Summer Experiences

• Click Here for a list of businesses that have hired our students in the past
• Ask around with the businesses near you too as they might be hiring!

Headwaters Outdoor School Apprenticeship

Application: https://hwos.com/apprenticeship-program/

Due:  check website

Note:  This is a Northern California camp that teaches primitive skills that humans have used throughout time to survive in kinship with the Earth. Skills include Wilderness Survival, Tracking, Edible and Medicinal Plants, Nature Awareness, Earth Philosophy and many others. 

Kaiser Permanente Launch Paid Internship Program

Application: https://kplaunch.kaiserpermanente.org/high-school-program/

Due: Application opens in November and closes in December

Note: This is a summer-long (10 week) research internship program for high-school juniors and seniors.

Little People’s Repertory Theater Teen Mentorship

Application: https://lprt.org/teen-mentorship-program/

Due: See website

Note:  The mentorship serves approximately 15 to 25 teens each summer. We offer paid internships to teens and young adults. Teens are trained to work with younger children as rehearsal-assistants, in a camp-counselor style capacity.

NASA Internship Program

Application: https://intern.nasa.gov

Due: See website

Note: This is a spring, summer or fall internship for students with at least a 3.0 gpa who are at least 16 year old. It takes place in California and across the country.

Police Department of Scotts Valley Explorer Program

Application: https://www.scottsvalleypd.com/police-explorer

Due:  check website

Note:  This a fun and safe way for young people in our community, 14 to 20 years of age, to learn about the field of law enforcement. They participate in ride-alongs, traffic control, crowd control, give tours of the Police Department, and help with many other tasks and events.

SEAP Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program

Application: https://www.navalsteminterns.us/seap/

Due:  Nov. 1

Note: This is an an opportunity for high school students to participate in research at a Department of Navy (DoN) laboratory during the summer. Locations are nationwide, and the closest lab is in Monterey There may be a paid stipend.

State Park Volunteer at Henry Cowell

Application: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=29718

Due:  check website

Note: This is an opportunity to join a team of dedicated volunteers who rove the trails, interact with visitors, host at the visitor center and in general contribute to the inspiration, education and enjoyment of park visitors. 

Youth Conservation Corps in Yosemite

Application: https://www.nps.gov/yose/getinvolved/ycc.htm

Due:  March 29

Note:  This is a non-residential program. In Yosemite, YCC members work, learn, and grow in public lands restoring, rehabilitating, and repairing the natural, cultural, and historical resources protected as federally preserved places. Bus transportation may be available from Mariposa, CA. Youth will be paid within California’s minimum wage. 

Youth Conservation Corps

Application: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/youthprograms/ycc.htm

Due:  March 29

Note:  This is  is a summer youth employment program that takes place in many park locations. It engages young people in meaningful work experiences on national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and fish hatcheries while developing an ethic of environmental stewardship and civic responsibility. YCC programs are generally 8 to 10 weeks and members are paid the minimum wage for a 40-hour work week. 

AMDA High School Conservatory

Application: https://www.amda.edu/highschool

Due: Check Website

Note: The AMDA High School Conservatory is an immersive program that provides extraordinary performing arts training for passionate artists. This program offers cutting-edge learning opportunities that are uniquely personal and specifically designed for today’s emerging performing artists.

Cabrillo College Extension

Application: https://www.cabrillo.edu/services/extension/

Due: Varies, check website

Note: Various summer activities and experiences for all grade levels.

Carnegie Mellon Summer Pre-College Programs

Application: https://www.cmu.edu/pre-college/academic-programs/index.html

COSMOS California State Summer School for Math and Science 

Application: https://cosmos-ucop.ucdavis.edu/app/main

Due:  Feb. 1

Note: This is a four-week summer residential program for students who have demonstrated an aptitude for academic careers in STEM subjects in grades 8-12. 

EPIC Cal. Poly San Luis Opispo

Application: https://epic.calpoly.edu/

Due:  check website 

Note:  EPIC is Engineering Possibilities in College. This is for students entering 6th through 11th grade. It is a residential camp and there is a fee.

National Student Leadership Summer Conferences

Website: https://www.nslcleaders.org/

Note: These are pre-college summer programs aimed for high schoolers. Students must be nominated. Any interested should see their high school counselor.

Neuroscape at UCSF 

Application: https://neuroscape.ucsf.edu/get-involved/volunteer/#high-school

Due:  March 1

Note: The Neuroscape volunteer internship program offers a rich environment with hands-on experience in transnational neuroscience research through UC San Francisco. There is also a paid opportunity for 12-16 year olds to participate in a study.

NYU Pre-College Program

Application: Nyu.edu/precollege

Due: Check Website

Note: NYU Precollege offers high schoolers the opportunity to experience life as an NYU student, earn college credits toward a future degree, and immerse themselves in the dynamic, global community that is New York University.

Stanford Envision Experiences

Application: https://www.envisionexperience.com/

Due:  check website

Note: This is an opportunity to pay to have career experiences in Advanced Emergency Medicine or Intensive Law and Trial. It is a 10 day residential program.

Santa Clara University Summer Engineering Seminar Program

Application: https://www.scu.edu/engineering/beyond-the-classroom/outreach/summer-engineering-seminar-ses/

Due:  Opens in Dec. every year

Note:  The School of Engineering at Santa Clara University hosts a Summer Engineering Seminar (SES) program. This special summer experience is for current high school sophomores and juniors who are interested in exploring the field of engineering.

Stanford Summer Enrichment Programs

Application: https://spcs.stanford.edu/programs

Due:  check each program for the due date

Note: There are a variety of programs: Medical Youth Science Program, Mathematics Camp (SUMaC), AI4ALL (Artificial Intelligence Outreach), Summer Arts Institute, and Summer Institutes.

Additional Stanford Programs:

• Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes allows students currently in grades 8–11 to apply to a single-subject intensive course selected from a wide range of disciplines, and benefit from small class size and academically themed residences. 
   
• Stanford Pre-Collegiate University-Level Online Math and Physics offers 13 courses throughout the year, including a summer term for high school students, grades 9–12. Students earn Stanford University Continuing Studies credit.

STEM database of many programs

Application: https://cosmos.ucsc.edu/additional-resources/

Due:  check each resource for due date

Note: This is a resource for additional selected California Summer Programs in Math and Science.

UCSC Science Internship Program

Application: https://sip.ucsc.edu/

Due:  March 20

Note: This is a summer-long (10 week) research internship program for high-school students in STEM fields.

UCSC Summer Session

Application: https://summer.ucsc.edu/high-school/index.html

Due:  registration opens April 1

Note: This is for high school students (age 14-18) who completed their sophomore or junior year with a GPA of 3.0. Students take UCSC courses on campus.

Volunteering can be a great way to spend your summer, below are some opportunities to give back to our community and be sure that when you come back in the Fall, to turn in your Volunteer Hours!

Community Service Sheets can be found here.

State Park Volunteer at Henry Cowell

Application: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=29718

Due:  check website

Note: This is an opportunity to join a team of dedicated volunteers who rove the trails, interact with visitors, host at the visitor center and in general contribute to the inspiration, education and enjoyment of park visitors.