High school students get hands-on practice at many engineering schools' summer programs.
High school students looking to improve their understanding of and abilities in engineering may attend summer school programs at several universities' engineering schools. The programs vary in scope, depth and format. Though numerous schools offer summer courses to high school students, you might begin your search by noting a few programs from well-known universities. Continue your search by looking at programs close to home at local schools.
Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering
At Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, high school students can learn about engineering through a combination of hands-on projects, research essays, presentations, lectures and lab experiments. Among the program's highlights, students try to "build a better mousetrap" of their own design. They also compete against one another to build the strongest bridge out of dry spaghetti. Students complete a range of hands-on and virtual laboratory experiments. The program has 11 sites at universities and high schools in California, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. The Maryland site is on-campus; the others are day programs.
University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering
At the University of Maryland's A. James Clark School of Engineering, high school students can participate in one of several summer programs. S.P.I.C.E. Camp is aimed at young women entering ninth and 10th grades, while Exploring Engineering at the University of Maryland (E2@UMD) is aimed at young women going into 11th or 12th grades. The Center for Minorities in Engineering offers Project Pipeline to students from Project Lead the Way, who are entering grades 10 through 12. If you're entering 11th or 12th grade, Discovering Engineering may be the program for you, with a residential format.
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho's Junior Engineering, Math and Science Program gives high school students a chance to expand their math skills and make connections with engineering problems. To participate, students must be entering grades 11 or 12. Living on campus, students take classes in a range of subjects, including environmental engineering, computer programming, robotics and computer graphics. Completing the program can earn participants two college credits.
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
For an engineering program with an emphasis on mine engineering, high school students may attend classes at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. A range of short camps and classes focus on various subjects and their intersection with engineering problems, such as mining and explosives, geology, chemical and biological engineering, and forensics and materials engineering. Participants may select from all-girls, all-boys or coed classes. Age groups vary as well, with some older groups excluding freshmen and other younger groups including older middle school students.
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