Top Summer Camps in Florida for High Schoolers

June 15, 2023

222

For Florida high school students, there are a variety of renowned summer camps in Florida that combine academic interests with enjoyable pursuits. Through these programs, you can develop important skills, investigate novel areas of study (or delve deeply into old favorites), make new friends, gain practical experience, and ultimately put yourself on the path to success.

What Effect Do Summer Programs Have on Your College Applications?

The impact that participating in a summer program will have on your chances of getting into college depends on a number of variables, including everything from the program’s level of selectivity to how much weight a specific college gives to extracurricular activities.

In general, the four extracurricular activity tiers offer a simple way to determine how colleges will evaluate your participation in summer programming. The most exclusive, remarkable, and renowned activities are those in Tiers 1 and 2. Therefore, colleges place the highest emphasis on them. Thanks to its strict eligibility requirements and the demanding requirements placed on its participants, Florida State University’s Young Scholars Program is an excellent illustration of a top-tier activity.

Lower-level activities (such those in Tiers 3 and 4) don’t have the same impact on college admissions because they are more prevalent and unremarkable. That However, lower-level hobbies can be highly beneficial for college admissions because they show a desire to explore interests and assist develop crucial college abilities, such as writing, thinking, or auditioning.

Top 15 Summer Camps in Florida for High School Students

1. UM Summer Scholars

High school students get the chance to experience a three-week Summer Scholars program at the University of Miami, where they can take college-level courses, receive college credit, and receive instruction from university instructors. Five fields offer a wide range of courses each:

Medical care and healthcare
Investigative sciences
Message-sharing and media
Engineering, architecture, and technology
Global studies, law, and business

2. UM Academies

High school students can acquire practical experience in the areas of entrepreneurship, weather, and Spanish through UM Academies at the University of Miami. Experts in the subject instruct these immersive academic experiences, which include working in labs, visiting research sites, and taking part in extracurricular activities.

After lessons, you’ll have plenty of time to discover one of the top research universities in the country and its surroundings.

3. Young Scholars Program

A six-week residential program, the YSP is designed for Florida high school students who are interested in a STEM career. Three math, science, and computer programming courses are commonly taken by participants; these courses are created especially for this program.

Although there are many scheduled social and physical activities, like themed dances, canoe outings, fireworks displays, and scavenger hunts, the coursework is hard.

4. Student Science Training Program

Applications Timeline: Rolling Admission
12th grade
Cost: $5,250

UF SSTP is a 7-week residential research program for students interested in professions in science, medicine, math, computer science, or engineering who will be entering their senior year and are at least 16 years old. The emphasis is on taking part in research projects with a UF academic research scientist and their team. Candidates must be cooperative, competent of independent study and living, and truly engaged in research.

A personal statement, transcripts, and teacher references are additional application criteria.

5. Camp Connect

An engineering program called Camp Connect exposes students to several engineering specialties through games, lectures, and visits of the lab. The activities are led by the faculty and students, and each day focuses on a different department. On the camp’s last day, students will present a team project they worked on together. Applications for the program must be at least 13 years old.

6. High School Cyber Camp

Age: 9 to 12
Cost: $400
July 24, 2023 – July 28, 2023

High school students can choose from a variety of sessions led by experts and educators, participate in hands-on activities, and interact with peers and business professionals at the USF High School Cyber Camp, which aims to provide an experience akin to that of a professional conference.

Students have a great chance to study, explore the profession, and make connections because of this.

7. St. Petersburg College (SPC) Summer Musical Theater Program

Grade: Students in high school and college are involved.
Cost: Free

High school and college students can take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to learn acting and technical theater skills firsthand over the summer. Five weeks into the program, performances in front of live audiences mark its conclusion. Previous Urinetown and Pippin SPC Summer Musical Theater productions have received praise and have been listed as two of the “Top 10 Productions in Tampa Bay.” Participants who are interested in participating must audition; inclusion in the show is not guaranteed.

Also Read: Student Journey Mapping: Purpose and Advantages

8. CodeBreakHERS

Grades: 8–11 (only for girls)
Cost: Free

Students interested in cybersecurity can get a thorough education at the USF High School Cyber Camp. Students will learn about important ideas including hardware security, internet security, information encoding, error-correcting codes, cryptography, and blockchain through practical exercises and discussions taught by experts. Competitions like Capture the Flag will also be held at the program so that students may put their newfound knowledge to use while competing against their friends.

9. Marine Science at Eckerd College

Grades: 10th–12th grades
Cost: $1,845

For students who want to experience college life while on the water, this summer program is ideal. The program involves plenty of hands-on experience on the water and in the lab while studying about marine biology, marine geology, marine chemistry, and other topics. It is based on the undergraduate marine science program at Eckerd College.

Participants should be ready to put in a lot of effort, get wet, and have an amazing time!

10. Theatre for Social Change

Grades: 10th–12th grades
Cost: $850
Date: June 18 through June 23.

Young performers have the chance to collaborate with seasoned theater professionals to develop and adapt plays that influence social change thanks to this relationship between Eckerd College and the Asolo Repertory Theatre.

Participants in this program will develop the abilities needed to produce artistic works and sow the seeds of change.

11. College Prep at Eckerd

grades 11 and 12
Cost: Free
Date: June 25, 2023, through June 30, 2023

Residents of St. Petersburg who come from families with a maximum yearly household income of $78,800 (for a family of four) are eligible for this program.

This residential college preparation program’s goal is to provide students a hands-on introduction to college so they can see what it’s like and what it can accomplish for them. The students will practice a variety of college survival skills throughout the program, including navigating a campus environment as an adult, experiencing the difficulty of college academics, and forming the habits necessary for college success.

12. Summer Institute Computer Science

Ages: 7 to 11
Cost: $1,250 (with a $300 down payment).

Students who are interested in learning about computer science and technology should attend this three-week course. Participants gain programming knowledge while taking part in a range of engaging activities and lectures. Additionally, participants network and form friendships with individuals who share their interests.

13. Competitive Programming Overview

Ages: 9 to 12
Cost: $2,750 (with a $500 down payment)
July 9 until July 21, 2023

This intriguing summer program will fascinate top achievers in high school who have a foundation in computer science and an interest in algorithms and programming competitions.

In order to assist students perform better in competitions like USACO, CodeForces, and ultimately the ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC), the camp is specifically created. Participants learn about the algorithms and data used in competitions throughout the course of the two weeks, take part in practice competitions, and receive individualized coaching.

14. Biology Summer Institute

Grades: 11th and 12th
Cost: $425 (with a $150 down payment).
Date: July 17, 2023, through July 21, 2023

Biology-inclined rising juniors and seniors might look into this week-long course examining Central Florida’s ecosystems. Under the guidance of qualified biologists, participants will engage in practical activities where they will learn the methods and procedures used to evaluate the quality of the water, keep an eye on the flora, and research gopher tortoises and marine turtles. Additionally, participants will spend a day in the lab learning about data analysis and the value of effectively conveying scientific findings.

15. Aerospace Camp

Grades: 15 to 18
Cost: $4,500 ($200 off if registration is complete before April 6th).
Date: June 23, 2023, through July 28, 2023

Students experience what it’s like to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University during this incredibly cool four-week program while exploring career choices in flight, mechanical engineering, global security, and even becoming a NASA astronaut. Students who successfully complete the program will receive three college credits in subjects like propulsion theory, orbital mechanics fundamentals, Space Shuttle operations, and U.S. space policy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there summer camps in Florida?

Kids have a fantastic opportunity to develop independence in a secure setting during overnight summer programs. Fortunately, there are many of excellent ones in Florida, from Apopka to Silver Springs and beyond! Archery, kayaking, performing arts, horseback riding, rock climbing, and many more activities are available at these camps.

How much does summer camp cost in the US?

According to the ACA, the average price of sleep-away camp in the United States in 2022 was $448.53 and $178.49 per day for day camp. This year, those figures may rise by as much as 35%. However, in practice, costs frequently exceed these averages by a significant margin.

How long does summer camp last in the US?

Most summer camps last about 9 weeks and begin between mid-May and late-June. In order to complete your Summer Camp experience, you will spend 9 to 12 weeks abroad in America.

What do kids wear to camp in the summer?

Girls must wear one-piece swimsuits, tankinis, or shorts and shirts to many summer camps. Boys may be subject to less restrictions, but they will almost certainly need to wear swim trunks instead of just their underwear or casual clothing.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Tags
Study in USA