Even if your child is just finishing middle school, it’s not too early to start thinking about what comes after high school. College is on the horizon, and the opportunity to start learning about potential schools and developing the skills necessary to succeed is now.

 

For our oldest child, Andrew, a little time spent over the summer at a William & Mary camp proved inspiring when he was just entering high school. In addition to giving him the opportunity to explore what it’s like to live away from home for a week, it also gave him an opportunity to go deeper into what he thought at the time he wanted to do – astronomy – and discover a new field that inspired him to pursue his passion - Languages.

 

Not every camper will experience that dramatic a turnaround, but they will be exposed to a world of ideas and possibilities that they don’t have access to in high school. Further, working with people who are genuine experts in their fields gives young minds an appreciation for what it means to move beyond the obvious to explore the unknown.

 

Many Virginia universities offer camps tailored to the next generation of college students, or kids just interested in stretching their minds. Which one is right for you? Use our guide to help you decide.

 

Pre-college programs

 

If your child is college-bound, these programs will give them a small taste of what’s to come in the classroom. Explore the range of learning possible, or just relish in the variety of students and ideas you’ll encounter.

 

2025 Summer Enrichment Program at the University of Mary Washington
July 13-19
Rising 10th-12th Graders
Cost: $1,200 - covers tuition, room and board, course materials, field trip transportation, and recreational activities. Fee reductions may be available for eligible students.
Apply

For a week, students get to explore a range of classes from photography and the arts, to math and genetics. It’s an opportunity to explore college life, become familiar with the campus and faculty at UMW, and take those first tentative steps toward higher education

 

Northern Virginia Community College Bridge Program
Application Deadline: March 9

For high school juniors and seniors, this free program will help students decide if a career in engineering technology, data center operations, information technology, or computer science are right for you.

Pre-Summer College Institute at Virginia State University
Dates Not Provided
Cost: Not Provided

The Summer Transportation Institute is a four-week program for students interested in pursuing a career in the expansive world of transportation. Consult the website for more information.

 

UVA Advance Pre-College Program

Cost: $6,995
Dates: July 12 - August 8
For highly motivated 11th and 12th graders
Apply

 

Geared toward academically motivated students, this program affords students the opportunity to earn up to 6 hours of transferable credits from the University of Virginia. An excellent opportunity for driven students preparing to enter college.

 

Science Programs

 

Virginia Tech Science Camps
Cost: $1,100 - $1,450 depending on camp selected
Dates: Vary by Program
Apply – Applications close when programs fill.

Virginia Tech offers four camps that focus on different aspects of the sciences. Each is geared toward high school students pursuing careers in these fields. The camps are:

• Explore Science: June 29- July 3, 2025 (rising 7th-8th grade); July 13-17, 2025 (rising 9th-10th grade). Offers hand-on experiences in a range of science disciplines.
• Data Science to Solve Real World Problems: July 6-12, 2025 (rising 11th-12th grade). Students learn to build and use a simple computer cluster and work on a problem of interest to them.
• Explore Physical Science: July 20-25, 2025 (rising 11th-12th grade). Solar energy, nanoscience, and chemistry are just some of the topics students will explore.
• Explore Life Science: June 22-27, 2025 (rising 11th-12th grade). Neuroscience, bacteriology, and ecology as some topics that participants will work in.

 

For the Younger Set

Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Costs: None - the camps are free
Applications, Dates: Available early March

 

Children in grades 3 through 8 attend day camps named: 

• Bay Buddies (rising 3rd and 4th Grade) 
• Chesapeake Champions (rising 5th and 6th Grade)
• Estuary Explorers (rising 7th and 8th Grade) 

High School students attend a two-day training, and then serve as a junior counselor at one of the three aforementioned camps.