Program: The Chicago Youth Shakespeare Summer Ensemble Program for High School Students: Chicago, Illinois
Description:The CYS Summer Youth Ensemble Program is a rigorous, six-week Shakespeare intensive open to high schools students, grades 9–12. The mission of the Youth Ensemble program is to build community among young people across demographic boundaries through their work as an artistic ensemble. Summer program students receive in-depth acting training in a variety of techniques, while exploring innovative methods for “unpacking” and personalizing Shakespeare’s texts. The rehearsal process focuses on ensemble collaboration and discovery as students develop and prepare a Shakespeare play for performance. Summer program classes meet M–F, 10am-4pm for five weeks, followed by an exciting week of performances at cultural, theatrical and in-the-park venues throughout the Chicago area.

Throughout the summer, CYS will welcome visits from some of Chicago’s finest professional actors, directors, and teaching artists to lead students in a variety of workshops including: stage combat, clown, improv, Meisner Technique, and playwriting. Summer students will also travel off-site to see Shakespeare in performance and explore some of the city’s best cultural resources. CYS programs are need-blind and admission is by audition only. No student admitted into the program can be turned away based on his or her ability to pay tuition.

Participants:High school students – grades 9 – 12.
Program website: CYS Summer Youth Ensemble Program
 
Program: Eastern Illinois University Summer English Studies Camp: Charleston, Illinois
Description:Eastern Illinois offers an English Studies Summer Camp for high school students that provides enrichment in the areas of reading and writing. Students have the opportunity to develop and enhance their English skills and to experience college life on the campus of Eastern Illinois. Participating high school students have the opportunity to choose from sessions, which include creative writing, literature, media studies as well as other high interest options.

Participants:High school students.
Program website: Eastern Illinois Summer English Camp
 
Program: Emagination Computer Camps for High School Students and Middle School Students:Held at Lake Forest College in Illinois
Description: Technology learning PLUS Summer Camp Fun!

Emagination blends the latest in technology with fun non-tech activities that create a well-rounded summer camp experience for kids & teens ages 8 -17. Two-week sessions allow time to make friends and become part of a community.

Beginners to experts choose three technology workshops. Create Digital Media – 3D Modeling, Digital Music, Photoshop. Learn to Code – Minecraft Modding, iApps, Scratch, Java, C#. Design Video Games – RPG, Action, Strategy, Mobile, Minecraft. Discover Engineering – Robots and RC Cars. Recreation and socializing are important! Campers get unplugged in outdoor games, swimming, a talent show, camper groups and more.

The experience at Emagination Computer Camps differs from typical weeklong technology camps. Emagination balances technology learning with the fun activities and lifetime benefits of traditional summer camps.University locations in Fairfield, Connecticut and near Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia and Atlanta bring together “kids like me” from nearby towns, states across America and many foreign countries. It’s Worth the Trip!

Participants:Kids and teens: ages 8 – 17
Program website: Emagination Computer Camps
 
Program: University of Illinois Aerospace Institute Summer Program for High School Students: Champaign-Urbana, Illinois
Description:The Illinois Aerospace Institute Summer Program is a week-long residential program for students interested in aerospace engineering and aviation. Students learn about aerospace engineering in the areas of propulsion systems, theory of flight, aerodynamics, principles of aircraft, and spacecraft design through classroom sessions, laboratories, demonstrations, and hands-on activities.

Participants:High school students.
Program website: Illinois Summer Aerospace Institute
 
Program: University of Illinois Summer Academies for High School Students: Urbana-Champaign, Illinois
Description:The University of Illinois Summer Academies provide new opportunities for high school students to explore the University of Illinois campus; study potential careers or build their leadership skills, and meet youth from across the state. High school students have the opportunity to actively participate in 15-hours of interactive classroom and lab activities in their chosen Academy area, experience college life, live in a college dormitory, visiting CampusTown, and walking to and from classes, interact with high school students from across the state of Illinois via planned activities, and participate in ½ day of community service in the Champaign/Urbana community.

Participants:High school students and middle school students.
Program website: University of Illinois Summer Academies
 
Program: Northwestern University College Preparation Program for High School Students: Evanston, Illinois
Description:The College Prep Program allows high school students to experience college life at Northwestern University in the summer. Take undergraduate courses for college credit, or enroll in an intensive noncredit InFocus seminar, all taught by Northwestern faculty. Choose from more than 300 courses in virtually every academic discipline. Course credit earned in the College Prep Program can be transferred to undergraduate programs at many other universities. Courses are flexibly scheduled, ranging from three-week intensive courses in science and languages, and four to six weeks for most other offerings. InFocus Seminars are designed to expose you to today’s important topics and the best of Northwestern’s faculty, but without the time commitment and cost of enrolling in a college credit course. These two-week noncredit seminars are structured like a college seminar course. International high school students have the option of enrolling in EducationUSA Academy, an intensive three-week program in English language study. Northwestern faculty will lead all seminars through discussion, reading and project work.

Participants:Students who have completed their sophomore or junior year of high school by the date the program begins.
Program website: Northwestern College Prep Program
 

Program: School of the Art Institute of Chicago Early College Program Summer Institute: Chicago, Illinois
Description:At SAIC, we believe meaning and making are inseparable. Our studios are laboratories, where conceptual thinking, art making, and design skills are developed and strengthened. The Early College Program (ECP) Summer Institute provides high school students the necessary creative freedom to develop a structured dialogue between ideas and process. Mirroring the methods and practices of contemporary artists and designers, students choose courses within focused disciplines, yet retain opportunities to freely explore media in order to build a strong portfolio. Students are encouraged to explore a wide variety of materials and processes to discover new ways of defining their creative practice.

Why ECP Summer Institute?

• Students who complete the ECP Summer Institute receive college credit and have the portfolio requirement of their SAIC undergraduate application waived.
• ECP Summer Institute students receive college-level instruction from SAIC’s outstanding faculty with additional support from student Teaching Assistants.
• Individual portfolio review sessions are available.
• Students have access to SAIC’s extensive resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago museum.

Participants:High school students (at least 15 and not more than 18) who have completed their sophomore, junior, or senior year are eligible to enroll in the ECP Summer Institute. Housing, merit scholarships, and need-based aid are available. Two- and three-week sessions.
Program website: SAIC Early College Program Summer Institute
 
Program: Saper Law Immersion Summer Program for High School and College Students: Chicago, Illinois
Description:The Saper Law Immersion Program is a summer opportunity for high school and college students to learn more about law school, legal careers, and practice areas within law. In addition to learning from guest lecturers and trips to local courthouses, students will have the opportunity to develop legal research and writing skills.
Participants:High school students and college students.
Program website: Saper Law Immersion Program
 
Program: Southern Illinois University Summer Academic Camps for High School Students and Middle School Students:Edwardsville, Illinois
Description:Southern Illinois University offers a variety of summer camps for high school students and middle school students. Participating students have the opportunity to study topics of interest at an in-depth level. Students also have a chance to participate in unique activities and explore areas of interest.
Participants:High school students and middle school students.
Program website: Southern Illinois Summer Academic Camps
 
Program: The Sustainable Futures Summer Program Organized by the Center for Global Studies – University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Description:What is sustainability? The global climate is changing. Fossil fuels can’t last forever. The global population has passed 7 billion. Is the concept of modern civilization under threat? What is needed to put society on a path that can safely take humanity to the 22nd century and beyond? The answers will surprise you.

In this summer course we’ll see how the fields of culture, politics, economics, physics and biology interact to reveal what will happen in a sustainable future. Join Professor Jonathan Tomkin for this one-week intensive course that combines lectures and discussions about the fundamental challenges of sustainability with case-study investigations of local practice. Students will do research, visit field sites and make team presentations on their findings. Students will experience college life & earn one college credit.

Participants:Eligible students are rising high school sophomores, juniors, seniors and graduated seniors.
Program website:For more information, visit the website: Illinois Global Studies Summer Workshop
 
Program: Western Illinois University Summer Youth Music Camps for High School Students and Middle School Students:Macomb, Illinois
Description:Western Illinois University offers a summer music institute for high school students and middle school students. Sessions include junior high week, jazz combo camp, instrumental studio camp, and senior high week. Participating students have the opportunity to improve their musical skills, collaborate with peers, and gain experience on a college campus.
Participants:High school students.
Program website: Western Illinois University Summer Music Institute