high school theatre artists. Designed to mirror the freshman BFA experience within the… Read more
  26. 52 years and 10,000 alumni strong, we’re a leader in the field. We’re a program of Boston University College of Fine Arts and affiliated with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Tanglewood Music Center… Read more
  27. The SMI Piano Camp offers students the opportunity to study music in a stimulating environment under the tutelage of our distinguished piano faculty. This intensive program includes private and group… Read more
  28. BGSU’s Super Sax Camp offers a dynamic musical experience for any high school saxophonists. Located in Bowling Green's state of the art music facility, this historic camp promotes the joy and… Read more
  29. As a violin, viola, cello or bass player, you will receive individual guidance from members of the renowned string faculty at BGSU. Each student is assigned to one of two chamber orchestras, one for… Read more
  30. The purpose of the camp is to help you develop your voice while nurturing your passion for singing. You will receive private lessons, attend vocal seminars, participate in master classes and attend… Read more
  31. Students will spend five fun-filled days learning to make reeds, participating in bassoon and oboe ensembles, receiving private instruction, playing in master classes and concerts. Reed-making… Read more
  32. Whether you are getting ready for your high school’s musical, a community theatre production, or auditioning for college programs, Audition Techniques will help you build your confidence and present… Read more
  33. At BIMA you'll be part of a creative community brimming with artistic discovery and Jewish experiences. Join talented world-class arts faculty and talented peers for a month in the summer to pursue… Read more
  34. Brandeis Summer School offers advanced high school students the opportunity to experience college courses with some restrictions Students who have completed their Junior year of High School can test… Read more
  35. Situated on a lovely wooded 180-acre campus in western North Carolina, Brevard Music Center stands as one of this country's premier summer training programs and festivals. Under the artistic… Read more
  36. Musical Theatre: Five . . . six . . . seven . . . eight! The Musical Theatre track offers a unique environment where students can hone their performing arts skills under the direction of our… Read more
  37. Brooklyn Cultural Adventures Program (BCAP) is a partnership of six treasured cultural institutions in the heart of Brooklyn: Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Botanic Garden,… Read more
  38. BCAP Summer Camp is an award-winning day camp for kids ages 7-12. During our two-week summer program, Adventurers visit two institutions on our Cultural Campus each day, where they explore our annual… Read more
  39. Develop a startup mindset on 2 college campuses. This two-week summer program integrates Brown University Pre-College Programs' long tradition in developing critical thinking based in history, theory… Read more
  40. The Brown University Pre-Baccalaureate Program is a highly selective program for college-bound students. Get a head start on college credit, explore fields of study that may become your major, and… Read more
  41. The Brown University Pre-Baccalaureate Program is a highly selective program for college-bound students. Get a head start on college credit, explore fields of study that may become your major, and… Read more
  42. Each summer, serious students choose Summer@Brown to prepare for college success, and meet the challenges of Ivy League academics. Living and learning on Brown’s magnificent campus, students… Read more
  43. Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture summer camps. For an experience your kids won’t forget, check out the Burke’s exciting camps held each year during mid-winter, spring and summer breaks.… Read more
  44. Since 2010, Calhoun Summer Jazz Workshop has offered a one-week intensive series of day-long classes, workshops and ensemble playing opportunities designed to provide an immersion and/or introductory… Read more
  45. This summer, approximately 250 high school students -- makers, designers, DIYers, and original thinkers from all over the Bay Area and beyond will convene on CCA's Oakland campus and engage in an… Read more
  46. The California State Summer School for the Arts is a rigorous, preprofessional, month-long training program in the visual and performing arts, creative writing, animation and film for talented… Read more
  47. A wide variety of summer academic and sports camps for kids preK through 12th grade. Topics include science, the fine arts, reading and engineering. Check the website for the current year offerings.
  48. Pre-College Art motivates, stimulates and prepares emerging artists and creative problem solvers. Modeled after the rigorous undergraduate School of Art program, students are taught by practicing… Read more
  49. Pre-College Music gives high school students the opportunity to improve as a musician and learn about life in a conservatory-style college curriculum. Throughout Pre-College Music, students gain… Read more
  50. Pre-College Design is a unique opportunity to begin a future student’s true college design experience. Classes are taught by undergraduate School of Design faculty and Pre-College Design students are… Read more