15 Creative Arts Camps for High School Girls

TL;DR

You’ll find 15 creative arts camps here, covering film, animation, visual art, dance, theatre, architecture, and fashion curating, mostly at US colleges. The key difference is format, from one-week day camps like CSI’s $215 theatre camp to UCLA’s three-week, credit-bearing art institute at $6,641 residential. Most suit students from about 14 to 18, and several, like Tyler’s Portfolio Bootcamp, focus on building work for art school applications. Immerse Education’s Career Insights pathway in Film Studies runs for two weeks in London for students aged 15 to 18.

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As a high school girl with a flair for the creative arts, you likely understand the importance of thinking and acting outside the box. The creative arts cover a wide range of fields and can start with just about anything, whether it’s a sketch, a dance routine, or a short film. It’s important to find a space where you can move beyond classroom theory and learn how ideas can be shaped into their final form through practice, critique, collaboration, and revision. One of the best ways to do this is to spend your time in a creative arts camp.

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Picture yourself working with cameras and editing software, improving your acting or performance techniques, or learning to work with new tools and bring your ideas to life. By spending your time in a creative arts camp, you’ll get to work with university faculty, professional artists, alongside other students your age.

How do you choose the right creative arts camp for high school girls?

Finding the right creative arts camp for yourself can be a difficult task. Some camps are geared towards beginners and might be too basic if you’re a more advanced student. Similarly, many others can be overly complex and overwhelming if you’re just starting out on your creative arts journey. That’s why it’s important to have guidance as you try to determine the right camp for you.

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Various universities and institutions offer solid creative arts camps and programs. Aside from allowing you to develop industry-relevant skills and techniques, they can also serve as a strong foundation for your college journey, allowing you to experience campus life, university facilities, and college-style learning at a leading institution in person.

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In this blog, you will find 15 creative arts camps for high school girls chosen for their strong instruction, immersive university experiences, collaborative projects, and industry-relevant training.

15 Creative Arts Camps for High School Girls

1. University of Colorado Denver’s LYNX National Arts & Media Camps

Location: CU Denver College of Arts & Media, Denver, CO
Cost: For 2027, $650 for one-week camps; $1,300 (commuter), $1,800 (commuter-plus), or $2,800 (residential) for two-week camps; need-based scholarships available (see more here)
Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 2027 one-week camps run June 7th to 11th; the Music Industry Program runs June 20th to July 2nd; Animation, Filmmaking, and Immersive Art run July 11th to 23
Application Deadline: March 15th priority deadline for need-based scholarships; a deposit of half the camp cost is due May 1st
Eligibility: High school students of all ability levels | International eligibility not specified; out-of-state campers can receive up to $1,000 in scholarship funding

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LYNX National Arts & Media Camps run through CU Denver’s College of Arts & Media, with programs in 2D animation and illustration, audio production, comic book character design, photography, filmmaking, immersive art, and music. In the two-week Animation camp, you choose two focus areas from 2D animation, 3D animation in Maya, concept art for games and animation, and stop motion.

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Evening guest artists have included CU Denver animation alumni who went on to work at Disney, Pixar, and Nickelodeon. Filmmaking campers take a film from brainstorming and scriptwriting through shooting, editing, and screening, with all equipment provided.

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Why it stands out: Few camps offer such a broad choice of visual, media, and music programs

2. Immerse Education's Film Studies Summer School

Location: London

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

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

Dates: 2 weeks during the summer

Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts with rolling admissions

Eligibility: Students worldwide aged 15 to 18; open to international students

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Immerse Education's Career Insights pathway in Film Studies is a two-week program designed for students who are passionate about visual arts and storytelling, and it provides an introduction to the world of film production. The curriculum combines both the theoretical and practical aspects of filmmaking. That said, you will be introduced to the history of filmmaking, and you will cover various topics, including film theory, narrative structure, visual languages, and more. 

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Simultaneously, the program will engage you in hands-on projects that teach you the different techniques filmmakers use to turn a script into a captivating scene. You will also gain practice in critically analyzing a film. Learning is often done through discussions, research projects, and hands-on workshops. Ultimately, this program helps you understand filmmaking and cinema better.

Why it stands out: Past cohorts went inside Framestore, the visual effects studio behind How to Train Your Dragon and the Harry Potter films, so you see how film work happens in industry.

3. Lumiere Research Scholar Program

Location: Remote, you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Full financial aid available.
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring. Options range from 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement.

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The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas. The program pairs high school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! 

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You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here, and check out students’ reviews of the program here and 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. Temple University Tyler School of Art and Architecture Pre-College Programs

Location: Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: Varies by program (see the Temple Pre-College brochure); the Creative Scholars Program offers full scholarships to eligible Philadelphia School District students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two-week sessions; 2026 Pre-College Workshops ran July 6th to 17th and July 20th to 31st (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Not specified on the program page
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10 to 12; Portfolio Bootcamp is for 11th and 12th graders | Open to international students

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Tyler’s Pre-College Workshops are two-week art and design sessions where you pick a morning and an afternoon class, so you can test new materials or build on work you already make. You create original artwork in Tyler’s studios with faculty guidance, getting a feel for college-level studio classes and the degrees and careers open in the visual arts. The Architecture Institute offers a separate introduction to architectural design and representation.

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If you’re preparing to apply to art school, Portfolio Bootcamp focuses on finished pieces that make your portfolio stand out. It includes time drawing from still life, figure models, and other live sources, since observational drawing is often what admissions counselors look at most closely.

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Why it stands out: You can use Tyler’s workshops for broad artistic exploration or switch to focused portfolio preparation.

5. DePaul University: The Game, Cinema, & Animation Summer Academy

Location: DePaul University Loop Campus, Chicago, IL
Cost: 900in2026(150 deposit plus $750); limited partial scholarships for students with financial need
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; space is limited
Dates: July 13th to 17th, 2026, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Priority: May 20th, 2026; Final: June 1st, 2026
Eligibility: Students who have completed their freshman year of high school, including graduating seniors | International eligibility not specified; housing isn’t provided

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DePaul’s Summer Academy is a one-week day program from the Jarvis College of Computing and Digital Media, with six tracks: Film and TV Production, Game Development, Hand-Drawn Character Animation, 3D Modeling and Animation, Screenwriting, and Sound Design. Full-time DePaul faculty teach the tracks, including a veteran Disney feature animator whose credits include The Lion King and Mulan.

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Film students write, shoot, and edit short films in groups, while 3D modeling students team up with game developers to build creatures, vehicles, and environments for a working game. Sound design students collaborate with the film, game, and animation teams as sound designers and editors.

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Why it stands out: Its cross-disciplinary structure shows you how film, animation, sound, and game development fit together in one production process.

6. Kansas City Art Institute: Pre-College ArtLab (PCAL)

Location: Kansas City Art Institute, Kansas City, MO
Cost: $2,500, including three college credits, housing, meals, and supplies
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 13th to 25th, 2027; Session 2: July 18th to 30th, 2027
Application Deadline: March 1st for scholarship consideration and priority studio placement; applications accepted until the program is full
Eligibility: High school students; the Interdisciplinary studio is open to students graduating in spring 2027 | International eligibility not specified

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Pre-College ArtLab is a two-week residency where you choose a studio: Animation, Illustration, Interdisciplinary, Painting, or Toy Design in June, or Animation, Ceramics, Illustration, Interdisciplinary, or Painting in July. Alongside your chosen studio, every student joins sessions in other areas, including life drawing.

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Toy Design takes you from brainstorming and sketches to 3D-printed prototypes in KCAI’s Beals Studios fabrication space. If you complete PCAL and are accepted into KCAI’s BFA program, you become eligible for a renewable $1,000 annual scholarship.

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Why it stands out: You earn three college credits while focusing on one medium in a real art school setting.

7. CSU Dance Lab

Location: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Cost: $850 for one week or $1,700 for both weeks (2026 tuition, excluding lodging and meals); hotel-supervised residential packages cost $1,750 or $3,500
Cohort size: 24 dancers
Dates: August 2nd to 15th, 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Deadline: June 15th, 2026; places are first-come, first-served
Eligibility: Intermediate to advanced dancers aged 14+ | International eligibility not specified

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CSU Dance Lab is a college preparatory intensive in classical and contemporary dance, repertory, theory, and composition. Alongside daily technique classes and repertory rehearsals, you attend lectures, write an artist statement, choreograph a solo, and perform in a public showcase.

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Sample days include ballet, pointe, modern, hip hop, jazz, Kathak, and a flamenco session with a guest artist, plus sessions on dance history, music, and nutrition and injury prevention. CSU Dance faculty, guest artists, and current dance majors mentor you throughout the two weeks.

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Why it stands out: The mix of technique, choreography, writing, and performance closely mirrors the demands of a college dance program.

8. The College of New Jersey: 2D Animation Camp

Location: The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ
Cost: Residential Camp: $1,200; Commuter Camp: $800
Cohort size: 20 students
Dates: July 5th to 10th, 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Not specified on the camp page
Eligibility: Rising 9th graders to graduating high school seniors; no prior experience required | International eligibility not specified

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TCNJ’s 2D Animation Camp takes you from your first sketches to a fully animated short film. You learn the techniques professional animators use to turn drawings into moving, expressive stories, whether you prefer action or comedy. Classes run in the Art and Interactive Multimedia (AIMM) Building’s classroom and lab.

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The camp is taught by Sorraya Brashear-Evans, an Emmy Award-winning motion graphics designer whose work has appeared on BBC America, CBS New York, and Paramount+. Optional lab time in the late afternoon gives you extra hours to keep refining your film.

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Why it stands out: Every lesson builds toward one finished animated short, made under the guidance of an Emmy-winning designer.

9. CSI Youth Theater Camp

Location: College of Southern Idaho, Twin Falls, ID
Cost: $215 on or before May 31st; $240 after May 31st
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 2027 dates to be announced
Application Deadline: Registration opens March 1st
Eligibility: Students aged 10 to 18 | International eligibility not specified

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CSI Youth Theater Camp offers tracks for different levels, from classes for younger beginners to advanced classes for older students who’ve studied theatre or performed in productions. Working theatre professionals teach acting, audition skills, musical theatre, choreography, vocal development, makeup, costuming, set design, lighting, and prop construction.

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Each day ends with a rehearsal for the end-of-camp show, which you perform on Friday night for friends and family. Camp directors Shane Brown and James Haycock bring more than 45 years of experience teaching and working in theatre. You’ll need to bring a sack lunch each day.

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Why it stands out: Its broad curriculum covers performance, design, and backstage skills for a very low cost.

10. UCLA Summer Art Institute

Location: UCLA Department of Art, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: $6,641 (Residential); $4,936 (Commuter) in 2026; international students pay an extra $1,025 in insurance and service fees
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 2026 Commuter: June 22nd to July 10th; Residential: July 12th to August 1st (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: June 15th, 2026 (Commuter); June 30th, 2026 (Residential); applications reviewed on a rolling basis
Eligibility: 9th to 12th graders who are at least 15 by the first day and no older than 18 | Open to international students with an F-1 visa

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The UCLA Summer Art Institute is a three-week, credit-granting studio program with tracks in Drawing, Painting, Photography, and Sculpture. Each session carries four units of UCLA college credit, graded Pass/No Pass. No experience with your chosen medium is needed, but you apply with a transcript, four recent artworks, and a short questionnaire.

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Days combine focused studio work, artist lectures, group critiques, and one-on-one meetings with faculty, ending in an exhibition. UCLA notes it isn’t a portfolio-building program, though you’ll make many works and get a Department of Art admissions advising session.

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Why it stands out: You earn UCLA credit while working through a rigorous, critique-driven studio experience.

11. Syracuse University Pre-College Program: Filmmaking

Location: Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
Cost: Residential: $4,995; Commuter: $4,024; discounts and scholarships available
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: 2-Week Session I: July 5th to 17th, 2026; 2-Week Session II: July 19th to 31st, 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: See the Syracuse Pre-College admissions page
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, or seniors, or 2026 high school graduates | Open to international students

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Syracuse’s two-week Filmmaking course has you produce original short films of one to three minutes in small production teams, finishing with a mini film festival on the last day. You learn how working filmmakers handle pre-production, production, and post-production, from cameras, lenses, and lighting to editing and color correction.

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Crews rotate through key roles so you see how each position contributes to the whole, and open lab hours run from 7 to 9 p.m. When you finish, you receive a Certificate of Completion and can request a noncredit Syracuse transcript.

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Why it stands out: Its short-film lab format lets you complete several production cycles instead of one long project.

12. New York Film Academy’s 1-Week Filmmaking Camp for Teens

Location: New York Film Academy, New York City, Los Angeles, or Florence, Italy
Cost: 1,725(1,552.50 with early bird registration); sibling, military dependent, and SAG-AFTRA discounts available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple one-week sessions from late June to August 2027
Application Deadline: Not specified; early bird pricing is available
Eligibility: Students aged 14 to 17; no experience required | Open to international students

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NYFA’s 1-Week Filmmaking Camp introduces you to visual storytelling through the director’s craft, writing, camera and lighting, and digital editing in Adobe Premiere or DaVinci Resolve. By the end of the week, you write, direct, shoot, and edit a two- to three-minute film with no dialogue, telling your story through visuals, music, and sound effects.

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You also serve as a crew member on classmates’ projects, which shows you how a set runs. In Los Angeles, films are shot on NYFA’s campus, while other locations let you shoot outdoors around the city.

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Why it stands out: The no-dialogue format pushes you to tell a complete story through cinematic choices alone.

13. University of Colorado Denver’s Architecture in the City Camps

Location: CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning, Denver, CO
Cost: Day camp: $750; Overnight camp: $2,000; One-day workshop: $120; one full scholarship available per camp
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; space is limited
Dates: 2027 summer camp dates will be announced by December; one-day workshops run October 17th and November 14th, 2026, and January 9th, 2027
Application Deadline: Scholarship deadline: January 31st, 2027; applications are reviewed in order of receipt
Eligibility: Students entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year in fall 2027; graduating seniors can’t attend the camps | International eligibility not specified

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Architecture in the City introduces you to architecture, landscape architecture, urban design, and urban planning through a design-build project. You sketch, build models, work in architectural design software, and fabricate a project with guidance from CU Denver faculty, student teaching assistants, and licensed architects.

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Visits to downtown Denver firms and project sites show you how professionals work, and overnight campers also visit Red Rocks, Lookout Mountain, and Meow Wolf. If you complete all three one-day workshops, you earn a CU Denver Architecture in the City Certificate.

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Why it stands out: You explore several design professions while taking one project from concept to fabrication.

14. NYU’s High School Summer Art Intensive: Curating Fashion

Location: NYU Steinhardt, Barney Building, New York, NY
Cost: $2,800 (2026 tuition); optional housing and dining cost extra; scholarships available
Cohort size: 18 slots
Dates: July 5th to 25th, 2026 (2027 dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: In 2026, March 15th for financial aid and international applicants; April 15th final
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 to 18 entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grade | Open to international students with proof of English proficiency and an F-1 visa

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NYU’s Curating Fashion intensive is a three-week program that introduces you to the creative process of staging a fashion exhibition. You research fashion history, closely examine garments from the Costume Studies study collection, design an exhibition space, and tell an original story of fashion for a public audience.

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Faculty from Steinhardt’s MA program in Costume Studies, founded in 1979, lead the teaching, with guest speakers, curators, and museum visits across New York. The program ends with a group exhibition in the Commons and Rosenberg galleries in NYU’s Barney Building.

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Why it stands out: It explores the research and museum side of fashion, a pathway few high school arts programs cover.

15. St. Mary’s University: Summer Musical Theatre Camp

Location: St. Mary’s University, San Antonio, TX
Cost: $375; $350 with sibling discount
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Camp 1: June 7th to 13th, 2026; Camp 2: June 21st to 27th, 2026; Camp 3: July 5th to 11th, 2026; a Winter Camp runs December 4th to 6th, 2026 for $100
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students aged 14 to 19 | International eligibility not specified

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St. Mary’s Musical Theatre Camp gives you one week to learn a full-length Broadway musical, and the 2026 show was Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Everyone auditions on the first day, then spends mornings and afternoons rehearsing scenes, music, and choreography. Rehearsals cover theatre vocabulary, healthy vocal and dance practices, improvisation, and backstage work.

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Evenings bring group activities built around the themes of that year’s musical. The week ends with two free public performances, where you showcase your skills on stage or behind the scenes.

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Why it stands out: You help stage a full-length musical in a single week and perform it for a public audience.

Frequently asked questions: Creative Arts Camps for High School Girls

Do creative arts camps give you college credit?

Some do, though most are noncredit. UCLA’s Summer Art Institute carries four units of UCLA college credit, graded Pass/No Pass, and KCAI’s Pre-College ArtLab includes three college credits in its $2,500 fee. Syracuse’s Filmmaking course is noncredit but gives you a Certificate of Completion and the option to request a noncredit transcript. Shorter camps like CSI’s theatre camp or DePaul’s Summer Academy focus on skills rather than credit.

How much do creative arts camps for high school students cost?

Costs range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. CSI’s Youth Theater Camp costs $215 if you register by May 31st, St. Mary’s musical theatre camp is $375, and DePaul’s Summer Academy was $900 in 2026. At the higher end, NYFA’s one-week camp costs $1,725 and UCLA’s residential program was $6,641. Look for aid too: LYNX offers need-based scholarships, and CU Denver’s architecture camps each award one full scholarship.

Do you need experience or a portfolio to join a creative arts camp?

It depends on the camp. NYFA’s filmmaking camp, TCNJ’s animation camp, and CU Denver’s architecture camps welcome beginners, and LYNX accepts students of all ability levels. Others set a higher bar: UCLA asks for four recent artworks with your application, and CSU Dance Lab is designed for intermediate to advanced dancers. If you’re building toward art school, these pre-college art programs for high school students can help you plan.

Can international students attend creative arts camps in the US?

Yes, several camps welcome international students, usually with extra steps. UCLA requires an F-1 visa and charges international students an additional $1,025, while NYU’s Curating Fashion intensive asks for an F-1 visa, English proficiency, and an earlier March 15th deadline. Temple’s pre-college programs draw students from around the world. If you’d rather study abroad, Immerse Education’s Career Insights pathway in Film Studies welcomes students aged 15 to 18 in London.

Which creative arts camps are best for aspiring filmmakers?

You have several strong options at different lengths and prices. Syracuse’s two-week course has you make multiple short films for a final mini film festival, and NYFA’s one-week camp ends with your own no-dialogue short. DePaul’s Summer Academy offers film, screenwriting, and sound design tracks, and LYNX runs a two-week filmmaking camp with all equipment provided. For more choices, browse these film summer camps for high school students.

When should you apply for creative arts camps?

Start looking in the winter, since priority and scholarship deadlines often fall early in the year. CU Denver’s architecture camp scholarships close on January 31st, 2027, KCAI’s priority deadline is March 1st, and LYNX’s need-based scholarships go to students who apply by March 15th. Later deadlines included DePaul’s June 1st and CSU Dance Lab’s June 15th in 2026. CSU fills its 24 places first-come, first-served, so applying early helps.

Choosing a creative arts camp that fits

Animating a short film, rehearsing a full musical, or curating a fashion exhibition shows you how creative work comes together from first idea to audience.

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The best creative arts camps for high school girls match your medium, experience level, and budget, so compare formats before you commit to one.

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Some programs ask for artwork samples or prior training, while others welcome beginners, so read each application checklist well before the deadline.

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For guidance on portfolios, applications, and choosing a creative degree, explore our University Preparation blogs as you plan your next steps toward college.