Political Science Summer Programs for High School Students
EC Finder currently lists 34 political science summer programs for high school students. Of these, 26 are free to participate in and 7 offer virtual participation. Examples include ALA Girls State, American Legion Auxiliary Girls State (UC Riverside), and American Legion Boys State.
- 34
- listed
- 26
- free
- 7
- virtual
- 34
- with a listed deadline
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are political science summer programs for high school students?
- Political Science Summer Programs for High School Students are curated extracurricular listings for high school students interested in political science. Each listing includes eligibility, cost, and deadline details where known, so you can compare options and find the right fit for your college application profile.
- Are any of these summer programs free?
- Yes — 26 of the 34 summer programs listed here are free to participate in.
- Can I participate virtually?
- Yes — 7 of the 34 summer programs listed here offer virtual or online participation.
- Are political science summer programs good for a college application?
- Yes — political science summer programs are a common way for high schoolers to show sustained interest and initiative in political science on college applications.
Related Categories
34 activities found·Browse by category
ALA Girls State
A week-long leadership and civics program run by the American Legion Auxiliary in which rising senior girls build and operate a simulated city and state government.
American Legion Auxiliary Girls State (UC Riverside)
Parallel civic-education program for young women focused on leadership and understanding American government.
American Legion Boys State
A week-long, sponsor-funded citizenship and government simulation where rising senior boys elect officials and run a mock state government to learn how democracy functions in practice.
American Legion Boys State (Cal State Sacramento)
Week-long simulation of state government where students run for office, write bills, and learn about civic processes.
California Association of Student Councils – Summer Leadership Conference (SLC)
Multi‑day residential summer leadership camp focused on student government, advocacy, and project‑based leadership training; all curriculum is peer‑led by high school/college students and includes skills like project planning, public speaking, and facilitative leadership.
California Youth Leadership Forum (YLF)
A free, week-long residential leadership program in Sacramento for California high schoolers with disabilities. Delegates take part in workshops, mock legislative sessions, and guest speakers covering self-advocacy, postsecondary education, career readiness, and public policy.
Californians for Justice - Oakland Youth Organizing
A grassroots youth-power organization training Oakland high schoolers (with focus on LGBTQ, foster, low-income, and immigrant youth) as community organizers, through weekly meetings, a five-week Summer Youth Leadership Academy, a fall Leadership Bootcamp, and a statewide spring retreat.
CLYLP Bay Area Institute (California Latino Youth Leadership Program)
Three‑day civic‑leadership and public‑policy institute for Latino high school students from the Bay Area focused on higher education access and California policymaking; includes workshops, speakers, and policy simulations.
Columbia Political Review High School Essay Contest
Annual essay contest hosted by Columbia University's undergraduate political journal. Prompts focus on contemporary political issues and public policy; winning essays may be published in the Columbia Political Review.
Constituting America – "We the Future" Contest (Civics & Constitution)
National contest on U.S. constitutional principles with categories like essays, PSAs, short films, and songs about founding documents and civic values. Very political/civics-oriented.
Coro Northern California – Exploring Leadership
Transformative 6‑week summer civic leadership fellowship in San Francisco with leadership training, an internship placement at a nonprofit, business, or government agency, and a community action project; Fellows receive a stipend and work on real community issues.
Encampment for Citizenship
A residential summer civic-leadership program for ages 15-18 that brings students together to explore social justice issues through youth-led workshops, meetings with community members such as farmworkers and Indigenous groups, and year-round leadership development in facilitation and activism.
Exploratorium – High School Explainer: PACE Program
The Exploratorium's High School Explainer: PACE Program is a paid museum internship where 17-21-year-olds facilitate exhibits, perform demonstrations, assist visitors, and support the core Explainer program, gaining deep exposure to science communication and museum careers.
Galileo Camps – Summer Staff (Counselor/Instructor)
Galileo is a Bay Area-based summer camp network; high-school juniors and seniors can work or intern on staff supporting art, design, and STEM camp sessions, building leadership and classroom-management skills while earning pay.
Generation Human Rights (GenHR) Student Internship
A remote internship with the nonprofit Generation Human Rights in which high school and university students help develop human rights education curricula, conduct research, and support organizational projects.
Hoover Institution Summer Policy Boot Camp
Intensive 4-day residential program at Stanford for college students and recent graduates focusing on U.S. policy, economics, and governance taught by Hoover fellows, with free meals and housing.
Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad
State Department merit scholarship sending U.S. high schoolers for a full academic year to live with a host family and attend school in a country with a significant Muslim population, building language skills and cross-cultural understanding.
Leadership in Civic Engagement – Monterey County Elections High School Summer Internship
Week-long summer internship at the Monterey County Elections Department. Students receive professional training, learn about election administration and civic engagement, and design youth outreach activities.
LegiSchool Civics Virtual Institute (Sacramento State & California State Legislature)
Four-week online summer institute for California high school students exploring state policy issues and the three branches of government. Includes discussions with officials, research on CA policy, and professional skills workshops; students receive a stipend upon completion.
NAD Youth Leadership Camp (YLC)
An intensive four-week summer residential camp for deaf and hard-of-hearing high school sophomores and juniors, run by the National Association of the Deaf. The NAD selects 64 delegates nationwide to build scholarship, leadership, and citizenship skills alongside Deaf professional mentors.
NFB Youth Slam
A nationwide, week-long residential STEM program from the National Federation of the Blind that empowers blind and low-vision high schoolers to explore science and engineering, build leadership skills, and connect with blind mentors and peers. The next Slam runs July 25-31, 2027.
Norman Mineta Bay Area High School Summer Academy (MTC / ABAG)
Paid regional program introducing Bay Area high school students to public sector careers in transportation, planning, and regional policy (e.g., housing, climate). Legally more "public policy / urban governance" than pure civics, but very political science adjacent.
NSLC Political Action & Public Policy (National Student Leadership Conference)
Intensive summer program where students simulate roles in Congress, draft legislation, run campaigns, and explore political leadership and public policy careers.
Political Science – U.S. Elections Program at Cal Poly (Summer Springboard)
Summer public policy and political science program at Cal Poly focusing on U.S. elections, campaigns, and governance. Students study electoral systems, campaign strategy, and public opinion.
Political Science Internships for High School Students in California – Ladder Internships Guide
Article compiling 15 real political internships in California (e.g., USC Center for the Political Future, state legislative offices, local government programs). Many are exactly the kind of public policy placements you're looking for.
Political Science Summer Institute – UCLA
Three-week pre-college program in American politics offered by UCLA's Political Science Department. Students earn UCLA credit while studying political behavior, institutions, and political decision-making and meet practitioners via career panels.
Princeton Summer Journalism Program (PSJP)
Year-long fully-funded college-prep and journalism program for high school juniors from limited-income backgrounds, run out of Princeton's Emma Bloomberg Center. Includes a multi-week hybrid summer intensive (online plus about 10 days residential at Princeton in late July to early August), tours of the New York Times, Bloomberg, and Huffington Post, sports and arts coverage, and a published student newspaper. All costs (including travel, housing, meals, and equipment) covered.
Project Pull – San Francisco Paid Summer Government Internship
Paid summer internship for SF high school and college students in city departments. Many placements relate to public policy, community engagement, city planning, or legislative work.
SRVEF Summer Imagineering – High School Mentor
The San Ramon Valley Education Foundation's Summer Imagineering Program hires high-school mentors to assist adult instructors in week-long STEM/STEAM classes for elementary and middle-school students. As a mentor, you help run hands-on projects in science, technology, engineering, art, and math, support small groups, and model problem-solving and teamwork. You must commit to one full week at a time (morning or afternoon session) during June or July, and you're interviewed and selected by the program manager. This is a strong local leadership and teaching EC that shows STEM outreach and community impact.
TeenLife Political Science Summer Programs Directory
Directory listing dozens of political science and government summer programs (college-based, D.C.-based, etc.), including many the above and more. Good for discovering extra options if you want more than UCLA/NSLC/Cal Poly.
Telluride Association Summer Seminar (TASS)
Free, fully-funded summer humanities seminar for high school sophomores and juniors hosted by the Telluride Association. Two tracks: TASS-CBS (Critical Black Studies) and TASS-AOS (Anti-Oppressive Studies). About five weeks of intensive seminars with college instructors plus democratic community life. All tuition, books, room, board, and field trips covered.
U.S. Air Force Academy Summer Seminar
Selective free week-long program at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs where high school juniors live in cadet dorms, eat at the cadet dining facility, tour academic and research labs, and participate in admissions and leadership workshops. 2026 sessions: June 2-6, June 8-12, June 15-19. Applications open December 1 and close January 15.
United States Senate Page Program
A highly selective program in which junior-year high schoolers, sponsored and appointed by a U.S. senator, work full-time delivering documents and assisting with Senate floor operations in the Capitol while attending an accredited early-morning school.
USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future High School Summer Internship
A fully virtual USC summer research internship in which competitively selected high schoolers analyze environmental and sustainability legislation, attend speaker sessions, and produce a published policy assignment.
ECFinder provides links to outside extracurricular opportunities for informational purposes only. Students and families should research each program before applying. ECFinder does not operate or control the listed organizations and is not responsible for their actions or policies.