High School Summer Academy
Academic Summer Camps
Discover our specialized two-week non-credit camps designed for students entering grades 9–12 who have an interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. These camps provide a unique opportunity to expand your STEM knowledge and skills while building connections with fellow aspiring scientists and engineers.
Whether you’re exploring potential areas of study or looking for an immersive experience in a subject you’re passionate about, our camps offer:
- A glimpse into life at LSU.
- Participation in college-level courses purely for the joy of learning.
- Involvement in exciting hands-on projects with like-minded peers, LSU graduate students, and faculty.
Camp Offerings
We regularly add new courses to the summer academy, so please revisit for updates. For an overview of our offerings, here’s a list of last year’s lineup.
In this camp, students will be able to design, model, and 3D print unique parts that bring their passions to life! Using Autodesk Inventor, students will apply the engineering design process to design a solution from scratch, 3D model it, and refine it through multiple iterations. When students are satisfied with their design, they will 3D print their them! At the end of the week, students will take home their files and 3D printed objects.
In the age of growing technology, understanding how we protect ourselves is ever important. Here students will learn how bad actors try to get your information and the ways we try to protect yourself or others. From identifying phishing emails to computer networks to cryptography, we will explore various areas of cybersecurity. Where by the end of the program, students will be prepared for the cybersecurity concentration at LSU or those wanting to learn more about how to protect themselves in the digital age.
Esports encompasses so much more than just playing video games. Over two weeks, students will be exposed to all aspects of the industry ranging from the history of esports to event development, to marketing, and to team structure, among other areas. Students will explore how esports has developed over the globe as well as at home in the United States and will explore a number of career paths which could suit their interests.
Campers enrolled in this course will explore the inner workings of the human body. The first part of each day will begin with the in-depth exploration of a major body system. Campers will also apply their new knowledge through careful dissection of a preserved specimen and compare and contrast the body systems seen with those of a human. Participants will have the opportunity to tour the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine and interact with practitioners. This course will help students interested in medicine, veterinary medicine or in Kinesiology explore gain a better understanding of an important part of these disciplines. It will also provide them with skills they will be able to use during their studies.
Have you ever heard an awesome soundtrack in a movie or game and wondered how those exciting sounds were created? If so, then this is the course for you. You'll learn how to use industry recording software and recording techniques to record your own original music, study the basics of music theory to continue exploring new ideas in composition, and even record your music to be used in a game or short film. This course is perfect for any students interested in music or sound design.
Registration for Fundamentals of Anatomy is now closed for 2024.
In this course, we will cover the basics of JavaScript - one of the most widely-used coding languages available - to learn how to code your own 2D video game. You will program character interactions, set up keyboard controls, add your own soundtrack, and more. At the end of camp, we will have a competition to see who can score the highest on each person's final game. Some programming experience is helpful, but not required.
In this camp, students will explore Geometry as it is used in real life! Students will create geometric art structures while making connections with conic sections, parabolas, hyperbolas, and more. Students will have the opportunity to use geometry to design their ideal living space. Students will learn about probability and demonstrate their problem-solving skills in head-to-head competitions. The material covered in this course will prepare students for college courses such as trigonometry, architecture, statistics, and engineering.
This course immerses students in real-world scenarios, scientific inquiry, knowledge of human health, and associated consequences of environmental change and challenges. In addition to studying the basic principles of environmental sciences and human disease, students will examine the intricacies and relatedness of these two fields as we navigate an ever-changing world. This course also provides students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies to contribute scientific discovery and inquiry needed to best serve humanity and the world that surrounds us. By the end of the course, students will be prepared for taking high school biology, AP biology, or AP Environmental Science in the upcoming year.
Interactive Computing focuses on the nuances of programming for interacting with the real world in two representative areas: autonomous robots and the front end of web applications. Students learn how to code a software model within the realities of physical hardware, how to write test suites, and how to systematically debug their programs. Through fun and engaging projects, students will learn programming-based problem-solving skills, such as teaching robots to navigate mazes and play soccer, developing online web apps to read sensors and control actuators in greenhouses, and automating devices at home with Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.
In partnership with the LSU College of Engineering, Intro to Engineering will introduce you to the profession, ethics and diversity of the engineering field. This experience will allow you to explore the differences between engineering disciplines through guest speakers, tours and hands-on activities. Throughout the program, you will learn and develop skills in problem-solving, communication, decision-making and teamwork.
Virtual Math Circle is designed to provide high school students with the opportunity to conduct mathematical research with guidance from professors and graduate students. By the end of the program, students will have a completed mathematical research project that they can continue as a science fair project in the fall.
This course will involve students in the development, building, and programming of robots to accomplish various tasks. Students will perform hands-on work in teams to encourage knowledge sharing, reflection, and review. Topics may include motor speed, gear ratios, torque, sensors, program loops, project documentation, and decision-making.
Survey of Drones uses the fundamental skills learned in LSU’s Pathways Engineering courses to assemble, program, and pilot drones for use in indoor racing. Students will work hands-on to program and pilot drones through an indoor racing course. The course will begin with the basics of flight and signal transmission, then using those basics, students will adjust the programming of their drones to improve mobility and better suit their pilot’s preferences.
Camp Dates
July 15–26, 2024
Registration Closed!
*Registration is now closed. We are able to accept students in some courses. Please contact us at summer-academy.lsu.edu.
Pricing
Program Fee
$1,250
- 1 Camp of Choice
- Lunch is provided
- Some camps may have an additional supply fee (see camp descriptions)
Residential Option
Program Fee + $1,500
- On-Campus Lodging for 2 weeks
- 3 Meals per Day
- Evening/Weekend activities
Contact
Harald Leder
Program Manager
summer-academy@lsu.edu
225-578-0524
High School Summer Academy is operated by the Gordon A. Cain Center for STEM Literacy (222 Prescott Hall).
Dates & Deadlines