# Smithsonian Programs for High School Students

The Smithsonian's youth programs put students behind the scenes of the world's largest museum complex — natural-history research, design workshops at Cooper Hewitt, and internships across its museums.

These are rare credentials for students aimed at the humanities, museum sciences, or design, and the Smithsonian's name travels well beyond D.C.

6 verified Smithsonian programs, 6 free. Official site: https://www.si.edu

## Programs (6 total)

| Program | Organization | Cost | Format | Grades | Deadline |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Smithsonian Teen Volunteer](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/volunteer-smithsonian-teen-volunteer-smithsonian-institution) | Smithsonian Institution | Free | in_person | Grades 9–12 | Rolling |
| [Smithsonian Digital Volunteers](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/volunteer-smithsonian-digital-volunteers-smithsonian-institution) | Smithsonian Institution | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | Rolling |
| [Cooper Hewitt Design Challenge](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/cooper-hewitt-design-challenge) | Smithsonian Design Museum | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-02-02 |
| [Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Internships](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/smithsonian-environmental) | Smithsonian Institution | Free | in_person | Grades 11–12 | 2027-02-15 |
| [YES! Teen Internship Program](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/yes-teen-internship-program) | Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History | Free | in_person | Grades 10–12 | 2027-03-20 |
| [Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Internships](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/smithsonian-folklife-internships) | Smithsonian Institution | Free | virtual | Grades 9–12 | 2027-03-01 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Smithsonian offer programs for high school students?

Yes — ExtracurricularHub lists 6 verified Smithsonian programs open to high school students, each with cost, eligibility, deadline, and an official application link. The Smithsonian's youth programs put students behind the scenes of the world's largest museum complex — natural-history research, design workshops at Cooper Hewitt, and internships across its museums.

### Are any Smithsonian high school programs free?

Yes — 6 of the Smithsonian programs featured on this page charge no participation fee. Funded programs are often the most selective, so apply early and to more than one.

### Which Smithsonian deadlines are coming up soonest?

The next deadlines: Cooper Hewitt Design Challenge (February 2, 2027); Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Internships (February 15, 2027); Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Internships (March 1, 2027). Deadlines change every cycle — always confirm on the official Smithsonian page.

### How competitive are Smithsonian programs?

It varies widely within one organization — flagship selective programs sit alongside broad-access options. Read each listing's eligibility, and treat the selective ones as reach applications: apply to several programs across organizations rather than betting a summer on one.

## Related pages

- [Arts for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/arts)
- [Research for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/research)
- [Extracurriculars & Programs in Washington, DC for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/washington-dc)
- [Internships for High School Students](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars/internships)
- [All organizations](https://extracurricularhub.com/providers)
- [Browse all extracurriculars](https://extracurricularhub.com/extracurriculars)

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