15 Best Artificial Intelligence Camps for High School Students
Artificial intelligence is a rapidly growing field that has the potential to shape our future in countless ways. As the demand for AI professionals continues to rise, it is becoming increasingly important for high school students to explore this field and gain exposure to the latest advancements in technology. Fortunately, there are many AI camps and programs available that cater specifically to high school students, providing them with opportunities to learn, create, and innovate in the exciting world of AI.
In this blog post, we will highlight 15 of the best AI camps for high school students, including both online and in-person options. These camps offer a range of experiences, from introductory courses in AI to more advanced programs that allow students to work on cutting-edge research projects. We have included a variety of programs from top universities and organizations across the United States, each with its unique features and benefits.
Participating in an AI camp can have numerous benefits for high school students. In addition to gaining technical skills and knowledge in AI, students can also develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork skills. Furthermore, they will have the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and mentors who can provide guidance and support as they navigate their academic and career paths. Whether you are looking to explore AI as a potential career path or simply interested in learning more about this exciting field, there is an AI camp out there that is right for you.
15 Best Artificial Intelligence Camps for High School Students
1. INSPIRIT AI’S AI SCHOLARS PROGRAM
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Processed on a rolling basis; May 15 summer deadline
Program dates: Vary. Weekday and weekend cohorts available from June 5 to August 13
Eligibility: 9th-12th grade, unless students have previous experience with Python/AI programming; younger students interested in the program are encouraged to explore available elementary and middle school programs. For questions about program suitability, parents and students are welcome to schedule a meeting with an AI Advisor.
The AI Scholars program at Inspirit AI emphasizes AI fundamentals and thoughtful application of artificial intelligence through project-based learning and mentorship by AI professionals and university affiliates. Instructors hail from a wide range of top-flight universities including Stanford, Harvard, and MIT, and possess strong teaching backgrounds as well as experience in specialized fields like healthcare and finance. The program includes 25 hours of synchronous online instruction with a large selection of program dates/times to accommodate students with busy schedules. Participants in the scholars program enjoy the benefits of a 5:1 student-to-instructor ratio, collaborative work environment, access to top university researchers, and plenty of continuing education opportunities (more on these later in the blog!)
2. STANFORD AI4ALL | STANFORD HAI
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: March 10, 2023
Program dates: June 26-July 14
Eligibility: Rising 10th grade
High-octane and cutting-edge, Stanford’s three-week online program immerses early high school students in AI through a combination of lectures, hands-on research projects, and mentoring activities. Participants engage with professionals in the field to learn about cutting-edge ideas, such as how AI can be applied in medicine, disaster response, and combating poverty. Program benefits include mentorship by AI practitioners, a supportive peer community, and personal growth stewarded by Stanford affiliates.
AI4ALL is also offered at several other partner universities, including Princeton, Columbia, UPenn, and Boston University. For more information on the various AI4ALL programs, check out our previous blog post.
3. BEAVER WORKS SUMMER INSTITUTE, MIT
Location: MIT/virtual
Application deadline: March 15, 2023
Program dates: July 1-July 28
Eligibility: Rising 12th grade
The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a rigorous, world-class STEM program for talented students who will be entering their senior year in high school. The four-week program teaches STEM skills through project-based, workshop-style courses. Course listings include “Serious Game Development with AI,” “Autonomous RACECAR Grand Prix,” “Autonomous Cognitive Assistant,” and “Unmanned Air System–Synthetic Aperture Radar.”
4. RAISE AT MIT
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Varies
Program dates: Varies
Eligibility: High school students for select programs (some programs are also open to Middle school students).
A new MIT initiative, Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (RAISE) seeks to advance equity in learning, education, and computational action to rethink and innovate how to holistically and equitably prepare lifelong learners to be successful, responsible, and engaged in an increasingly AI-powered society.
At the high school level, RAISE runs courses such as “Personal Image Classifier: PICaboo,” “Therapist Bot Tutorial,” “Personal Audio Classifier,” and “Conversational AI Tools.” For younger students, the RAISE course catalog includes more introductory topics that span the K-12 grade range. The initiative’s research projects are iterative, multidisciplinary, and open to diverse stakeholders.
5. HARVARD PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAM
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: November 27, 2022.
Program dates: June 25-July 7; July 9-21; July 23-August 4
Eligibility: Expected to graduate from high school and to enter college in 2024 or 2025 and be at least 16 years old by June 17, 2023 and must not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2023. Course prerequisites vary.
Harvard’s Pre-College Program offers multiple courses on computer science including such listings as “Introduction to Data Science with a Focus on Visualization,” “Introduction to Scientific Programming in Python,” and “Mathematical Elements of Artificial Intelligence.” The lattermost of these courses surveys the mathematical aspects used in modern data science algorithms and culminates in a computational project in which students edit code in Python.
6. UCSD’S AND SDSC’S ANNUAL RESEARCH EXPERIENCE FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS (REHS)
Location: UC San Diego campus (San Diego, CA)
Application deadline: March 15, 2023
Program dates: June 19-August 11
Eligibility: High school
REHS is an opportunity for motivated high school students to work with a UC San Diego mentor. Students may choose from a variety of individual project opportunities to learn more about a potential research or career interest through software instruction, assigned scholarly or practical readings and discussions with their mentor and his/her graduate student team members. 2023 Research Project Topics include “Developing Interactive Jupyter Notebooks to run on the ICICLE Project,” “Machine Learning in Computational Chemistry,” and “Interpreting and Demystifying Neural Networks.”
7. UC SANTA BARBARA’S RESEARCH MENTORSHIP PROGRAM
Location: Mix of virtual and in-person
Application deadline: March 15, 2023
Program dates: June 20-August 4
Eligibility: High School
Students participating in the Research Mentorship Program are actively engaged in the pursuit of new knowledge alongside UC Santa Barbara researchers. Depending on the nature of their project, students will dedicate 30 to 40 hours a week to research. The program allows students to be exposed to a wide variety of interdisciplinary research topics, and then rank a selection of projects that they would prefer to work on. Students will be paired with a project and a research mentor (graduate student, postdoc, or faculty) to conduct hands-on, university-level research. Previous projects in 2022 included research on machine learning, blockchain, and neural networks.
8. PRE-COLLEGE AI SCHOLARS AT CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
Location: Carnegie Mellon University
Application deadline: March 15, 2023
Program dates: July 1 - July 28
Eligibility: Rising 11th grade; 16+
This CS Pathways Initiative at Carnegie Mellon takes a deep dive into the world of artificial intelligence through a combination of classroom instruction, hands-on research projects, faculty lectures, and industry engagement with leading tech companies around the country. Participants engage in college-level courses, as well as weekly seminars that explore college admissions, financial aid, building independence, mental health, emotional wellness, and more. The 2023 summer program is a four-week residential experience on the Carnegie Mellon campus in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
9. NYU TANDON SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING’S SUMMER PROGRAM ON MACHINE LEARNING
Location: Virtual/residential
Application deadline: April 20, 2023
Program dates: June 20 - June 30; July 10 - July 21; July 31 - Aug 11
Eligibility: 14+, completed Algebra 2, programming experience
NYU Tandon's summer program for Machine Learning introduces students to computer science, data analyses, mathematical techniques, and logic that drive the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Lessons cover fundamental knowledge behind video and image recognition technologies; interactive voice controls for homes; autonomous vehicles; real-time monitoring and traffic control; cutting-edge diagnostic medical technologies, and other technologies that are a part of our daily lives. A strong emphasis is put on students learning the principles of engineering problem-solving, and how these techniques can be used to tackle societal challenges.
10. INSPIRIT AI’S AI+X INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH MENTORSHIP
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Rolling; May 5 summer deadline
Program dates: Self-designed according to student schedule
Eligibility: proficiency in Python or completion of the AI Scholars program
For motivated high school students with a particular research focus, Inspirit AI offers research mentorships (10 hours) and fellowships (25 hours) which guide students through the AI-enabled research process culminating in a research paper which they can submit to academic papers and research competitions. Students are paired with AI professionals based on their research interests and work one-on-one with their advisors to understand the lifecycle of a research project with literature reviews, question formulation, experimentation, analysis, technical presentation, and write-up. Motivated students may complete a deployed web app, submit to a journal, or prepare for submission to a science fair event. Examples of previous projects can be found here.
5 More Artificial Intelligence Camps for High School Students
Artificial intelligence camps for high school students offer a diverse range of opportunities for students to learn about and explore AI. Whether it's a virtual program or an on-campus summer camp, there are options available for students of all backgrounds and experience levels. These programs provide students with the chance to work with industry professionals and researchers, gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology, and explore the ethical implications of AI.
Participating in an AI camp can also help students develop important skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. Additionally, these programs can help students make connections with like-minded peers and mentors, potentially opening doors for future academic and career opportunities.
Overall, whether a student is looking to pursue a career in AI or simply has a curiosity about the technology, participating in one of these camps can be an enriching and valuable experience. We encourage students to explore these programs further and take advantage of the opportunities they offer.
