Best Summer Programs for High School Students in Florida (2027)

Author: ExtracurricularHub Editorial Team · Reviewed by Parker, Founder — editorial policy

Published · Last updated

Article Summary

Summer 2027 programs for Florida high school students: UF SSTP, Mayo Clinic SPARK, Frost, Seacamp, Mote and more, with posted 2027 dates and last cycle's costs.

Full Article

Florida's summer options for high school students range from lab research at the University of Florida and Mayo Clinic to music camps at the University of Miami, marine science in the Florida Keys and coastal volunteering in Sarasota and Boca Raton. This guide covers programs based in Florida, plus the deadlines that are already open this fall.

About the dates in this guide. This is the summer 2027 edition, checked against each program's official page on September 25, 2026 and rechecked on September 27, 2026. Most programs have not posted summer 2027 dates or prices yet. Where a program has, we give the 2027 detail. Where it hasn't, we give the summer 2026 figure and label it as last cycle's. We never estimate a date a program hasn't published, so confirm everything on the official page before you apply.

Research Programs

UF Student Science Training Program (SSTP)

SSTP is a seven-week residential program at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Students join a UF faculty scientist's research team and help with its ongoing work, and they also attend a science lecture series and a UF Honors seminar, keep weekly lab notes, and finish with a paper, a poster and two oral presentations.

  • Who: current 11th graders who will be at least 16 when the program starts. UF sets aside only a limited number of places for students from non-Florida high schools.
  • Cost (2026): $5,500 plus a $50 nonrefundable application fee and a $500 nonrefundable deposit after acceptance. Housing and most program activities were included; daily meals and travel were not. Limited need-based aid was available to Florida high school students.
  • Summer 2027: not posted yet. Last cycle's application opened January 5, 2026 and was due March 25, 2026, with rolling review until the program filled.

Mayo Clinic SPARK (Jacksonville)

SPARK is a biomedical research mentorship at Mayo Clinic's Jacksonville campus. Scholars spend at least 25 hours a week in a Mayo lab over the summer, keep working on the project into the school year, and present a poster; every scholar also enters a regional science fair.

  • Who: rising juniors and seniors enrolled at a high school in Duval or St. Johns County with at least a 3.5 unweighted GPA. Positions depend on mentor availability.
  • Cost: Mayo's pages don't state a fee or a stipend.
  • 2027: Mayo lists an application window of October 15 to December 4, 2026, program dates of June 8 to December 3, 2027, and a mandatory orientation on June 8, 2027.

Arts Programs

Frost Summer Experience (University of Miami)

The former Frost Young Musicians Camp is now the Frost Summer Experience, a set of University of Miami music camps in Coral Gables. In 2026, high school students chose one- or two-week programs in popular music and songwriting, music production, jazz, or orchestra and chamber music, each with its own audition and requirements.

  • Cost (2026): tuition was commonly $1,250 or $1,850 depending on the program, plus a $50 application fee. Optional July housing with meals was $1,000 for one week or $1,900 for two. Limited scholarships were available.
  • Summer 2027: programs, dates, prices and deadlines haven't been announced.

YoungArts National Arts Competition (Miami)

Miami-based YoungArts runs a national competition in ten disciplines, from classical music and dance to film, writing and visual arts. It isn't a summer program, but its deadline is this fall.

  • Who: students in grades 10-12, or ages 15-18 on December 1, 2026, who meet YoungArts' U.S. eligibility rules.
  • Deadline: the 2027 competition closes October 6, 2026 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern. Each application costs $35, and YoungArts waives the fee for applicants who upload the required request letter.
  • What winners get: $250 for winners and up to $10,000 for winners with distinction, who are also invited to National YoungArts Week in Miami, January 9-17, 2027, with travel, hotel and meals covered.

Marine Science and Aviation

Seacamp (Big Pine Key)

Seacamp is a residential marine-science camp in the Florida Keys, with field classes, labs, kayaking and snorkeling trips.

  • Cost (2027): two-week sessions for ages 12-17 are $5,150, with optional SCUBA for another $650; one-week sessions for ages 10-17 are $2,350. Payment plans and scholarships are available.
  • Summer 2027: registration is open. Two-week sessions run June 25 to July 9 and July 12 to July 26; one-week sessions run July 29 to August 4 and August 5 to August 11. Seacamp takes $100 off for a deposit paid by December 31.

National Flight Academy (Pensacola)

The National Flight Academy runs six-day residential aviation-STEM "Deployments" aboard a simulated aircraft carrier at Naval Air Station Pensacola, for students ages 10-17 entering grades 6-12. A parent or guardian registers. When our catalog last checked in August 2026, the registration system listed no upcoming sessions or tuition, so check the site for new dates.

Summer Volunteering

Mote High School Blue Crew (Sarasota)

Mote Marine Laboratory's High School Blue Crew is a year-round volunteer program that brings new members in each summer. Volunteers start as Aquarium Guides at Mote Science Education Aquarium, explaining exhibits and Mote's research to guests.

  • Who: high school students at least 15 who are not seniors when they apply and have reliable transportation to the aquarium.
  • 2027: Mote says to check back in February for information about the 2027 Blue Crew. Applications open in mid-February and are due in mid-April each year.

Gumbo Limbo Nature Center (Boca Raton)

Gumbo Limbo's summer student volunteer program had two tracks in 2026: Daily Summer Operations for ages 16-20 (at least 50 summer hours, educating visitors about coastal and marine ecosystems) and Counselor in Training for ages 16 and up (at least two full camp weeks). It accepted 35 students, both tracks required an interview, and the deadline was April 20, 2026. The 2027 cycle isn't posted yet.

More Florida Volunteer Listings

Bright Futures and Service Hours

If you plan to use a Florida Bright Futures Scholarship, summer is a good time to build service hours. For students who graduated in 2025-26, the Florida Academic Scholars award required 100 volunteer hours, 100 paid work hours or a combination, and Medallion Scholars required 75 volunteer hours, 100 paid hours or a combination. Requirements can change by graduating class, so check the current handbook and ask your counselor which hours your district accepts.

National Programs Florida Students Apply To

Many Florida students also apply to national programs such as the Research Science Institute and MITES at MIT. Our summer planning guide covers them, with what each has posted for 2027.

A Planning Calendar for Summer 2027

  • October 6, 2026: the YoungArts 2027 competition closes.
  • October 15 to December 4, 2026: Mayo Clinic SPARK takes applications.
  • February 2027: Mote says to check back for the 2027 Blue Crew.
  • Now: Seacamp's 2027 registration is open.
  • For reference, last cycle's deadlines: UF SSTP March 25 and Gumbo Limbo April 20, 2026; Mote's Blue Crew is due in mid-April each year.

How to Choose

  1. Match the program to what you already do. A program in your area of interest gives you more to build on than a famous name.
  2. Check eligibility first. SPARK is limited to two counties, SSTP to rising seniors, and the volunteer programs have age minimums.
  3. Price the whole summer. Meals, travel and housing can be extra even when tuition is listed.
  4. Keep a free backup. Volunteering or a self-directed project can't reject you.

Keep Exploring

Browse every Florida program in our catalog, see free summer programs nationwide, or take the Find My Fit quiz for matches based on your interests.

Sources

Facts in this article were last reviewed against these sources on . Programs change their dates and prices; confirm on the official page before you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should Florida students apply for summer 2027 programs?

Start now. Mayo Clinic's SPARK program in Jacksonville takes applications October 15 to December 4, 2026, and the YoungArts competition closes October 6, 2026. UF's SSTP opened January 5 and closed March 25 last cycle, and Mote's Blue Crew says to check back in February for 2027. Most other Florida programs haven't posted 2027 dates yet.

Are there free or low-cost options in Florida?

Summer volunteering is the most reliable free option: Mote's High School Blue Crew in Sarasota and Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton both take high school volunteers. Paid programs such as UF's SSTP offer limited need-based aid to Florida high school students, and YoungArts waives its $35 fee on request.

Can students from outside Florida attend UF's SSTP?

Yes, but UF designates only a limited number of places for students from non-Florida high schools, and its need-based aid is for Florida high school students.

Do Bright Futures scholarships count summer volunteering?

Bright Futures awards require service or paid work hours: for 2025-26 graduates, the Florida Academic Scholars award required 100 volunteer hours, 100 paid work hours or a combination, and Medallion Scholars required 75 volunteer hours, 100 paid hours or a combination. Requirements can change by graduating class, so confirm which hours your district accepts with your school counselor.

Featured Programs

  • Clark Scholars Program — Spend seven weeks on a faculty-guided research project at Texas Tech in Lubbock. The 2027 Clark Scholars program runs
  • American Legion Boys State — Create and run a mock state government through American Legion Boys State. Local schools, Legion posts and state
  • Blue Crew Teen Volunteer Program — Mystic Aquarium Blue Crew teen volunteering for ages 15-18; applications are closed, with reopening expected in early
  • NSLC International Diplomacy — Intensive summer program at university campuses focused on international diplomacy, global affairs, and negotiation
  • Best Delegate Model United Nations Institute — Intensive Model UN training program teaching research, public speaking, and diplomacy skills. Programs available online

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