14 Best Robotics Camps for High School Students

TL;DR

You’ll find 14 robotics camps here, from one-week day camps to multi-week programs at Stanford, MIT, Penn, and UCL. The biggest differences are cost and access, since MIT Beaver Works is free for families under its $200,000 income and asset threshold but only accepts students living in the US. Most camps suit students in 9th to 12th grade, and several expect some algebra or coding background. Immerse Education’s Academic Insights pathway in Engineering runs for two weeks in six cities, including Cambridge, Oxford, and Toronto, for students aged 13 to 18.

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If you like taking things apart, writing code, or figuring out why a machine won’t do what you tell it, robotics camps for high school students let you test that curiosity on actual hardware. Instead of reading about sensors and motors, you wire circuits, program microcontrollers, and watch your robot succeed or fail on a test course. That experience can also shape which classes to take for an engineering degree once you start planning for college.

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Robotics camps come in a few formats, from one-week day camps to three- and four-week university programs with residential options. Depending on the camp, you might race autonomous cars, program industrial robot arms, build drones, or code an AI system that sorts objects by sight. Many also include talks from faculty and current engineering students.

What are robotics camps for high school students?

Robotics camps for high school students are summer programs, often run by universities, that teach you to design, build, and program robots. Most last between one and four weeks and combine programming lessons with team builds, testing, and competitions.

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Not every camp offers the same depth of study. Some introduce robotics through guided building with LEGO or Arduino kits, while others expect you to work with Python, C++, control systems, or simulation tools. Before you apply, check the prerequisites, the grade range, and whether housing is included. Costs range from free for qualifying families at MIT Beaver Works to nearly $10,000 for residential university programs.

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To help you compare your options, we’ve put together a list of 14 robotics camps for high school students!

14 Best Robotics Camps for High School Students

1. Stanford AI4ALL: Robotics

Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA, or online
Cost: Online: $4,120 | Residential: $9,800 (2026) | Need-based financial aid available for domestic and international participants
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 2026 cycle: Online June 15-26 | Residential July 19-31 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: February 6th, 2026 for the 2026 cycle (2027 deadline not yet posted)
Eligibility: Students in grade 9 at the time of applying who will be older than 14 and younger than 16 during the program | Open to international students

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Stanford AI4ALL is a two-week online or residential program, run with the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, that introduces you to AI through small-group research projects. In the Robotics research group, you’ll develop AI-powered robotic systems that perceive their environment, interact with it, and make decisions on their own, drawing on computer vision, control systems, and hardware engineering. 

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Graduate students and postdocs in computer science lead the projects, and one past group built a robotic system that recognized and sorted objects by their visual attributes. The program also includes lectures from Stanford faculty, guest talks, and mentorship on how AI can tackle problems in areas like medicine and disaster response. You rank the four research groups when you apply and are placed in one, so list Robotics first if it’s your priority.

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Why it stands out: You combine AI research with robotics, building intelligent systems under the guidance of Stanford graduate students and postdocs.

2. Immerse Education's Engineering Summer School

Location: Cambridge, London, Oxford, Singapore, Sydney, and Toronto

Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; an average of 7 participants per class

Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts with rolling admissions

Program Dates: 2 weeks during the summer

Eligibility: Students around the world aged 13-18 currently enrolled in middle or high school; open to international students

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Immerse Education's Academic Insights pathway in Engineering offers a structured introduction to university-level engineering, taught by expert academics from institutions such as Oxford and Cambridge. Delivered in small classes with an average of 7 participants per class, the programme blends theory with applied learning.‍

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For students aged 13-15, the course introduces foundational principles, including mechanics, forces, materials, and basic electronics. Guided workshops and design tasks help students understand how engineers approach problem-solving. For students aged 16-18, the curriculum advances into mechanical systems, electrical circuits, sustainability, and applied engineering design.

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Students complete more independent projects and analyse real engineering challenges, developing reasoning expected at undergraduate level. Across all ages, learning includes university-style lectures, problem-solving sessions, weekly 1:1 tutorials, and a personal engineering project, ending with written feedback and a certificate.‍

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‍Why it stands out: Age-specific syllabi tailored to students' academic stages, expert tutors from leading universities, small-group teaching that encourages discussion, and personalised feedback that supports meaningful academic growth and university readiness.

3. Veritas AI

Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: Multiple 12-15-week cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application deadline: Rolling. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September), and Winter (November). You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: High school students. AI Fellowship applicants should either have completed the AI Scholars program or exhibit experience with AI concepts or Python.

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Veritas AI, founded and run by Harvard graduate students, offers programs for high school students who are passionate about artificial intelligence. Students who are looking to get started with AI, ML, and data science would benefit from the AI Scholars program. Through this 10-session boot camp, students are introduced to the fundamentals of AI & data science and get a chance to work on real-world projects.

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Another option for more advanced students is the AI Fellowship with Publication & Showcase. Through this program, students get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from top universities on a unique, individual project. A bonus of this program is that students have access to the in-house publication team to help them secure publications in high school research journals. You can also check out some examples of past projects here and read about a student’s experience in the program here.

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Why it stands out: You get 1-1 mentorship with a Ph.D. mentor and produce an independent research project by the end.

4. MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute

Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA (robotics courses run in person) | Some other courses run virtually
Cost: Free for families with income and assets under $200,000 | $3,000 for families at or above $200,000 | Check details here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 5th - August 1st, 2027
Application Deadline: Listed on the summer application, which goes to eligible students who register for the free online prerequisite courses
Eligibility: Students in 10th or 11th grade who live in and attend high school in the US | Not open to international students

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The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a rigorous four-week summer program where you explore autonomous systems through team-based engineering projects. In robotics courses such as Autonomous RACECAR Grand Prix, Autonomous Air Vehicle Racing, or Autonomous Underwater Vehicles Challenges, you design, program, and test autonomous ground vehicles, drones, or underwater robots. 

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Throughout the program, you’ll work with Python, computer vision, sensors, control systems, and simulation tools while learning how autonomous robots perceive their environment, avoid obstacles, and make navigation decisions. Before the summer, you complete free online prerequisite courses, and your grades in them count toward your admission. In-person courses end with a final event on campus, where your team presents what it built.

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Why it stands out: You build and program autonomous racecars, drones, or underwater vehicles, and the program is free if your family falls under the income and asset threshold.

5. California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS): Computers in Biophysics & Robotics

Location: UC Davis, Davis, CA (COSMOS also runs clusters at five other UC campuses)
Cost: $5,518 + $44 application fee (2026) | Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 5th - August 1st, 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: February 6th, 2026 for the 2026 cycle (2027 deadline not yet posted)
Eligibility: Students completing grades 8-12 by the summer | California residents attending California high schools only | Not open to international students | Prerequisites: Algebra II or equivalent, with familiarity with programming recommended

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COSMOS is a four-week residential program, and Cluster 5 at UC Davis combines robotics, programming, and computational science. In Introduction to Robotics, you learn the basics of the C programming language while building and programming LEGO Mindstorms robots, working on bumpers and feelers, locomotion, gears, pulleys, and communication. 

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The Random Walks course uses C and Python to simulate how biological molecules behave inside a living cell, giving you a broader view of computational problem-solving. During the final two weeks, you design your own robot as a final project, working alone or in a group. You also keep a daily online journal and give two group presentations, and typical field trips include the Exploratorium and the California Academy of Sciences.

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Why it stands out: Uniquely combines robotics engineering with computational biology in a rigorous university-level STEM environment.

6. U.S. Naval Academy Summer STEM Camp

Location: United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
Cost: $750 (2027), including transportation to and from BWI airport, meals, and lodging
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 7-12 (rising 9th grade) | June 14-19 (rising 10th grade) | June 21-25 (rising 11th grade), 2027
Application Deadline: March 31st, 2027 (applications open January 5th, 2027)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 9-11 | International eligibility not specified

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The U.S. Naval Academy Summer STEM Program is a one-week residential camp in Annapolis, with a separate session for each grade. During STEM academic modules, you write your own code for a programming challenge and work through engineering projects in the Academy’s labs and classrooms. 

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Past modules have included reverse engineering a lawn mower engine, testing a structure against 150 mph winds in a small wind tunnel, and investigating materials in the Academy’s electrical engineering labs. You work with Naval Academy faculty and midshipmen, and the week includes a USNA academics and majors expo. Living on campus also gives you a firsthand look at the culture of a U.S. service academy.

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Why it stands out: Blends coding challenges with engineering projects and a week inside a U.S. service academy.

7. Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP): Robotics

Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $9,250 (2026), including tuition, room and board, course materials, and program trips | Limited financial aid may be available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 12-31, 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Priority and international deadline January 31st, 2026 | Final deadline February 28th, 2026 (2027 deadlines not yet posted)
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 15 by the start of the program | Minimum GPA of 3.0 | Open to international students

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The Engineering Summer Academy at Penn (ESAP) Robotics course teaches you to design, build, and program robots from the ground up. You’ll construct robots using microcontrollers, servos, solenoids, sensors, wireless communication, and control systems while learning how to drive actuators, read sensors, and coordinate control. 

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The course also gives you practical experience with laser cutters and 3D printers to create moving mechanisms, along with embedded programming techniques to control your creations. Working in teams, you’ll build robotic musical instruments synchronized through Wi-Fi, which come together in a public performance as a robotic orchestra. You’ll also be exposed to robotics research from Penn’s GRASP Lab, where more than 400 faculty, staff, and students research robotics.

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Why it stands out: You combine robotics engineering with digital fabrication and a robotic orchestra performance, with exposure to research at Penn’s GRASP Lab.

8. UT Austin Academy for Robotics

Location: University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX
Cost: $2,100, including housing, meals, instruction, and activities | Limited scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots; 10:1 student-to-mentor ratio
Dates: Six-day residential academy during the summer
Application Deadline: No application required; enrollment is first come, first served while seats last
Eligibility: Students entering grades 10-12 in the fall | All skill levels welcome | International eligibility not specified

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The UT Austin Academy for Robotics, co-hosted by UT Computer Science and Texas Robotics, teaches you the fundamentals of mechanical design, programming, and control systems through robot building and simulation. Working in a small group, you’ll assemble and program a Bot’n Roll One A robot using introductory C++, Arduino programming, and Linux, then compete in a robot race against other students. 

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Topics include robot sensors, motors, skid steering, sensor thresholding, and PID control, and you’ll also carry out robotics projects in simulation. Outside the lab, you’ll hear from guest speakers, meet industry representatives, and learn tactics for a standout UT application from UT admissions. You stay in a campus residence hall for the week, with mentors supervising you around the clock.

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Why it stands out: Lets you assemble, program, and race a wheeled robot while getting a full taste of life at UT Austin.

9. Embry-Riddle Robotics & Autonomous Systems (RAS) Camp

Location: Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona Beach, FL
Cost: 2027 tuition not yet posted; tuition includes supervised housing, daily instruction, classroom materials, and on-campus meals
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: One-week overnight camp (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Summer program registration opens November 30th, 2026
Eligibility: Students aged 15-18 | Open to international students, who need an appropriate visa

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The Embry-Riddle Robotics & Autonomous Systems (RAS) Camp is a weeklong overnight camp that shows you how engineers create machines that sense, think, move, and perform tasks independently. Working alongside Embry-Riddle professors, you’ll design, build, program, and test your own autonomous robotic system. 

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You’ll learn how robots sense and respond to their surroundings, then troubleshoot and improve your designs as a team. The curriculum introduces concepts in mechanical, electrical, software, and systems engineering, so you sample several engineering disciplines in one week. The camp is designed to give you an early foundation if you’re considering engineering, robotics, or autonomous systems in college.

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Why it stands out: You design and program an autonomous robot with Embry-Riddle professors while sampling four engineering disciplines.

10. Hofstra University LEGO & Sphero Robotics Camp

Location: Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Cost: Varies by session | Check details here
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; recreation groups of 8-10 campers
Dates: Multiple sessions in summer 2027 | Session availability varies by grade
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering grades 2-10 | International eligibility not specified

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The Hofstra University LEGO & Sphero Robotics Camp introduces you to robotics engineering through designing, building, and programming with LEGO Mindstorms and Sphero platforms. Working in small teams, you’ll construct robots, write code to control their movements, and experiment with sensors, motors, and parts to bring them to life. 

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Each day features challenges such as robot races, battles, and obstacle courses that encourage creative problem-solving and teamwork. If you’re entering grades 6 to 10, your mornings are spent in a recreation group with lunch, swimming, and sports, and your afternoons are devoted to robotics. The camp suits you best if you’re early in high school and want a relaxed introduction before a more technical program.

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Why it stands out: Combines LEGO Mindstorms and Sphero robotics with daily engineering challenges.

11. Arduino Robotics and Rock Climbing Camp

Location: Sunward Cohousing Common House, Ann Arbor, MI (climbing at Planet Rock)
Cost: $1,015 per week (2026 sale price; regular price $1,350)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 3 campers per week
Dates: Weekly sessions from June 15th to August 28th, 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Rolling until each week’s 3 spots fill
Eligibility: Suggested ages 11-16 | International eligibility not specified

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The Arduino Robotics and Rock Climbing Camp, run by Rocks and Robots, combines robotics engineering with indoor climbing over a full-day, Monday-to-Friday week. You’ll build and program your own Arduino-based autonomous robot using sensors, driver boards, a solderless breadboard, and custom 3D-printed parts, typing real code instead of using block coding. 

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Throughout the week, you’ll experiment with autonomous navigation, sensor calibration, motor control, and PID-style feedback as you prepare for an autonomous race and balloon battle. Rather than following step-by-step kit instructions, you’ll modify example code, troubleshoot hardware, and refine your robot through repeated build and test cycles. Twice a week, you climb at Planet Rock under a challenge-by-choice approach, and at the end of camp you take home your complete robot kit.

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Why it stands out: Lets you build and keep your own Arduino robot while combining real electronics, autonomous robotics programming, and engineering challenges with confidence-building rock climbing experiences.

12. University of Georgia Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics Camp

Location: UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel, Athens, GA
Cost: $530 | Overnight add-on: $735 (2026)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 13-17, 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: The 2026 session has closed; 2027 registration not yet posted
Eligibility: Students aged 15-17 | International eligibility not specified

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The University of Georgia Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics Camp, run with the UGA College of Engineering, puts you in control of industrial robots used in modern manufacturing. Throughout the week, you’ll program articulated robotic arms to perform precise tasks and learn to build vision and sensor technology into automated systems. 

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Working in teams, you’ll analyze data and create digital twin models of real factories, which act as virtual labs for experimenting beyond the physical world. The camp is designed for high school students with little to no engineering experience, though some basic math and physics knowledge helps. By the end of the week, you’ll have practical skills in industrial robotics, intelligent manufacturing, and digital engineering.

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Why it stands out: Gives you time on industrial robot arms and the digital twin tools used in modern smart factories.

13. Innovate Summer Academy: Engineering and Science

Location: University College London (UCL), London, UK
Cost: £4,110 - £6,650 (2027), with £300 for transfers on the residential option
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 1-15 | July 15-29 | July 29th - August 12th, 2027
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 14-18 | Open to international students

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The Innovate Summer Academy’s Faculty of Engineering and Science runs a two-week pre-university program at UCL, with robotics as one of its course modules. In the Robotics and Automation module, you’ll study how robots are designed and programmed across industries such as manufacturing and healthcare, covering sensors, actuators, and basic coding. 

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You’ll also build and program simple robotic systems, while other modules cover mechanics, materials, thermodynamics, and sustainable engineering. Guest lectures and site visits to engineering firms connect your lessons to engineering careers, and the program ends with a Capstone Project.

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Why it stands out: Places robotics inside a broader two-week engineering program at UCL, with company visits and a Capstone Project.

14. University of Maryland SPARC Certificate Program

Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD (commuter program)
Cost: $5,000 per three-week session (2026 rate) | Limited need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6-23 | July 26th - August 13th, 2027
Application Deadline: December 1st, 2026
Eligibility: Current 10th-, 11th-, and 12th-grade students | International eligibility not specified

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The University of Maryland’s Student Preparation to Advance Robotics in College (SPARC) Certificate Program gives you a focused, three-week introduction to one area of robotics and automation. Hosted by the Maryland Robotics Center within the A. James Clark School of Engineering, the program has previously covered topics such as autonomous ground vehicles, uncrewed aerial vehicles and drones, 3D nanoprinting, and soft bio-inspired and medical robotics. 

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Sessions run Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, and you enroll in one certificate topic per session, with 2027 topics still to be announced. The program is non-credit-bearing and does not guarantee admission to the University of Maryland.

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Why it stands out: SPARC offers a focused introduction to robotics within a university engineering environment. Its specialized certificate tracks can help you explore potential engineering interests before choosing a college major.

Frequently asked questions: Robotics Camps for High School Students

What do you learn at a robotics camp?

At most robotics camps, you learn to program a robot, wire its electronics, and test how it responds to sensors on a course or in a competition. Beginner camps like Hofstra’s use LEGO Mindstorms and Sphero kits, while UT Austin teaches C++, Arduino programming, and PID control. More advanced programs push into autonomy, and MIT Beaver Works has you program racecars, drones, or underwater vehicles. If you want to explore other branches of the field too, compare these engineering summer camps for high school students.

What skills do you need for robotics?

You need a mix of programming, math, and building skills, plus the patience to debug when things go wrong. Most camps teach languages like C, C++, or Python, and they rely on algebra and some physics to explain motion and control. COSMOS asks for Algebra II, while ESAP says experience in C, C++, Java, or Python is useful. Teamwork matters too, and you can practise it through team events like the FIRST Robotics Competition.

Do you need coding experience to join a robotics camp?

No, many robotics camps welcome beginners and teach you to code from scratch. UT Austin’s Academy for Robotics is open to all skill levels, and Stanford AI4ALL doesn’t require prior AI or programming experience. Some programs expect more, so check the prerequisites before you apply. MIT Beaver Works asks you to complete online prerequisite courses, often including Python, before you can apply for the summer. If you’d like to practise first, try one of these online engineering programs for high school students.

Are there free robotics camps for high school students?

Free robotics camps exist but are rare, and most programs on this list charge between about $530 and $9,800. MIT Beaver Works is free for families with income and assets under $200,000, though it only accepts students living and attending school in the US. Other programs lower costs through aid, including Stanford AI4ALL’s need-based financial aid, UT Austin’s limited scholarships, and UMD SPARC’s need-based scholarships. Ask each program about aid early, since funding is usually limited.

Can international students attend robotics camps in the US?

Some US robotics camps accept international students, but several are limited to US residents. MIT Beaver Works only takes students living in the US, and COSMOS is open only to California high school students. Stanford AI4ALL, Penn’s ESAP, and Embry-Riddle’s RAS camp accept international applicants, though you may need a visa to attend. Outside the US, Immerse Education’s Academic Insights pathway in Engineering welcomes students aged 13 to 18 from around the world in cities such as London, Singapore, and Sydney.

Do robotics camps help with college applications?

A robotics camp won’t guarantee admission, but it can show colleges a sustained interest in engineering and give you projects to discuss in essays and interviews. UT Austin’s academy includes a session with UT admissions on building a standout application, while UMD notes that SPARC doesn’t guarantee admission to Maryland. If you want formal recognition, Immerse Education’s accredited route lets you earn 8 UCAS points or 3 US college credits from age 14. You could also turn a camp build into one of these research projects in engineering.

Your next step after a robotics summer camp

Programming a robot arm, racing an autonomous car, or debugging a stubborn sensor shows you what engineering work actually feels like long before college.

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Once your camp ends, you can build on that project by joining a robotics team, entering a competition, or teaching yourself a new programming language.

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The best robotics camps for high school students also help you narrow down which engineering or computer science degree you most want to pursue.

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To plan your next steps toward studying engineering at university, browse our University Preparation blogs for guides on courses, applications, and choosing the right degree.