Opportunity Guide I Summer, Enrichment & Activities Guide

To help a tech-minded child build knowledge and skills, there are a wide variety of school-based activities, online and onsite classes, programs and rigorous summer programs to choose from. Whether your child’s interest is in engineering, computers or robotics, a multitude of entry level classes and activities exist so that she can dig in and discover what interests her. Attending or participating in a Maker Faire is also a great starting point for technology-loving kids to gain exposure to a wide range of inspirational inventions, projects and hands-on learning experiences.

For a child who likes competing, there are research and invention contests and fairs where children can share their original research findings with peers. At the highest levels, an accomplished child may compete in prestigious national and international engineering and technology contests such as the robotic and computing Olympiads and the International Science and Engineering Fair. If your child is serious about pursuing engineering/computer science in college or as a career, it is worthwhile to look into related math programs since the fields are often interconnected.



  1. Technology Student Association (TSA) Competitions
    The Technology Student Association (TSA) is a national organization of students engaged in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Open to students enrolled in or who have completed… Read more
  2. Temple University Summer Programs for High School Students
    Temple University provides several opportunities for high school students to live and learn on campus during the summer. A wide array of course offerings are available each summer. See website for… Read more
  3. Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) Competition
    TEAMS is an annual STEM competition challenging students to work collaboratively and apply their math and science knowledge in practical, creative ways to solve real everyday engineering challenges.… Read more
  4. Texas Tech University (TTU) Clark Scholars Program
    The Clark Scholar Program is an intensive seven week summer research program for highly qualified high school juniors and seniors. The Clark Scholars Program is designed to attract gifted students… Read more
  5. Toshiba/NSTA Exploravision Awards
    More than just a student science competition Since its inception in 1992, nearly 400,000 students from across the United States and Canada have participated in Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision. It's a fun… Read more
  6. UCLA Summer Sessions - Applications of Nanoscience Summer Institute
    The Applications of Nanoscience course is designed for high school students to learn the basics of pursing a scientific research project. As a model students will explore few important applications… Read more
  7. United States Coast Guard Academy - Academy Introduction Mission (AIM) Summer Program
    The Academy Introduction Mission (AIM) is a one-week summer program where you'll immerse yourself in Academy life. Exclusively for students entering their senior year of high school, AIM is regarded… Read more
  8. United States Military Academy (USMA) Summer Leaders Experience (SLE)
    Get introduced to a completely different college experience by attending our SLE. This is a week-long immersion in academic, military and social life for those considering the United States Military… Read more
  9. United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar
    The United States Naval Academy Summer Seminar is the first step in navigating your future to becoming one of our nation's next generation of leaders.   If you are currently in your junior year of… Read more
  10. United States Naval Academy (USNA) Summer Programs
    SUMMER SEMINAR Naval Academy Summer Seminar For Students Entering the 12th Grade Summer Seminar gives you a taste of life at the Academy and kick-starts your application journey for an appointment… Read more
  11. University of St. Andrews Summer Academic Experience Courses
    The Summer Academic Experience Courses offers pupils from around the world the unique opportunity to experience courses taught in the Scottish academic tradition by current academic staff. Students… Read more
  12. University of California San Diego (UCSD) Summer Session
    During the summer you can: accelerate progress towards your degree; enroll in courses that are difficult to enroll in during the fall, winter or spring quarters; enhance your career prospects; enrich… Read more
  13. University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) Summer Sessions
    UCSB Summer Sessions offers a variety of Pre-College programs that provide students with a unique opportunity to earn college credit while in high school. Simultaneously, these programs are designed… Read more
  14. University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) Research Mentorship Program
    The Research Mentorship Program is a competitive, six-week summer program that engages qualified, high-achieving high school students from all over the world in interdisciplinary, hands-on,… Read more
  15. University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB) Science & Engineering Research Academy
    The Science & Engineering Research Academy is a dynamic, 4-week residential and commuter summer program that introduces qualified high school students to the research enterprise through project-… Read more
  16. University of California Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz) Science Internship Program (SIP)
    The Science Internship Program provides motivated, advanced students with a unique opportunity to work and learn at a premier research institution. SIP is a summer-long (10 week) research internship… Read more
  17. University of Dayton School of Engineering High School Programs
    We are dedicated to creating valuable experiences for students who want to know more about the exciting, rewarding life of an engineer. That’s why our engineering community works hard to provide high… Read more
  18. University of Florida Summer Science Training Program (UF SSTP)
    The UF-SSTP is a seven week residential research program for selected rising juniors and seniors who are considering medicine, math, computer, science, or engineering careers. The program emphasis is… Read more
  19. University of Houston G.R.A.D.E. Camp
    G.R.A.D.E. CAMP is a week-long day program designed specifically for entering 8th to 12th grade girls who want to find out what engineering is all about through "hands-on" experience. G.R.A.D.E. CAMP… Read more
  20. University of Illinois Worldwide Youth in Science and Engineering (WYSE) Summer Camps
    WYSE Summer Camps at Engineering Illinois are designed to provide STEM-interested students the opportunity to experience advanced curricula, world-class facilities, and an “away from home,”… Read more
  21. University of Kansas (KU) School of Engineering Summer Camps
    Day and residential camps focusing on computer science and engineering.
  22. University of Maine (UMaine) Summer Youth Programs
    Summer programs for kids in music, the arts and engineering. Program topics vary so see the website for current offerings.
  23. University of Maryland School of Engineering KEYs to Empowering Youth Program
    KEYs to Empowering Youth is a science and technology mentoring program for girls in grades 6-8 designed to provide them with the opportunity to meet and work with women studying and working in… Read more
  24. University of Maryland School of Engineering Girl Scout Engineering Saturday (GSES)
    Girl Scout Engineering Saturday (GSES) is a program for local Girl Scout troops in Maryland and the Washington metropolitan area. Cadettes (grades 6-8) engage in fun hands-on activities and earn the… Read more
  25. University of Maryland School of Engineering S.P.I.C.E. Camp
    S.P.I.C.E Camp, Students with Potential and Interest, Considering Engineering, is a weeklong commuter program for young women who will be entering the 9th and 10th grade in the fall. The program is… Read more
  26. University of Maryland School of Engineering Stepping Stones To Your Future (SSTYF)
    Stepping Stones to your future is a one-week engineering summer camp for rising 7th and 8th women. Hosted by the Women in Engineering Program (WIE) at the University of Maryland, this camp is a… Read more
  27. University of Maryland Terp Pre-College Programs for Middle and High School Students
    In University of Maryland’s innovative Terp Young Scholars and Terp Discovery programs, talented middle and high school students learn from faculty and industry experts, explore UMD’s abundant… Read more
  28. University of Michigan Engineering Center for Engineering Diversity & Outreach (CEDO)
    CEDO offers a collection of summertime programs for a diverse group of middle and high school students. We strive to provide greater educational opportunities for young people especially individuals… Read more
  29. University of Michigan Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) Summer Programs
    Every summer WISE brings over 150 middle and high school students to campus to participate in our summer programs. Students primarily commute from within a 60 mile radious of Ann Arbor. Some come… Read more
  30. University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Pre-College Programs
    The Office of Pre-College Programs offers programs, events, and competitions that have been designed to challenge talented K-12 students to experience academic rigor and success at levels above what… Read more
  31. University of Nebraska at Omaha Aim for the Stars Summer Camps
    Aim for the Stars offers a wide variety of STEM day camps, both co-ed and for girls-only, on topcis such as: physics, 3D printing, astronomy, earth science, structural engineering, electricity,… Read more
  32. University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH - IOL) HighTech Bound
    HighTech Bound is a paid four to six-week summer internship program for high school students entering their senior year. The program provides an exciting opportunity for ambitious students, like you… Read more
  33. University of Notre Dame College of Engineering Introduction to Engineering (IEP) Summer Program for High School Students
    IEP: an engineering camp at Notre Dame! Engineering. It is a profession of immense scope. From Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering to Chemical Engineering, from Computer Science and Engineering to… Read more
  34. University of Pennsylvania (Penn) Management & Technology Summer Institute (M&TSI)
    The Management & Technology Summer Institute (M&TSI) is a rigorous and rewarding for-credit summer program for rising high school seniors and a select few rising high school juniors… Read more
  35. University of Pennsylvania (Penn) School of Engineering and Applied Science - Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP)
    The Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP) welcomes highly motivated and talented students to explore Engineering at the college level. The Academy’s intensive, three-week programs combine… Read more
  36. University of Pennsylvania (Penn) Summer Science Initiative (PSSI) at the Laboratory for Research on the Structure of Matter (LRSM)
    The LRSM has organized a free PSSI four week summer program for local high school students interested in materials science and engineering since 1993. Typically 24-28 students, usually juniors but… Read more
  37. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Hillman Cancer Center Academy
    The Hillman Academy provides rising high school seniors with eight weeks of research-focused didactic and experiential learning at six locations. During this time, scholars will work on their own… Read more
  38. University of Rochester Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) Summer Research Program for High School Juniors
    The Laboratory for Laser Energetics (LLE) at the University of Rochester holds an annual summer research program for Rochester-area high school students who have just completed their junior year. The… Read more
  39. University of Rochester Pre-College Programs
    At the University of Rochester, students pursue only what they’re interested in. With Rochester’s Pre-College Programs, high school students get that same freedom. Students make significant… Read more
  40. University of South Florida (USF) Pre-College Summer Programs
    USF Pre-College invites high school students from throughout the country and around the world to an outstanding summer experience at the University of South Florida. Students with exceptional ability… Read more
  41. University of Southern Indiana Girls Only (GO) STEM! Camp
    Bring a girlfriend and come spend a summer week on the beautiful campus of the University of Southern Indiana. During the Girls Only (GO) STEM! Camp, you and twenty-three other young ladies from all… Read more
  42. University of Texas Arlington Engineering and Computer Science Summer Camps
    The Engineering and Computer Science Camps are designed to be fun and educational experiences for students. Our one week camps were created to provide students with a broad exposure to the variety of… Read more
  43. University of St. Thomas Science, Technology, and Engineering Preview Summer (STEPS)
    Building on the success of the STEPS programs hosted at the University of St. Thomas since 2000, five engineering one-day programs will be offered in the summer 2018. It is a no-cost engineering… Read more
  44. University of Washing Materials Camp (MatCamp) for High School Students
    The high school MatCamp is a materials science-based summer day camp for high school students who will be entering their Junior or Senior year in fall. The camp is free; campers are responsible for… Read more
  45. University of Washington (UW) Center for Sensorimotor Neural Engineering Young Scholars Program (YSP-REACH)
    The CSNE at the University of Washington sponsors a 5-day “YSP-REACH” on the Seattle Campus during the summer. High school students receive an introduction to neural engineering, neuroethics,… Read more
  46. University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW - Madison) Engineering Summer Program (ESP)
    Engineering Summer Program (ESP) is a fully funded, six-week residential program for students who will be high school juniors or seniors in the upcoming school year. The ESP course curriculum… Read more
  47. Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) High School Summer Institutes
    High School Summer Institutes combine traditional undergraduate class and lab curriculum with organized field trips, guest lectures, and small group activities in order for students to gain valuable… Read more
  48. Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) High School Summer Scholars Program
    Through the High School Summer Scholars Program students have the opportunity to enroll in courses for credit and study alongside undergraduates. Students select from a broad range of stimulating… Read more
  49. Wesleyan College Spectacles Camp
    Math and science residential camp for middle-school girls. Middle school is a crucial time for girls as they view the world and the options that are before them. It is often the time when they make… Read more
  50. Wonder League Robotics Competition
    Coding is the new team sport for future tech leaders and innovators. Teams of kids ages 6-8, 9-11, and 12-14 will design solutions for real-world science and technology challenges by programming… Read more