25 Summer Programs in Colorado for High Schoolers in 2025
What’s Covered:
- 25 Summer Programs in Colorado for High Schoolers
- How do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances?
Summer programs are an excellent way to hone your extracurricular profile, impress colleges, and learn or improve your knowledge and skills, whether you’re a writer, an engineer, a dancer, or a visual artist. And if you live in Colorado, you don’t have to travel far—there are plenty of in-state options for practically any interest or specialty!
25 Summer Programs in Colorado for High Schoolers
1. Achieving Excellence Academy
Dates: June 9 – July 2
Location: Denver School of the Arts
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: Free
AEA is an immersive, four-week program that offers incoming 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students – particularly those who are Black/African-American, Latinx, Asian-American/Pacific Islander, and Native American/Indigenous – the opportunity to explore varied racial, social, historic, and modern civic complexities.
The program takes place at the Denver School of the Arts, where students will participate in thought-provoking workshops and experiences that cultivate a deeper understanding of racial and cultural identity, voice, and power.
2. Architecture in the City
Dates:
- Day Camp: June 23 – 27
- Overnight Camp: July 19 – 26
Location: University of Colorado Denver
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost:
- Day Camp: $750 (including a $100 non-refundable deposit)
- Overnight Camp: $2,000 (including a $150 non-refundable deposit)
Held for one week primarily at UC Denver in the College of Architecture and Planning, Architecture in the City is a noncredit, interdisciplinary program for students entering their sophomore, junior, and senior years of high school. Students will get hands-on experience in model building and drawing techniques through a design-build project which will enhance their broader understanding of architecture, urban design, and urban planning.
3. Denver Writing Project Young Writers Camps
Dates: June 9 – 13
Location: University of Colorado Denver
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: N/A
Open to young writers entering grades three through twelve, this one-week camp takes place on the University of Colorado Denver’s Auraria Campus. Camp instructors are teacher consultants with the Denver Writing Project who have current teaching licenses.
Guest writers will present workshops throughout the week, and the program culminates in a Friday Celebration, where friends and family join young writers as they read their favorite pieces.
4. BOLT
Dates:
- Session 1: June 2 – 5
- Session 2: June 9 – 12
- Session 3: June 23 – 26
Location: University of Colorado Denver
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $975
BOLT, or Bioengineering Opportunities and Leadership Training, gives participants a better idea of what it means to be a bioengineer. Participants engage in hands-on activities, learn general engineering principles, see cutting-edge research, explore bioengineering careers, and challenge themselves in a design competition. Students will build valuable skills like creative thinking, teamwork, and communication. Students will work in teams to design, build, test, and iterate to create a prototype to enter in a competition.
The program is open to high schoolers in grades 9 through 12.
5. LYNX Arts Camp | Filmmaking
Dates: July 13 – 25
Location: University of Colorado Denver
Application Deadline: May 15
Cost: Varies depending on program type (residential vs. commuter) and duration (one week vs. two weeks)
High school students ages 14 to 18 interested in filmmaking will want to look into this residential program. Participants create their own films, seeing it through every step of production, from brainstorming to filming to screening, while gaining firsthand experience with lighting, sound, location scouting, editing, graphics, and color correction. The program culminates with a screening of the participants’ films.
6. Medical Student Experience | UC Boulder
Dates: June 23 – 27
Location: University of Colorado Boulder
Application Deadline: June 13 (online registration closes)
Cost: $650
This week-long course provides participants with a glimpse of what it’s like to work in the medical field. Students can practice physical exams, give clinical research presentations, engage with medical simulations, visit anatomy labs, practice suturing and injections, and more. Participants will be mentored by medical trainees and professionals providing insight into the profession.
7. Art Students League of Denver
Dates: Varies
Location: Denver, CO
Application Deadline: Varies
Cost: Varies
Art Students League of Denver (ASLD) offers a number of courses and programs throughout the year and during the summer, which allow teenagers and younger students to explore creative mediums like ceramics, textiles, drawing, and more. Cost varies by program/class, but is usually around $220.
Every Friday, students can also take advantage of Teen Studio Nights, where they can hone their artistic abilities–and have dinner!–and which are an especially great opportunity for students who are preparing a portfolio for art school.
8. Black Issues Forum
Dates: June 10 – 14
Location: Colorado State University
Application Deadline: April 21
Cost: Free
The Black Issues Forum allows in-state and out-of-state students to engage in meaningful conversation, enhance their leadership potential, and deepen their understanding of their cultural heritage while discussing issues facing today’s Black community. The forum is open to current high school Juniors and rising high school Seniors.
Over the course of one week, students will interact with Colorado State University faculty, staff, and current CSU students as they examine relevant issues related to Black communities at the national, state, and local levels. Students will receive a CSU credit hour for their participation in the forum, and could be eligible for a Partnership Award if they decide to enroll at CSU.
9. CSU Dance Lab
Dates: August 3 – August 16
Location: Colorado State University
Application Deadline: June 14 (registration deadline)
Cost: $1,400 ($75 registration fee)
Current and future dancers ages 14 and older will immerse themselves in classical and contemporary dance forms, repertory, theory, and composition. Along with classes and rehearsals, participants will attend lectures, hone choreography, and develop artist statements, as well as present a public performance showcase, all under the mentorship of CSU Dance faculty, guest artists, and dance majors.
10. Global Business Academy
Dates: July 13 – 23
Location: Colorado State University
Application Deadline: June 1
Cost: $3,750
Open to current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, The Global Business Academy is a 10-day global business experience that takes place at the CSU College of Business. Students will learn how to use business to create a better world and gain skills in international business and leadership, all while getting a taste of college life as they live in dorms in Fort Collins. Students will also tour innovative companies and meet local and global executives.
11. The Lorenzo de Zavala (LDZ) Youth Legislative Session
Dates: June 21 – 28
Location: Colorado State University
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: $1,150 (an additional $25 application fee and $150 non-refundable deposit are also required)
Students across the United States and Latin America gather for LDZ every year. Over the course of eight days, they learn how to navigate, manage, and create large organizations by taking charge of their own youth government. Four programs are held for 10th- and 11th-grade delegates (with a GPA of 3.2 or higher), including one on the Colorado State University campus. Participants may be eligible to receive a Partnership Award from CSU if they enroll at the university. Additionally, students will receive a certificate of participation should they successfully complete the program.
12. Women in Construction Management
Dates: June 10 – 14
Location: Colorado State University
Application Deadline: March 15
Cost: $25
Female students between the ages of 15 and 18 interested in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) careers should consider this five-day, four-night residential program. Participants build problem-solving skills, confidence, critical thinking, and teamwork while learning about careers in and related to construction management. Students will be mentored by professional women representing AEC industries and will be able to build their own projects to take home.
13. Cyber Security Camp
Dates: June 9 – 13
Location: Colorado State University | Fort Collins Campus
Application Deadline: April 1
Cost: Free
During this free summer program, high schoolers in grades 10 through 12 can explore topics like network security and data encryption, as well as careers in cybersecurity. Participants will engage in hands-on activities and work under the supervision of CSU professors and students, along with professionals in the field, to learn how to use cybersecurity for both fun and protection.
14. ENvision Summer Program
Dates: May 31 – June 6
Location: Colorado State University
Application Deadline: Typically late April/early May
Cost: Free
This free, residential summer program allows participants to explore life as an engineering student at Colorado State University. Participants engage in hands-on activities and lessons led by faculty and students, explore engineering careers, and live in dorms and eat in dining halls—just like college students! The program is open to rising juniors and seniors. Priority is given to students from populations that have historically been excluded from the field of engineering.
15. SciVet
Dates: July 16 – 20
Location: Colorado State University
Application Deadline: February 3
Cost: $1,170 (commuter option); $1,770 (residential option)
Aspiring vets will get a sneak peek into their future careers through SciVet at CSU. Presentations, demonstrations, laboratory visits, field work, and hands-on activities are all part of the comprehensive program, which includes activities and topics like skeleton examinations, cancer research, clinical observations, and much more. Students will also meet professors, practitioners, and students in the veterinary field. Presentations, hands-on activities, and lectures will include topics such as wildlife research, preparation for college & veterinary school, wolves, and scientific illustration.
16. El Sistema Colorado’s Summer String Festival
Dates: July 21 – 27
Location: Denver, CO
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: Free
String musicians ages 12 – 18 will explore topics like leadership, social awareness, identity, and more, all through the joyful pursuit of musical excellence. The program includes orchestra rehearsals, electives like music history and improvisation, instrument-based yoga and wellness sessions, performances from El Sistema Colorado’s renowned faculty and guest artists, and conducting masterclasses. Students must be capable of performing grade 2 orchestra music and above. No audition is necessary, but a reference from a music teacher/mentor is required on the application.
17. Yunasa West
Dates: June 7 – 14
Location: YMCA Camp Shady Brook (Deckers, CO)
Application Deadline: March 14
Cost: $1,950
Yunasa West in Colorado is a program specifically designed for gifted youth. Students take part in traditional camp activities, as well as special workshops designed for gifted children to learn more about themselves and gain greater awareness and self-acceptance. The program is led by experts in the field of gifted education.
18. Lighthouse High School Summer Writing Intensive
Dates: July 21 – 25
Location: Denver, CO
Application Deadline: Rolling
Cost: $575
Aspiring young wordsmiths can foster their creativity and build excitement about writing in this exciting summer program. Participants are guided by published instructors as they explore a variety of genres and hone their writing skills. Students leave the camp with a completed piece of work and are invited to share a piece of their writing at a public reading at the culmination of the program.
19. Summer Science Program in Astrophysics
Dates: June 22 – July 27
Location: University of Colorado Boulder
Application Deadline: January 24 (for international applicants); February 21 (domestic applicants)
Cost: Free – $9,800, depending on family income
High school juniors in this summer program cover topics like astronomy, physics, mathematics, and programming as they locate asteroids, collect data, and calculate their orbit. Participants work in small teams under the guidance of a faculty member while gaining real-world research experience. The team’s calculations are submitted to the Minor Planet Center of the International Astronomical Union, where they are used to improve future predictions of the asteroid’s position.
A limited number of stipends are available for students who would typically be working during the summer.
20. CU Science Discovery | Aerospace
Dates:
- Session 1: June 9 – 13
- Session 2: July 21 – 25
Location: University of Colorado Boulder
Application Deadline:
- Session 1: May 30 (online registration deadline)
- Session 2: July 11 (online registration deadline)
Cost: $650
The University of Colorado Boulder has been affiliated with 16 astronauts who have flown on 40 space shuttle missions, which makes it the ideal location to learn about life as an aerospace engineer. Participants in this out-of-this-world summer program will work on gliders, airfoils, and jet engines, learn about astrobiology, and even plan a trip to Mars. They’ll also learn about other applications for aerospace engineering, like wind turbines.
21. CU Science Discovery | Computer Science and Robots
Dates: July 21 – 25
Location: University of Colorado Boulder
Application Deadline: July 11 (online registration deadline)
Cost: $730
Participants in this program learn the fundamentals of robot motion, sensors, and control. Students will design, build, and test their own robot projects and engage in group activities while gaining firsthand experience with mechanical and electrical engineering. The program incorporates several robot platforms such as Cubelets, Sphero, Dot and Dash, Redbot, and more. Each student will also be able to take home their own SparkFun XRP, which includes a robot platform with a Raspberry Pi® Pico W microcontroller.
22. STEM Research Experience
Dates: June 6 – July 25
Location: University of Colorado Boulder
Application Deadline: March 30
Cost: $2,400
Highly motivated high schoolers gain firsthand lab experience in this six-week program. Participants work between 15 and 20 hours a week under the mentorship of graduate students and faculty working on research projects in areas ranging from biology to engineering to neuroscience. Students also take a class in research methods, in which they will learn how to find and read scientific articles, determine data validity, and improve their writing techniques. The program concludes with a STEM Research EXPO, where students present their poster to family, friends, and fellow researchers.
The STEM Research Experience is a commuter program and does not offer residential accommodations.
23. Sphinx Performance Academy
Dates: July 20 – August 1
Location: University of Colorado Boulder
Application Deadline: N/A
Cost: Free
This full-scholarship intensive summer program is for aspiring musicians, between the ages of 11 and 17, who play the violin, viola, cello, or bass. Participants take lessons, engage in masterclasses, give recitals, and attend career enrichment classes while exploring music careers.
24. Summer Multicultural Engineering Training (SUMMET)
Dates:
- Session 1: June 1 – 6
- Session 2: June 8 – 13
- Session 3: June 22 – 27
Location: Colorado School of Mines
Application Deadline: February 28
Cost: Free ($50 confirmation fee if students are accepted)
This free residential program is open to rising juniors and seniors from underrepresented populations and is aimed at easing their transition from high school to college. Participants live and learn like college students—taking classes, engaging in projects, and going to social events while living in dorms and eating at dining halls. Students will work in groups on one main design project, but will also engage in mini-workshop projects with departments like mechanical engineering, computer science, chemistry, and more.
25. LYNX Arts Camp | Music Industry Program
Dates: June 15 – 27
Location: University of Colorado Denver
Application Deadline: May 15
Cost: Varies depending on program type (residential vs. commuter) and duration (one week vs. two weeks)
The Music Industry Program has become one of the best contemporary music summer camps in the U.S. It offers high school students a window into the modern music industry and provides them with the skills and knowledge to take the next step towards their music goals.
The camp is also a preview of the CU Denver Music & Entertainment Industry Studies (MEIS) Department college programs. Students explore many aspects of the industry, including contemporary performance, songwriting, music business, music production, and recording arts. All camp students get to choose two music elective classes in the morning and two music ensemble/emphasis classes in the afternoon.
How Do Summer Programs Impact Your College Chances?
Extracurricular activities are an important part of the admissions process. Admissions officers want to see students exploring their passions outside of the classroom, and summer programs are one way to do that.
That said, not all summer programs are equivalent in the eyes of colleges. Some are highly prestigious and selective, while others are less so. The more selective and impressive an internship, the more weight it will carry with admissions offices.
According to the four tiers of extracurricular activities, Tier 1 indicates the rarest and most exceptional extracurriculars, while Tier 4 represents those that are the most common. The standard summer program is usually considered a Tier 3-4 activity, although some awe-inspiring programs are more prestigious and considered Tier 1-2 activities.
CollegeVine’s free chancing engine can help you determine how your extracurricular activities, along with additional factors like grades and test scores, affect your chances of admission to colleges across the country. Plus, you’ll receive tips on how to improve your profile!
