In today’s digital age, students are learning how to use technology at younger and younger ages. It’s no surprise, then, that more students are also taking an academic interest in STEM as well.
No matter what major or career you’re thinking about pursuing, gaining hands-on experience with technology can help you develop valuable skills. As spring approaches, consider signing up for a summer program concentrated on technology—especially if your high school curriculum doesn’t offer a lot of opportunities to explore the field.
What you’ll learn at a technology summer camp
Attending a technology-focused summer program goes beyond just learning how to code. These programs offer students a chance to learn and practice critical thinking, teamwork, and digital literacy—essential skills in today's tech-driven world.
Whether you're interested in computer science, engineering, or entrepreneurship, an academic summer camp offers hands-on experience that will set your college applications apart from the rest. Here are some of the top benefits of attending a technology-focused summer program.
Entrepreneurial skills
As students are exposed to technology, they’re encouraged to be more creative, innovative, and better at problem-solving. When you learn about computer science, you’ll also be taught to approach problems systematically and break them down into manageable steps.
Understanding technology can better position high school students to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. These skills can improve your ability to contribute to innovative projects or create solutions to problems.
Related: 5 Ways to Prepare for Your Life as an Entrepreneur
Digital citizenship and responsibility
Beyond potentially learning a new coding language, you’ll also learn principles of digital citizenship and responsibility at a technology summer program. Many programs teach students the basics of digital etiquette, ethical online behavior, and responsible technology use. Having a strong foundation in these skills will help you navigate the ever-evolving digital world safely.
Preparation for the future
As you transition to college-level coursework, having basic tech knowledge will help you with the many college and university programs that integrate technology into their coursework. High school students who are exposed to technology will be better prepared for the academic demands of higher education, where digital tools and platforms are commonly used for research, collaboration, and project work.
Having a strong tech foundation will also help when you start looking for jobs. Digital literacy and interdisciplinary learning can help you in almost every single career field, from engineering to business to health care and much more.
The universal language of coding
No matter what country a student is from, coding can be a unifying language that connects people from all cultures—and attending a summer technology program will help you gain the skills to wield this language. Knowing how to code helps people collaborate on projects worldwide and is a skill that can quite literally be taken anywhere.
Related: Why It's Important for Students to Learn How to Code
Top tech-focused summer programs for high school students
If you're looking to expand your technical knowledge and gain real-world experience, here are some of the best technology camps available across the country. Ranging from coding and cyber security to STEM research and robotics, these programs will give you the opportunity to explore different fields and meet like-minded peers.
Introduction to Programming with Java at Columbia
Introduction to Programming with Java is a two-week online program from Columbia University that teaches Java programming fundamentals, algorithms, and object-oriented programming. You’ll learn logical reasoning and participate in various college prep activities.
- Location: Virtual
- Eligible students: All high school students
- Dates: July 21–August 1, 2025
- Cost: $3,850
- Application deadline: April 2, 2025
Women's Technology Program at MIT
The Women’s Technology Program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a four-week program aimed at empowering women in technology. Participants engage in hands-on classes, labwork, and team projects led by female MIT graduate students.
- Location: MIT’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Eligible students: Young women in 11th grade
- Dates: June 28–July 26, 2025
- Cost: Free for students from families with a household income less than $120,000
- Application deadline: Mid-January 2026 (for next year’s program)
Computer Science for Cyber Security at NYU
Computer Science for Cyber Security (CS4CS) from New York University is a three-week cyber security program teaching digital forensics, steganography, hacking, and cryptography. It aims to empower underrepresented students in cyber security, with no prior experience in computer science required to join.
- Location: NYU’s campus in New York City
- Eligible students: 10th and 11th grade students from NYC and neighboring cities
- Dates: July 14–August 8, 2025
- Cost: Free
- Application deadline: April 15, 2025
Naval Academy Summer STEM Program
The Naval Academy Summer STEM Program is a one-week residential program focusing on problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration in coding, game development, and robotics. Participants will also get to explore labs and facilities at the US Naval Academy.
- Location: US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland
- Eligible students: Rising 9th–11th graders
- Dates: June 2–7, 2025 for rising freshmen; June 9–14, 2025 for rising sophomores; June 15–20, 2025 for rising juniors
- Cost: $750
- Application deadline: March 31, 2025
Rising Researchers
Rising Researchers is a sister company of Moon Prep with two summer program options. The first is a 15-session bioinformatics program where students will build a strong foundation in data analysis and learn no-code tools for artificial intelligence and machine learning. The second option is a six-session program focused on designing a science fair project or developing a conference presentation. Both programs are fully customizable and designed to fit seamlessly into summer break.
- Location: Virtual
- Eligible students: 8th–12th graders
- Dates: Ongoing and flexible start dates
- Cost: $7,900 for bioinformatics program; $2,900 for science fair program
- Application deadline: Rolling
Related: Easy Ways to Find Research Experience in High School
Technology is shaping the future, and gaining early exposure through a high school summer program can give you a strong foundation for college and beyond. Whether you’re learning about programming, cyber security, or digital ethics, the experience will equip you with valuable skills and connections. No matter your career path, a summer spent exploring technology is a great investment in your future.
Thinking about where this experience could take you in college? Start searching for great STEM schools with our featured Science & Engineering college lists.
