15 Summer Programs at St. Louis University for High Schoolers

Many students view summer as an opportunity to take a break from academics and put schoolwork aside. Although your high schooler might prefer to time off from their studies, a college summer program for high schoolers can offer numerous benefits while still allowing them time to enjoy their vacation.

Why Summer Programs Benefit High Schoolers

Pre-college programs for high schoolers allow students to get a snapshot of college life—meeting new people, being in an unfamiliar environment, and enjoying more independence than they’ve had at high school. Additionally, these programs allow students to explore college campuses, expose them to college faculty, and give them firsthand experience with the expectations and requirements of college-level classes.

Summer programs are also a great opportunity to explore fields of interest and potential majors. Often held on college campuses, programs allow high schoolers to experience everything from large lecture halls to hands-on labs to small studios. They also allow students to meet and network with students who share similar interests, who might be their potential peers in college.

Best of all, thanks to the diverse offering of summer programs, there is an option for everyone, meaning there is no reason to have a bored student hanging around the house this summer.  

15 Summer Programs at Saint Louis University for High Schoolers

Saint Louis University, one of CollegeVine’s Top 10 Most Underrated Colleges in the Midwest, has a host of summer programs that explore subjects from cooking to anatomy. Keep reading to learn more about our favorite summer programs at Saint Louis University.

1. YouTube for YOU- Establishing and Promoting Your Own YouTube Channel

For the student who wants to be a YouTube star, this program teaches everything that goes into creating and curating a channel—including content creation (writing scripts and storyboarding), video shooting, maintaining an engaging presence, and managing the channel. At the culmination of the program’s five days, students will have established their own channel and published their own video.

• Specialty: Communications
• Grades: 9th, 10th, and 11th
• Program Cost: $295

2. Anatomy 101

In this four-day workshop, students learn the basics of anatomy through presentations, comparative dissections, and interactions with medical students and healthcare professionals.

• Specialty: Life Sciences/Biology
• Grades: 9th
• Program Cost: $225

3. Aviation Summer Academy

High schoolers entering this six-day, five-night residential program will learn about the different fields of study and career paths available in aviation. Students will explore a variety of aviation-related subjects, take flights in Saint Louis University airplanes with certified flight instructors, go on field trips, and get the opportunity to tour the campus.

• Specialty: STEM
• Grades: 10th and 11th
• Program Cost: $800

4. Engineering Summer Academy

Future engineers will learn about fields such as aerospace, mechanical, biomedical, computer, electrical, and civil engineering in this six-day, five-night residential program. Taught by Parks College of Engineering, Aviation, and Technology faculty with help from student mentors, high schoolers will learn about careers in engineering and sample campus life.

• Specialty: Engineering
• Grades: 10th and 11th
• Program Cost: $650

5. Gardens to Tables Culinary Camp

The perfect program for the high schooler who wants to pursue a career in cooking. Over the course of this week-long program, students will work with chefs, dietitians, and gardeners—learning how to prepare meals as well as gaining insight into nutrition, gardening, and healthy lifestyles.

• Specialty: Hospitality/Culinary
• Grades: 9th, 10th, and 11th
• Program Cost: $325

6. Grand Theater Camp: High School

Students with an interest in theatre will love this program hosted by Saint Louis University and the Metro Theatre Company. Covering a variety of areas such as acting, movement, and audition techniques, students will both create original work and perform scenes from well-known works. This five-day camp culminates with a performance for friends and family.

• Specialty: Theatre
• Grades: 9th, 10th, and 11th
• Program Cost: $295

7. Gifted Arts: High School Creative Writing

An awesome opportunity for aspiring writers, students in this five-day program will learn about writing across various genres. Collaboration is key in this course, and students will provide one another with constructive feedback and criticism to improve their writing.

• Specialty: Writing
• Grades: 9th, 10th, and 11th
• Program Cost: $300

8. Gifted Arts: High School Visual Arts

High schoolers with an interest in art will love this two- or three-week camp covering the various visual arts with a focus on drawing and painting. Students will learn about the artistic process and how to take an idea and develop it into a completed work.

• Specialty: Studio Art
• Grades: 9th, 10th, and 11th
• Program Cost: $300

9. Improvisational Comedy Camp

Your class clown will study the art of improvisation in this fun five-day program from The Improv Shop and Saint Louis University. Students will learn how to think on the fly and nurture a sense of spontaneity by participating in a variety of games and exercises. This program concludes with a performance for friends and family.

• Specialty: Theatre
• Grades: 9th, 10th, and 11th
• Program Cost: $295

10. Introduction to Coding & Information Technology

A great program for high schoolers considering college majors in technology fields, this five-day program provides an introduction to essential STEM skills. Students will be taught how to write code to create applications and information technology tools. At the conclusion of the program, students will present their final coding projects.

• Specialty: Computer Science
• Grades: 9th
• Program Cost: $350

11. Introduction to Engineering Camp

This program is a  great introduction to the majors and career paths available to high schoolers interested in engineering. Over the course of five days, students will participate in hands-on activities in fields like mechanical, biomedical, computer, electrical, and civil engineering.

• Specialty: Engineering
• Grades: 9th
• Program Cost: $400

12. Medical and Surgical Procedures

High schoolers can prepare for a career in healthcare while learning about anatomy. Over the course of the program’s five days, students will hear from physicians and healthcare professionals, get hands-on experience in the lab, interact with patients, and view surgical demonstrations.

• Specialty: Medicine
• Grades: 9th, 10th, and 11th
• Program Cost: $1,450

13. Mobile App Development with Flutter by Google (Apps for Android and Apple iOS)

For tech enthusiasts, this course fully immerses high schoolers into the development of apps for Android and Apple using Google’s Flutter. This five-day course will show students what it takes to bring an app from an idea to a fully functioning program available on the Apple and Android libraries.

Note: No prior programming experience is required and Windows laptops are provided for students, although they are welcome to use their own Windows or Mac laptops.

• Specialty: Computer Science
• Grades: 9th, 10th, and 11th
• Program Cost: $495

14. Programming and Development with Java

Techie high schoolers will learn about one of the world’s most prominent coding languages, Java, in this five-day program. This immersive program also provides a pathway to further pursuit of computer science—Java is the official language of the AP Computer Science A Exam, and is used in many real-life programs.

• Specialty: Computer Science
• Grades: 9th, 10th, and 11th
• Program Cost: $495

15. Robotics Summer Academy

This five-day program introduces students to mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering through robotics. Your high school student will build their own robot, and be able to take it home!

• Specialty: STEM
• Grades: 9th, 10th, and 11th
• Program Cost: $650

How Can You Help Your High Schooler Find the Best Summer Programs?

There are many factors to consider when choosing a summer program. We recommend beginning your search by defining your location range. From there, you might visit the websites of universities in the area to see what topics are offered, how long the programs last, and how much they cost.

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