Opportunity Guide I Summer, Enrichment & Activities Guide

Versed Opportunity Guide is a comprehensive pre-college enrichment program listing that details the vast array of US-based academic and extracurricular programs that provides opportunities for students to explore and pursue their interests and passions.  All entries are curated and many are recommended by our Parent Advisors.

The purpose of the guide is to educate parents and students about the best opportunities available at each age and academic level. These programs maximize learning opportunities and allow students to pursue their interests at the highest levels throughout their school years, which may give them an edge when applying to college.

How to use this guide:

The guide lists educational programs, camps, contests, competitions and other activities, both online and onsite, available to students that are categorized by academic and extracurricular interest. Additionally, the platform allows parents and students to search based on age, school year, location, and general search terms.

To begin, start with a broad interest category that pertains to your child and familiarize yourself with the activity path and how children interested in the same areas have successfully engaged in the variety of activities and programs listed in the guide. As you click on narrower categories, you will get a sense for many of the ways that highly engaged students follow their interests to the highest levels. At the same time, feel free to explore adjacent categories to find related areas as interests change and evolve over time.



  1. The Concord Review at Brandeis trains high school students to write high-caliber, in-depth history research papers over two or three weeks. Students attend interactive group classes, have frequent… Read more
  2. Connect with motivated students from around the globe and learn with professionals in their fields for a life changing summer of intensive study, experiential learning and vibrant Jewish community.… Read more
  3. The Global Youth Summit on the Future of Medicine (GYS) is a prestigious and challenging program for rising high school juniors and seniors — students with a passion for medicine and science, who are… Read more
  4. Are you ready to step up as a leader in your school, youth group or home community? Do you want to make positive social change in the face of structural inequality? Are you prepared to change the… Read more
  5. Young people across the country are embracing the opportunity to make change. The powerful history of the related social movement must anchor their labors. LGBTQIA+ teens and their allies are… Read more
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. Established in September 1999, the Bill of Rights Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization that works to engage, educate, and empower individuals with a passion for the freedom… Read more
  9. 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
  10. Broadcom MASTERS (Math, Applied Science, Technology and Engineering for Rising Stars), is the premier STEM competition for middle school students. The program is founded and produced by the Society… Read more
  11. The High School Research Program (HSRP) is a highly competitive six week educational program for students interested in pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) studies.… Read more
  12. STEM Prep Summer Institute is a four week enrichment program for students who are members of an under-represented minority (African ancestry, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, or Pacific Islander) in… Read more
  13. Advanced high school students who have an interest in a science, engineering, or math-based career can explore their options this summer at one of the Department of Energy’s premiere facilities,… Read more
  14. The Garden Apprentice Program (GAP) at Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a great way for teens to learn about urban agriculture and the environment while working in one of the most exciting public gardens… Read more
  15. Cultivate a love of nature and a connection to plants in your kids by signing up for a Children's Garden class at Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Children aged 2 to 17 can plant their own crops and flowers… Read more
  16. 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
  17. 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
  18. Since 2000, the Brower Youth Award, the flagship event of the New Leaders Initiative program, has recognized outstanding youth leaders who are making strides in the environmental movement. The public… Read more
  19. 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
  20. Brown Environmental Leadership Labs (BELL) combines content in environmental advocacy, ecology, leadership, and field methods, with a mission of developing socially responsible leaders. BELL gives… Read more
  21. The Brown Leadership Institute believes that young people are already making powerful contributions to their communities and, through participation in this program, no matter your current level of… Read more
  22. Brown Pre-College Location-Based Programs are immersive and rigorous academic experiences with selected course content and learning locations designed to prepare students for the increasingly complex… Read more
  23. Pre-College Online courses at Brown are rigorous, active learning experiences, designed and led by innovative and dedicated Brown instructors. Explore challenging subjects through coursework designed… Read more
  24. 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
  25. 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
  26. 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
  27. STEM II is a two-week residential program for curious and talented students who seek to: Focus their interests, and prepare for advanced study in STEM fields Work closely with peers on research… Read more
  28. STEM I is a two-week residential program for curious middle school students who seek to: Immerse themselves in exciting STEM subjects Connect with other students who love learning as much as they do… Read more
  29. Summer at the Buck offers local students the opportunity to experience science in an exciting, hands-on way! This two-week high school immersion program provides an in-depth internship program to… Read more
  30. Summer at the Buck offers local students the opportunity to experience science in an exciting, hands-on way! Each summer, the Buck offers summer camps for students ages 10 to 14 years old in our… Read more
  31. High school internships. Each summer the Buck Institute for Research on Aging provides a seven-week research internship to prepare local high school students for careers in biomedical and geoscience… Read more
  32. Engineering is a huge part of what powers a tech company, but let’s make one thing clear: the career possibilities in tech are varied and endless. #BUILTBYGIRLS gives high school and college women… Read more
  33. Designed to inspire the next generation of researchers and engineers, Girls in Science connects elementary, middle, and high school girls with female scientists from the Burke Museum and the… Read more
  34. 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
  35. The Cal National Debate Institute is the premier summer camp for Policy, Lincoln Douglas, and Public Forum students held at the end of June/beginning of July. There are no experience requirements,… Read more
  36. 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
  37. Created in 1996, the Careers in Science (CiS) Intern Program provides San Francisco youth from communities traditionally underrepresented in STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) fields… Read more
  38. The Teen Advocates for Science Communication program (TASC Force) is a youth volunteer opportunity to learn about science and the natural world, engage with the Academy’s scientists and staff, and… Read more
  39. 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
  40. Graduates of the California Scholastic Press Association workshop do more in 13 days than most people do all summer. But whether you’re an experienced student journalist or simply interested in… Read more
  41. COSMOS is an intensive four-week summer residential program for students who have demonstrated an aptitude for academic and professional careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (… Read more
  42. 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
  43. A residential camp (also day campers) for high school and junior high students in Individual Events (beginning and advanced), Public Forum Debate, Cross Examination Debate (beginning and advanced),… Read more
  44. 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.
  45. C&! is a summer vacation for math kids organized by grownup math kids. We know that these children are capable of incredible things and they need an environment where they have real peers, where… Read more
  46. Camp Euclid is a mind-tingling mathematics research program for youth. Participants will encounter solution-defying math problems (which have never been solved before). Mull over and grapple with… Read more
  47. The UH Cancer Center Summer Internship is an intensive program designed to provide research experience and mentorship for high school and undergraduate students who are interested in cancer research… Read more
  48. Capitol Debate's goal is to enrich the lives of students through communication programs including public speaking, debate, business and STEM communication summer camps. To do that, we gather expert… Read more
  49. The Summer Internship Program provides an opportunity for high school and undergraduate students to carry out independent research under the supervision of Carnegie DPB Staff Members. The program… Read more
  50. 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