19 Summer Programs in Kentucky for High Schoolers in 2025
What’s Covered:
- 19 Summer Programs in Kentucky for High Schoolers
- How Do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances?
Wondering how you can make the most of your summer? Participating in a summer program is one great way for high school students to take advantage of their free time. Summer camps aren’t just for younger kids; many programs are designed specifically for high school students to give them insight into college admissions and future career opportunities.
By combining summer programs with other traditional summer activities, you can maximize your summer experience while further developing your skills and interests. If you’re from Kentucky, we’ve rounded up 19 summer programs in your home state to help you figure out which one might best suit your unique interests and goals.
19 Summer Programs in Kentucky for High Schoolers
1. Baking and Pastry Arts Camp
Dates: June 15 – 20
Location: Sullivan University
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $895
If you love watching the Food Network and dream of opening your own cupcake shop, then this camp is perfect for you! Students will learn the applied science of baking as they master techniques for breads, pastries, and other kinds of desserts.
2. Culinary Camp
Dates: June 15 – 20
Location: Sullivan University
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $895
You don’t have to be the next Gordon Ramsey to enjoy this camp. You will learn about different aspects of the culinary arts, from knife skills and cooking techniques to food science and nutrition. And of course, you’ll get to eat your creations!
3. Advanced Culinary Camp
Dates: June 15 – 20
Location: Sullivan University
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $895
This camp is for students who have completed at least one year of culinary training at the high school level or have significant experience in the kitchen. They will learn advanced cooking techniques and focus on developing culinary competition skills, as well as explore more specialized areas such as molecular gastronomy and sous-vide cooking.
4. Med Camp
Dates: June 15 – 20
Location: Sullivan University
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $545
This camp will give you the foundation you need to have a successful healthcare career. Students will have the opportunity to learn about exciting careers firsthand from professionals and learn lab skills with Sullivan faculty.
5. Summer Youth Job Training Program
Dates: June 9 – July 18
Location: Lexington
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: Free
This job training program pairs hardworking high schoolers with business and community partners to gain valuable work experience and knowledge. A variety of worksites are available, and the program provides skills training, aiming to teach participants financial literacy, money management, workplace etiquette, and more to help aid their success in future careers. Participants will earn $15 an hour for all work performed through this program.
6. Kentucky Forest Leadership Program
Dates: June 1 – 6
Location: University of Kentucky
Application Deadline: April 11
Cost: $500
Does your student love the outdoors or have an interest in biology? This week-long program introduces students to careers in forestry, entomology, and wildlife through lectures and hands-on activities led by UK faculty and natural resource professionals from the Division of Forestry, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, and the Kentucky Division of Conservation.
7. STEM Experiences
Dates: Varies
Location: University of Kentucky
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $290
The University of Kentucky offers three STEM-focused camps for high schoolers: Computer Science Camp, Chem Camp, and a volunteering focused camp. Each week-long camp provides participants the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities, build STEM knowledge, and connect with faculty, graduate students, and peers.
8. Summer Research Training Fellowship
Dates: Varies
Location: University of Kentucky
Application Deadline: April 6
Cost: Free
This research opportunity gives high school students with strong STEM interests an opportunity to explore academia and further their science interests under the supervision of University of Kentucky faculty and students. Students will have a choice of labs to participate in, and will work on microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics related research.
9. Young Leaders Academy
Dates: July 15 – 19
Location: University of Louisville
Application Deadline: March 29
Cost: Free
Each year, the University of Louisville holds a four-day conference-style program for high-achieving students to hone their leadership skills and deepen their appreciation for American history. The conference’s theme is “Revisiting American Constitutionalism” and students will explore this topic through seminars, discussions, and team-building activities.
10. Summer Research Internship Program at the Brown Cancer Center
Dates: June 9 – August 1
Location: University of Louisville
Application Deadline: March 14
Cost: Free
Participants in this eight-week internship will gain real-world experience working in a research lab. Students in this selective program—a maximum of 15 high schoolers are invited to participate—are required to work between 16 and 20 hours a week. In addition, they take part in a seminar series primarily focused on leading topics in cancer research. The program culminates in a poster presentation.
11. University of Louisville INSPIRE
Dates: July 14 – 19
Location: University of Louisville
Application Deadline: May 15
Cost: Free
Increasing Student Preparedness and Interest in the Requests for Engineering—or, more simply, INSPIRE—aims to introduce engineering to students from historically underserved populations. During the residential program, students live and learn like college students while exploring the field of engineering through hands-on activities, workshops, design challenges, and tours of local businesses.
12. Speed School Outreach Programs
Dates: Varies
Location: University of Louisville
Application Deadline: Varies
Cost: Varies
The University of Louisville’s J.B. Speed School of Engineering offers a wide variety of summer programs for high schoolers, from camps focused on 3D printing to bioengineering. Camps range from a few hundred dollars to entirely free. Those free camps fill up fast, so consider applying today!
13. The Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth
Dates: June 22 – July 16
Location: Western Kentucky University
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $3,900
The Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth, or VAMPY, is a residential camp for highly motivated rising 7th through 10th graders. This academically focused summer program immerses students in a topic they’re interested in—from astronomy to pop culture to writing. Participants are kept just as busy outside the classroom, through activities like cookouts, dances, and baseball games.
14. NKU Summer Academies
Dates: Varies
Location: Northern Kentucky University (NKU)
Application Deadline: Varies
Cost: $180 – $315
NKU offers a handful of summer academies that allow high schoolers in grades 9 through 12 to explore a handful of STEM fields, meet peers who share their passions, and experience a bit of “casual college life.” Academies cover topics like artificial intelligence, neuroscience, cybersecurity, and electrical engineering.
15. Adventure Education and Leadership Camp
Dates: June 2 – 6
Location: Asbury University
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $550
In this week-long camp experience, participants will get to have fun doing classic summer activities, like canoeing, hiking, and climbing, while also learning about how to instruct others. Campers will learn about risk assessment, decision-making, and camp craft to best prepare them for their next adventure.
16. Poetry Camp
Dates: June 2 – 6
Location: Asbury University
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $550
If you have a love of poetry and a desire to spend a week this summer developing your craft, consider ImpactU’s Poetry camp. The week of instruction will focus on poetic techniques, the beauty of nature, responding to art through poetry, and reading and appreciating major poets of history. You’ll improve your own writing skills, learn from Asbury’s faculty, and get to form bonds with other young poets who will challenge and inspire you.
17. Acting for Stage and Camera
Dates: June 2 – 6
Location: Asbury University
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $550
Hone your acting chops for both the stage and the silver screen at this week-long summer camp intensive. You’ll learn from talented Asbury faculty, bond with fellow young actors, and end the week with a comedy showcase to demonstrate the ways you’ve grown. Along the way, you’ll get a taste of college life living in the Asbury dorms.
18. Summer Art Workshop
Dates: June 8 – 14
Location: Murray State University
Application Deadline: May 9
Cost: $450 – $550
Both new and experienced creatives are invited to attend this art-focused summer program. Participants engage in hands-on seminars, visit galleries, and unwind with art-related activities in the evening. Students will have the chance to explore different types of media, develop foundational skills, produce college-level work, and sample a slice of campus life. The program culminates with a display of work for friends and family.
19. Fun with Economics Youth Camp
Dates: June 16
Location: Murray State University
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $35
Students in this one-day summer program will gain a better understanding of economic markets while building the business acumen and skills needed to succeed in the professional world. The program covers topics like economic modeling, econometric models, and the computational skills needed to create, analyze, and interpret data.
How Do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances?
Some summer programs are more competitive than others, requiring letters of recommendation and standardized test scores, while other programs are open to all students within a particular grade level. Consequently, some summer programs are given more weight in college admissions than others.
The four tiers of extracurricular activities are a good way to understand how colleges value activities outside of the classroom, like summer programs. The most impressive, prestigious, rare, and influential activities are placed in the top two tiers.
Lower-tier extracurricular activities don’t hold the same sway with admissions offices, however, they are often still valuable. Less-selective and esteemed programs still show off your interests to potential colleges while highlighting your desire to pursue your passions. Many field-specific activities also help build the skills you need to ace everything from the essays to interviews you’ll encounter in the college application process.
Curious how the summer program you participated in affects your odds of college admission? CollegeVine can help! Our free chancing calculator uses a variety of factors including grades, test scores, and extracurriculars to estimate your odds of getting into hundreds of colleges and universities while also providing insight into how to improve your profile.
