15 Summer Programs in South Dakota for High Schoolers

What’s Covered:

• 15 Summer Programs in South Dakota for High Schoolers
• How do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances?

Summer programs, also known as pre-college programs, are academically focused courses that give high schoolers the opportunity to learn new skills and develop new interests while diving deeper into their existing ones. Summer programs also benefit students by providing them the chance to explore possible majors and gain insight into different career paths.  

15 Summer Programs in South Dakota for High Schoolers

1. Robotics & Automated Manufacturing

This four-day program teaches participants to design and manufacture parts using computer-controlled (CNC) machines and industrial robots to produce finished products. Students will gain first-hand experience with computer-aided design software, computer-aided manufacturing software, 3D printing, jigs and fixtures, end of arm tooling, and robot work cell simulation software. 

Affiliate Organization: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Grades: 9th-12th

Cost: $200

Deadline: 6/13/22

Additional Requirements: Personal statement 

2. Wild Weather Camp

The Wild Weather Camp from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is the perfect program for high schoolers passionate about all things climate-related. This four-day course introduces students to topics like weather forecasting, flash floods, and tornadoes. Additionally, teens will have the chance to interact with local weather experts. 

Affiliate Organization: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Grades: 8th-12th

Cost: $200

Deadline: 6/6/22

3. Water World 

This geology/geological-engineering-aimed summer camp introduces participants to the challenge of ensuring access to fresh water along with the natural and human-caused processes that affect water quality—particularly in the Black Hills region. Students will also explore career opportunities and speak to professionals working in water-focused fields. 

Affiliate Organization: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Grades: 8th-12th

Cost: $200

Deadline: 6/18/22

4. Mining and Explosives Camp

What better place to learn about mining and explosives than South Dakota, a state known for its rich history in the industry? During this four-day program, students will take field trips to active mines while learning about the topic from trained explosives experts. Additionally, participants will have the chance to learn about detonating various materials.

Affiliate Organization: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Grades: 8th-12th

Cost: $200

Deadline: 6/6/22

5. It Is Rocket Science

Embarking on a career as a rocket scientist may seem intimidating. So why not get a leg up on the competition by attending the four-day It Is Rocket Science summer program at the South Dakota School of Mines? During this course, students explore an array of physics topics, including mechanics, neutrinos, and the search for dark matter. As a bonus, they’ll get to visit research labs and even launch a real rocket.

Affiliate Organization: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Grades: 9th-12th

Cost: $200

Deadline: 6/13/22 

6. Materials, Metallurgy, and Forensics

This four-day summer program exposes students to topics related to metallurgy and forensics. Not only will students learn about topics like heat treating, blacksmithing, and welding, but they’ll also have the chance to use a scanning electron microscope to characterize different materials. Participants will also practice forensic engineering to discover why materials fail and to determine the authenticity of metal artifacts.   

Affiliate Organization: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Grades: 8th-12th

Cost: $200

Deadline: 6/20/22

Additional Requirements: Personal statement 

7. Green Chemistry Camp

If you’re passionate about shaping a brighter and more sustainable future, the Green Chemistry Camp out of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology is for you. A four-day program, the camp exposes students to the 12 principles of Green Chemistry. Additionally, teens will learn about renewable energy concepts from real-life industry experts.

Affiliate Organization: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Grades: 8th-12th

Cost: $200

Deadline: 6/27/22

8. Fossils 

Do you dream of a career in paleontology, but aren’t sure what it really takes to succeed in the industry? The four-day Fossils program at the South Dakota School of Mines allows students to work in the field alongside paleontology professors and grad students while collecting and casting fossils and discussing what opportunities exist for paleontology majors to earn a living.

Affiliate Organization: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Grades: 8th-12th

Cost: $200

Deadline: 6/11/22

9. Geology Rocks! Geology Camp

Have you graduated from collecting rocks to wanting to work with them? This four-day geology program lets high schoolers explore the fascinating landscape of the world-renowned Black Hills and engage with topics like ground-water quality, mineral resources, and paleontology while learning from real industry experts.

Affiliate Organization: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Grades: 8th-12th

Cost: $200

Deadline: 6/20/22

10. Summer Camp: 3D and Beyond!

Technophiles are sure to enjoy this week-long program out of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. Participants will learn about Adaptive Manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, through a variety of activities, demonstrations, and discussions. The intent of this program is to inspire creativity, and students will express themselves by applying what they learn in the program to a series of personal and group design projects. 

Affiliate Organization: South Dakota School of Mines and Technology

Grades: 8th-12th

Cost: $200

Deadline: 6/11/22

11. Data Science Camp 

This free four-day/three-night camp is hosted by South Dakota State University. Students cover foundational math and statistical concepts while also learning to write computer programs and create projects with data they find interesting. Participants are also exposed to what life is like on a college campus—living in college dorms along with meeting and working with like-minded peers. 

Affiliate Organization: South Dakota State University

Grades: 9th-12th

Cost: Free

Deadline: 5/15/22

Additional Requirements: Personal statement 

12. National Summer Transportation Institute

This week-long summer program is aimed at high schoolers with an interest in transportation and engineering. Students live and learn at South Dakota State University—getting to sample a slice of college life, exploring different aspects of transportation engineering, and listening to experts in the transportation sector. Participants will leave this program having acquired valuable hands-on experience and a better understanding of transportation career opportunities. 

Affiliate Organization: South Dakota State University

Grades: 8th-12th

Cost: Free

Deadline: 5/31/22

Additional Requirements: 

• Minimum 2.0 GPA
• Completed algebra (or will be qualified to enroll in the coming school term) 
• Transcript 
• Letter of interest

13. Jazz Camp

This summer program is provided through a partnership between Augustana University and the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Society. Through the course of this four-day program, students will cover a variety of topics and participate in numerous activities, including improvisation, music theory, and music history, along with lessons, rehearsals, master classes, and concerts.

Affiliate Organization: Augustana University 

Grades: 9th-12th

Cost: $325

Deadline: 6/12/22

14. Avid Media Creation Camp

Learn about media creation at this three-week camp aimed at creative-minded students. Participants will get firsthand experience working with the same high-tech tools that are used to produce chart-topping songs, Hollywood blockbusters, and bingeable streaming shows. 

Affiliate Organization: Augustana University 

Grades: 9th and 10th 

Cost: $1,350

Deadline: N/A

15.  Viking Marching Band Leadership Experience

Participants in this week-long summer program will develop the leadership skills needed to build a great band. Students will explore the foundational elements of the marching arts through a variety of workshops, musical activities, and movement sessions. The camp culminates in a live performance. 

Affiliate Organization: Augustana University 

Grades: 9th and 10th 

Cost: $1,350

Deadline: N/A

How do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances?

The influence of your participation in a summer program varies. Numerous factors—from the selectivity and prestige of the program itself to the weight a university places on extracurricular activities (like summer programs)—determine how it will affect your odds of college admission. 

The four tiers of extracurricular activities are useful for better understanding how colleges value your participation in activities such as summer programs. Tiers one and two are home to the rarest and most impressive summer programs. High-tiered programs are venerated by admissions offices and are extremely likely to bolster your odds of getting into college. 

More common and less attention-grabbing summer programs are placed in tiers three and four. Lower-tiered activities don’t carry the same weight with admissions officers as their higher-tiered counterparts, but they still possess value. Participation in a lower-tiered activity shows colleges you’re motivated to pursue fields that interest you, a quality highly valued by many schools. Furthermore, many summer programs contain a college-readiness component that can help make you a more appealing applicant. 

Interested to learn what colleges think of your participation in a summer program? CollegeVine can help! Our free chancing calculator uses a variety of factors, including grades, test scores, and extracurriculars—like summer programs—to estimate your chances of getting into hundreds of colleges and universities while also providing tips to improve your profile.