Precollege summer programs are for middle and high school students who want to spend time on a college campus in an academic setting. They're a great way to discover new talents, gather new skills and meet new people.
Click on a camp topic for a listing of camps.
Art, Music and Dance programs
Business and Leadership programs
Engineering programs
International/Foreign Language programs
Math and Science programs
Miscellaneous programs
Art, Music and Dance
ARIA International Summer Academy
The ARIA program is geared to advanced instrumentalists aged 15 to 32, who would welcome the opportunity to work with several established performers/pedagogues during a two-week or four-week session. Participants receive 4 private lessons and 5 chamber music coachings for either of the two-week sessions, or 8 private lessons and 8 chamber music coachings for the four-week sessions. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to participate and/or audit several master classes (each faculty member gives one master class during his/her stay at ARIA).
Learn more about ARIA International Summer Academy
Ballet Camp
The pre-college ballet program is committed to creating a positive and stimulating environment for children learning to dance. In order to enhance each child's love and appreciation for the art of dance, classes are designed to challenge as well as encourage each student to achieve his or her personal best.
Learn more about Ballet Camp
Bassoon Camp for Junior High Students
Designed to improve the abilities as the bassoonists and musicians. Daily activities include private lessons, basson class, masterclass, ensemble rehearsals and reed class. Elective classes are also included. Public recital will be held on Saturday events and field trips are also planned.
Learn more about Bassoon Camp
Chamber Music Institute
Provides an opportunity for young musicians to collaborate in chamber music settings with other talented students while under teh instruciton of professional musicians and instructors. Faculty is comprised of members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and University of Indianapolis faculty.
Learn more about Chamber Music Institute
Chamber Music Institute Prep
Provides an opportunity for young musicians to collaborate in chamber music settings with other talented students while under the instruciton of professional musicians and instructors. Faculty is comprised of members of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra and University of Indianapolis faculty.
Learn more about Chamber Music Institute Prep
College Audition Preparation Workshop
Helps students prepare for college auditions. Experts in various disciplines will lead sessions devoted to selecting repertoire, controlling performance anxiety, improving performance and interview skills and knowing what to expect on audition day.
Learn more about College Audition Preparation Workshop
Guitar Camp
Students are paired with classically trained professional musicians to learn guitar in both a one-on-one and group setting. The program is designed to establish a strong musical and technical foundation for playing guitar, and students get to jump in and play immediately after the first lesson. Beginning students will acquire basic technique using familiar tunes that correspond with their age. IU staff is available to accompany parents to music shops and help choose the right instrument for their children.
Learn more about Guitar Camp
Honors Art
Designed for high school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates who have a serious interest in art, the Honors Art Program offers an intensive three-week course of study in drawing, design, three-dimensional design, and printmaking, taught by Herron faculty members. Class sizes are small, ensuring one-on-one attention from instructors. Assignments - equivalent to those given to first-year Herron students - are carefully designed to build basic studio skills.
Learn more about Honors Art
Piano Academy
For the twentieth year, the Indiana University Piano Academy offers the serious young pianist a unique opportunity to work with outstanding teachers and internationally acclaimed guest artists in an intensive and varied program.
Learn more about Piano Academy
Piano Camp I
The purpose of this camp is to expand private lesson instruction with classes in music theory and composition, music appreciation, ensemble playing, and music movement.
Learn more about Piano Camp I
Piano Camp II
The purpose of this camp is to expand private piano lesson instruction with classes of different disciplines in music.
Learn more about Piano Camp II
String Academy
The Indiana University String Academy offers serious young string players an intensive and varied program under the direction of an outstanding faculty at one of the world's most renowned schools of music.
Learn more about String Academy
Summer Music Clinic
The Indiana University Summer Music Clinic is one of the finest camps in the nation, regularly drawing high school string, brass, woodwind and percussion students from throughout the United States and beyond. In addition to outstanding large ensemble experiences, each participant has an opportunity to participate in elective activities, including music theory, conducting, chamber music, leadership or woodwind/brass pedagogy. Our goal is to provide an opportunity for musical performance experience and growth through participation in outstanding ensembles and working with gifted and inspiring instructors in a dynamic musical atmosphere which will enhance the interest and enthusiasm for music in each participant.
Learn more about Summer Music Clinic
Vocal Arts Institute
The Vocal Arts Institute is a program for students from grades 9 to 12 that explores the art of solo performance through classical repertoire, folksong, and musical theater. Students will also enjoy classes in movement, sight singing, and theory, and will learn the International Phonetic Alphabet—a useful tool in the learning of diction for any language. In addition to academic studies, the students present several performances on campus and off, along with visits to area retirement communities.
Learn more about Vocal Arts Institute
Youth Art Camp
Launched the summer of 2002, Herron's Youth Art Camp offers an educational program for the youth of Indianapolis. Students actively engage in a productive series of studio activities geared to personal and artistic development. Instructors inspire a greater awareness of the students' own artistic heritage, while instilling the value of art as a means of personal and cultural expression. Art Camp provides students with a deeper understanding of the impact of the visual arts on their world. Class size is limited so that courses may reflect the needs of the individual students.
Learn more about Youth Art Camp
Business and Leadership programs
Junior Executive Institute
The Kelley Junior Executive Institute identifies 50 high-achieving students, who are primarily African American, Latino and American Indian high school juniors or seniors, and are interested in studying business, to participate in a college experience with the Kelley School of Business on the Indiana University Bloomington campus. Though the above stated populations are targeted, all applications are welcome.
Learn more about Junior Executive Institute
Opportunities to Learn About Business
OLAB is a one-week hands-on introduction to business and the market economy for young women and men entering their senior year in high school. Considered one of the premier summer programs in Indiana, OLAB teaches students that business can be fun, creative, challenging, and rewarding.
Learn more about Opportunities to Learn About Business
Engineering programs
Bolting into Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) Camp
Designed for students who have special interests in and talents for mathematics and science. A "hands-on" experience in which students learn and use their academic skills in a variety of "make it and take it" activities.
Learn more about Bolting into Engineering, Science and Technology (BEST) Camp
Exciting Discoveries for Girls in Engineering (EDGE)
Designed to better acquaint girls with opportunities in engineering and ways that their interests and talents can be utilized in this exciting career. Participants build an electronic device, program an experiment using Lego Investigator, and tour engineering laboratories and a production facility.
Learn more about Exciting Discoveries for Girls in Engineering (EDGE)
Love Engineering at Purdue
Designed to introduce middle school girls to what engineering encompasses. Participants will be involved in individual with group projects, take tours of engineering laboratories and a production facility, and build teamwork and leadership skills.
Learn more about Love Engineering at Purdue
Lego Summer Camp
This hands-on course exposes your child to basic robotics via LEGO® MINDSTORMS®. This program is a great way to cultivate an interest in technology and science in your young student. By starting out with what is referred to as a programmable brick and adding to it wheels, gears, levers, and pulleys; students will learn how to build simple machines and mechanisms. This is a excellent way for your child to spend part of the summer learning teamwork and problem solving skills through robotics.
A certificate of completion is included with the course fee.
Learn more about Lego Summer Camp
Operation Catapult
An extensive, in-depth practical application of scientific methods lasting three weeks. It is designed to teach students about engineering.
Learn more about Operation Catapult
International/Foreign Language programs
Honors Program in Foreign Languages for High School Students
Intensive study conducted in the foreign language is the focal point of the program. Students are taught by qualified teachers in classes established exclusively for the Honors Program participants. The emphasis is on improving speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills, to which end a no-English rule prevails while the students are abroad. Formal learning involves daily morning classes and activities. Each class has about ten students, which allows active participation in grammar, culture, conversation. literature and phonetics.The students write a diary in the foreign language and have homework assignments. Informal learning comes about through singing, acting, dancing, sports, artistic performances, and field trips into the surrounding regions.
Learn more about Honors Program in Foreign Languages for High School Students
Math and Science programs
Jim Holland Summer Enrichment Program in Biology
The Jim Holland Summer Enrichment Program (SEP) is an exciting opportunity for Indiana minority high school students to broaden their horizons in Science. Whether interested in learning more about genetics, evolution, environmental and molecular biology, plant sciences, or a host of other scientific focuses, attending the Summer Enrichment Program offers not only lectures and discussions, but also hands-on laboratory experiences. Led by a dynamic and skilled team of Indiana University faculty members and Indiana high school teachers, students take with them more knowledge of various scientific careers as well as advanced preparation and expectation for a successful and fulfilling collegiate experience.
Learn more about Jim Holland Summer Enrichment Program in Biology
Math and Science Camp
Provides learning experiences that will excite participants about math and science. The ultimate goal is to generate interest and encourage some campers to pursue careers (academic and professional) in math and science.
Learn more about Math and Science Camp
ScienceScape
ScienceScape is a week-long residential science camp for students who will be entering 7th, 8th, or 9th grade. Hands-on science activities and contact with women in science careers inspire, encourage, and challenge dozens of students each year.
Learn more about ScienceScape
Miscellaneous programs
Explore-a-College
At Earlham Explore-A-College you can take a two-week class taught by an Earlham professor and develop college-level study and research skills that you will be able to apply to future classes and careers. You will learn what college professors at one of the nation’s leading liberal arts colleges expect and how to manage your time effectively. Just as important, you will be introduced to what college life is like: being away from home, having a roommate, and getting to know students from all over the U.S.A. and from several other countries.
Learn more about Explore-a-College
Gifted Education Resource Institute
The Gifted Education Resource Institute at Purdue University conducts research into the psychology of gifted and talented individuals and effective educational practices for high ability youth. Super Saturday and the GERI Summer Camps, GERI's youth talent development programs, provide challenging learning opportunities and a healthy social environment to a diverse population of high ability children and teens.
Learn more about Gifted Education Resource Institute
High School Journalism Institute
The High School Journalism Institute serves as a continuing education outreach program for both in-state and out-of-state secondary school students and teachers. HSJI provides a number of learning opportunities annually to achieve this service function: A series of intensive journalistic non-credit five-day workshops each summer intended primarily for staff members of secondary school media outlets as well as for high school students wishing to explore journalism as an academic or career interest; several five-day summer journalism workshops, carrying graduate credit, for high school teachers; specialized one-day conferences for high school journalists; consulting service by the director to Indiana high schools; a number of newsletters and other publications supportive of secondary school journalism education; and occasional research involving secondary school journalism, usually done by the director as part of a faculty appointment.
Learn more about High School Journalism Institute
Mini-University
A series of enrichment classes designed to imitate a college environment. Classes are offered in a variety of subjects, such as computers, reading and writing, math and the arts. Students may select up to four cleasses that meet for 90 minutes daily.
Learn more about Mini-University
Young Scholars Program
An enrichment experience in which students participate in classes on a varitey of fun subjects. Classes are taught by experienced teachers, IUPUI faculty and/or practicing professionals.
Learn more about Young Scholars Program