Summer 2026 Programs

Below, find programs in different interest areas for summer 2026. Click each topic to see programs related to that field. We will update this page weekly as new summer programs are released!

Arts + Theater Programs

The Cooper Union Summer Art Intensive 2026

More information and application

All of The Summer Art Intensive instructors are professional artists and are assisted by dedicated Cooper Union School of Art undergraduates. All necessary materials and software are included in the tuition and will be provided in class as needed. SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE!!!!! Click here to apply for a full scholarship for the program

Animation & Drawing
Drawing Intensive
Graphic Design & Drawing
Painting (NEW!)
Studio Practice

Socrates Sculpture Park Socrateens Spring/Summer 2026

Socrateens will be facilitated by Earth Convergence and Socrates staff and will explore environmental justice through the lens of art and civic engagement. We will explore, as our main topic, the intersections of art, technology, and the environment. You do not need to have any art background or experience to participate in this program. The Spring/Summer Socrateens program will meet on Wednesday afternoons, in person, at the Park from 4pm - 6pm. Food and beverage will be provided.

Individuals will be paid $18 and hour. Note that payment takes approximately two weeks to process.

Socrateens will also participate in Earth Month Convergence on
April 18 + 19 from 12 - 5pm.

Program Dates:
Feb. 1st - Mar. 31st : Applications Open, ongoing review + Final cohort selection

April 6th : Spring session begins with Earth Month Convergence planning (event April 18th - 19th)

April (cont.) - June 24th : Socrateens Spring 2026 Cohort

Last day of the Socrateens Spring/Summer Program will take place on June 24, 2026.

About Earth Convergence
The Earth Convergence is a BIPOC-led collective of educators, practitioners, urban gardeners and organizers cultivating a cultural shift through intergenerational, culturally rooted, and scientific education—building movement infrastructure grounded in environmental justice, mutual reciprocity, and collective healing to regenerate our Earth.

For more info please visit their website.
Contact Info
If you have any questions about the program or application, please do not hesitate to contact [email protected]

Application information

Pre-College Programs

Camp College 2026

Applications are now open for Camp College 2026, a free, overnight college access program hosted by the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC).

Location: SUNY Geneseo

Dates: July 22–24, 2026

Who: Rising high school juniors and seniors

Deadline: April 2nd

Camp College is a residential experience designed to help students explore college life while gaining the confidence, knowledge, and support needed to navigate the college admissions process. Through mentorship, workshops, and hands-on engagement, students experience what it’s really like to live and learn on a college campus.

What students gain:

• One-on-one mentorship from college access professionals

• Interactive college admissions workshops

• Exposure to student life and campus culture

• A supportive community of peers from across New York State

Interested in learning more?

We invite students, families, high school counselors, admissions representatives, and community-based organizations to attend one of our virtual information sessions:

Information Sessions (7:00–8:00 PM):

• March 11

• March 25

Register at the link attached.

For questions, please contact us at [email protected] or visit www.nysacac.org/camp-college.

campcollege nysacac | Linktree

SUNY New Paltz Summer Honors Program

Welcoming high academic achieving and rising high school seniors. The Summer Honors Program is open to low-income, Pell-eligible, first-generation, or veteran-affiliated students. Participants experience college first-hand during this week-long residential summer program. You will take courses in media, sustainability, liberal arts, and theatre. Workshops will include college prep, financial literacy, and academic planning. You will also visit local attractions such as Minnewaska State Park, Hudson Valley Manufacturing Center, and the Cornell Creative Arts Center.

Learn More About the Program

For High School Juniors with:

Cumulative, weighted GPA above 86
Demonstrated leadership skills
Involvement in community service
Passion for learning
Conditional Acceptance to SUNY New Paltz
For more information, please email [email protected] or call 845-257-3216.

The program runs from Sunday, July 19 to Friday, July 24.

Summer Leaders Academy at Fordham University

Fordham's Summer Leaders Academy is an immersive pre-college program that offers innovative academic courses, along with activities in the most exciting classroom of all, New York City! With on-campus housing and commuter options available, this pre-college program is crafted to redefine the summer and set the stage for students' future success.

Course options include:

Cybersecurity
Introduction to Fashion Design
Business Communication
FRESH Air: Hands-On STEM, Investigating Air Quality and Climate Impact in NYC
Your Journey to the Bar: Fordham Pre-Law Intensive
...and many more!

Click here to learn more and apply

UPENN GLOBAL YOUTH PROGRAM

As a NEON high school partner, you have access to a limited number of fully funded scholarships – covering up to $11,900 per student – for scholars to participate in the Wharton Global Youth Program at the University of Pennsylvania.

Through this partnership, selected NEON scholars can attend one of Wharton’s in-person or online summer programs at no cost.

Program Details:

On-Campus & Location-Based Programs: Grades 9–11
Online Programs: Grades 9–12
Cost: FREE for selected scholars
Priority Deadline (for scholarship consideration): March 1, 2026
Final Deadline: March 18, 2026
Application Fee Waiver Code: NEON2026
You can learn more here: Info Session Recording | Website

These programs offer rigorous academic experiences and meaningful exposure to college life at Penn, an incredible opportunity for students interested in business, leadership, and related fields.

If you or your students have any questions, please reach out to Sasha Bentley-Rohret at [email protected].

Architecture, Construction, STEM, Computer Science, and Engineering Programs

Girls Who Code's 2026 Pathways Application

CLICK HERE

Girls Who Code is excited to offer Pathways this summer from Monday, June 29th, through Friday, August 14th! This seven-week program is a free, flexible online learning opportunity for students who want to learn coding at their own pace.

Participants will be able to explore coursework in five tracks throughout the program: Data Science + AI, Game Design, Web Development, Cybersecurity, and AI + Society.
Beyond coding, students gain real-world insights through virtual Partner Events with leading tech organizations. They can also connect with peers through Girls Who Code’s private Discord community and join optional Student Hours for live support and collaboration.
For students who participated in Pathways during 2025, this summer's program will offer new courses and virtual events, as well as the chance to explore coursework you may have missed previously!
Pathways is open to high school girls and non-binary students of all experience levels, including rising 9th graders, graduating seniors, and returning participants. Check out our eligibility criteria for more information.

Please review important application guidelines below:

We strongly encourage you to complete your application in one sitting. If you've previously submitted page 1 of the application and need support returning to page 2, email [email protected] and we can help! Please do not create a new application if you have an existing in-progress application.
The application takes about 10 minutes to complete and consists of two pages.
If you are under the age of 18, we encourage you to review this application with a parent or legal guardian. Before submitting your application, please ensure that you and your parent/guardian have read and discussed the Terms and Conditions on the next page. By submitting this application, you confirm that a parent or legal guardian has reviewed and consented to these Terms and Conditions on your behalf.
The first application page will confirm your program eligibility, and the remaining questions will collect additional information about you.
For ease, we suggest you use a computer or laptop to apply instead of a mobile device. If you have any technical difficulties, please try an alternate device or browser.
This application must be filled out by the prospective student, and not by another individual such as a parent or teacher.
When you submit your application, you cannot further edit your responses. Please contact [email protected] with any requested changes, and we will support you with making updates.

IMPORTANT APPLICATION DATES

Early Application Deadline: February 25th, 2026

General Application Deadline: April 10th, 2026

💡Questions? Check out our walkthrough video with instructions on applying, read our FAQs, or email us at [email protected].

Engineering the Next Generation

https://outreach.engineering.columbia.edu/eng

11th-grade high school students (rising seniors) work with Columbia Engineering researchers for six weeks to gain practical research experience, collaborate with research faculty, staff, and students, and participate in multilevel mentorship. ENG has two tracks students can apply to:

Foundations of Research (FoR) or Center for Smart Streetscapes (CS3).

Program components include experience in working on genuine engineering research projects, research skills and college prep workshops, science communications workshops, and additional supplemental seminars and opportunities.
Students are provided with a stipend to support them over the summer.
We encourage all rising seniors (current 11th graders) with an interest in engineering and research to apply.

Cooper Union Summer STEM

Application Deadlines
Application Opens: Thursday, December 18, 2025
Application Closes: March 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM

This summer, explore a dynamic lineup of hands-on STEM courses designed to help students ideate, innovate and make.
Our six-week courses, July 6 - August 13, 2026 span sustainability and circular design, iOS app development, digital fabrication and wearables, coding for social and environmental impact, Python for engineering and data science, and smart device prototyping with Arduino and ESP32. Students collaborate in studios and labs, use professional tools, and finish with real projects and prototypes that build both technical skills and creative confidence.

We also offer two three-week programs July 6 - 23, 2026, and July 27 - August 13, 2026, for students seeking a focused experience in engineering design and drawing, digital systems and circuits, water quality engineering, and Makerspace fabrication. With expert instructors, small class sizes, and a strong learn-by-doing approach, these courses are built to spark curiosity and prepare students to become the next generation of problem-solvers and innovators.

Full and partial financial aid (limited) is available for qualified students.

Eligibility: Students who reside in the five boroughs of New York City, are enrolled in a NYC public school, and meet the income requirements may qualify for a full or partial fee waiver. Aid is limited.

Note: Fee waivers are not guaranteed and are prioritized based on financial need.

https://connect.cooper.edu/portal/sumstem_apply

Cornell AAP City Visionaries

https://aap.cornell.edu/aap-summer-programs/nyc-high-school-summer-program/

City Visionaries is a Cornell AAP summer program based at the Gensler Family AAP NYC Center on the Cornell Tech campus. The rigorous, five-week curriculum is designed for high-achieving and high-potential high school students interested in studying the collective aspirations, methodologies, and processes involved in the design of cities.

Program Dates
July 6–August 7, 2026

Eligibility
Rising high school juniors and seniors (ages 16–18)

Location
Gensler Family AAP NYC Center, Cornell Tech Campus, Roosevelt Island, New York City

Early Application Deadline: February 27, 2026
Regular Application Deadline: April 17, 2026

Science Programs

Brooklyn Navy Yard Internship Programs Details

BNYDC’s Internship Program connects college-attending students and high school seniors to a wide range of paid internship opportunities with businesses within the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Over the course of 8-week sessions, students will be connected to Yard-based businesses and departments according to their future career interests, skill sets, and educational background. Please see additional information below, including the link to the interest form.

We have an interest form that's open all year long, where you can let us know which programs you’re interested in, and we can send you the applications as soon as they're released. Here is the interest form link: https://bit.ly/BNYInternshipsInterest

Program Details

Summer Internship Program: full-time, 35 hours a week, 8 weeks long starting in early June, $16.50/hr.
Green Careers Accelerator Program: 35 hours a week, 8 weeks long starting in late June, $17.50/hr.

Social Justice and Activism

The Sadie Nash Leadership Project

The Sadie Nash Leadership Project is currently accepting youth applications for the Summer Institute 2026, a paid, six-week social justice leadership program for high school students who identify as young women and gender-expansive youth in NYC and Newark, NJ.

Application Deadlines:
• Summer Institute 2026 Nasher Application: Apply by March 13, 2026

sadienash.org/

sadienashleadershipproject.my.salesforce-sites.com/application

The Summer Institute offers young people a rigorous and affirming learning experience centered on leadership development, social justice education, and community engagement. Students participate in classes, skill-building workshops, and conversations with leaders across a range of fields, while gaining tools to design and lead projects rooted in issues they care deeply about.

2026 Hearst High School Media Internship

Applications are due on Monday, March 30th by 11:59PM EST

The Hearst High School Media Internship at The Paley Center for Media is a 5-week, paid, best-in-class media-focused summer internship for rising 11th and 12th grade students. The program will encompass Media Literacy and Digital Learning, Media Career Development, and Mentorship. The internship offers students the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and network necessary to prepare for college and to break into the media and entertainment industry.

https://paleycenter.bamboohr.com/careers/207

CBH Summer Scholars Internship Program

The Center for Brooklyn History's Summer Scholars program is a unique opportunity designed for high school students with a passion for public history and a strong interest in Brooklyn’s rich and diverse past. This year, Summer Scholars will engage with our current exhibition, The Battle of Brooklyn: Fought and Remembered, to consider Brooklyn’s role in the Revolution, explore how the borough’s history has been commemorated over the past 250 years, and imagine how it might be remembered 250 years from now.

Throughout this hands-on internship, Summer Scholars will work closely with CBH’s archivists, historians, and educators. They will conduct research in the Othmer Library, gain insight into the curatorial process, and learn how the education department engages learners through interactive programming. Scholars will use these new skills to create personal research collections and practice designing mini exhibitions that preserve and celebrate this moment in Brooklyn’s history. At the end of the program, Scholars will present their work to peers and CBH staff.

Summer Scholars will also explore the inner workings of museums, archives, libraries, and historic sites through immersive field trips, and connect one-on-one with professionals to learn more about careers in cultural institutions.

Summer Scholars will receive an $800 stipend upon completion of the program, as well as roundtrip train fare to CBH and all field trip locations.

Who should apply:

This internship program is open to rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders who live or attend school in Brooklyn. Applicants should have an interest in local history, archival research, and gaining experience in museums and libraries.

Program Location and Dates:

The Summer Scholars program will take place at the Center for Brooklyn History, located at 128 Pierrepont Street in Brooklyn Heights. Scholars will meet on Tuesdays—Thursdays from 11am—4pm on the following dates:

July 14, 15, 16, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30

August 4, 5, 6

Students must be available for all program dates listed above.

Field trip locations and details will be provided upon acceptance to the program. All field trips will take place during internship hours.

Application Instructions:

Click the link below to apply! Applications will close on Wednesday, April 1st at 11:59pm.

Applicants selected for interviews will be contacted via email the week of April 13th and will have the option to select a virtual or an in-person interview. Final decisions will be made by Friday, May 1st.

If you have any questions, please contact Schuyler Schuler, Assistant Director of Education, at [email protected].

Summer 2026 Programs

2026 Hearst High School Media Internship

Who should apply:

Program Location and Dates:

Application Instructions:

CLICK HERE TO APPLY