Summer presents a critical juncture for teenagers to engage in extracurricular activities and prepare for their college journey. In this article, we will explore a diverse range of summer activities that aim to enhance your resume while nurturing your personal and professional growth. From sought-after internships and immersive summer programs to impactful volunteer work and competitions, we will delve into the plethora of options available during the summer of 2023.

Internships

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Internships enable teenagers to develop skills, explore interests, and establish meaningful connections within their desired industry.

UCSC's Science Summer Internship Program is a 10-week research internship program at the University of California Santa Cruz for high school students interested in STEM fields. The internship opens to high school students aged 14 and above, currently enrolled in high school. The application period is from March 1 to March 31, 2023.

The Geosciences Bridge Program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore offers a 6-week paid internship introducing students to ocean sciences, atmospheric sciences, and geographic information systems (GIS)/Remote Sensing techniques. Hosted on the university campus, the program takes place from June to August.

The US Department of Education offers year-round internships lasting 8-10 weeks for high school students interested in careers related to government, federal education, policy, and administration. These internships are available in various locations and provide opportunities in fields such as HR Management, Education Policies, Data Analytics, Project Management, and more. Applicants must be at least 16 years old.

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Summer Programs

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Summer programs offer teens an opportunity to experience the academic rigor and environment of college-level studies, while interacting with peers from diverse backgrounds.

The Smith Summer Science and Engineering Program (SSEP) offers a range of courses in fields such as chemistry, robotics, global health, and more. Participants can choose from courses like "Chemistry of Herbal Medicine," "Designing Intelligent Robots," "Global Youth Women's Health," "Novel Bacteriophage Discovery," and "Where the Body Meets the Mind." The program accepts applications on a rolling basis.

Georgetown University's Entrepreneurship Academy offers a comprehensive program for students interested in entrepreneurship. Participants will gain knowledge in aspects such as prototype testing, business operations, and market research. The program is open to current or rising 9th-12th graders with a minimum GPA of 2.0, and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

The National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) offers a pre-college summer program designed for high school students in grades 9-12. This program focuses on leadership development and provides students with valuable training, hands-on simulations, guest speaker sessions, and the opportunity to experience college life on campuses. The program spans six days and applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Volunteer Opportunities

Teens who participate in volunteering opportunities may gain practical on-site work experience, develop their socializing skills and find their true calling for the future.

Global Leadership Adventures offers both travel and virtual programs for teens focused on thematic areas such as animal and wildlife conservation, children and education, public health and medicine, social justice, community development, and environmental stewardship. The travel program runs from July 5 to August 12 or July 6 to August 12, depending on the selected schedule option, while the virtual program schedule varies. The program is open to teens aged 14-18.

The United Nations Volunteer program offers a valuable opportunity for teens to acquire skills and contribute to various areas, including outreach and advocacy, writing and editing, translation, community organizing, research, technology development, arts and design, leadership and strategy, teaching and training, administration, event organization, and volunteer management. The program is open to teens of all ages, and registration is possible at any time during the summer.

The Scuba Diving and Marine Conservation in Baja California Sur, Mexico, offers a unique volunteering experience for teens aged 16 and above. Participants have the opportunity to learn scuba diving, address climate change issues, and actively contribute to the protection of ocean resources. The duration of the program is two weeks, specifically from July 25 to August 6.

Competitions

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Participating in competitions during the summer provides teens with valuable skills development, academic enrichment, and the chance to enhance their college applications.

The Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest opens to students worldwide between the ages of 11 and 18. It offers an opportunity to explore environmental issues through art and creative communication. The contest features six categories, including poetry and spoken word, and participants have a chance to win prizes ranging from $100 to $1,500. There is no submission fee, and the deadline for entries is June 13, 2023.

The Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition celebrates artists across the United States and includes a student division for those aged 16 and above. Students can enter the competition in five categories: Animal/Wildlife, Abstract/Experimental, Landscape, Portrait/Figure, and Still Life/Interior. There are three deadline options: Super Early Bird (November 29, 2022 – April 18, 2023), Early Bird (April 19, 2023 – July 18, 2023), and Final Deadline (July 19, 2022 – August 29, 2023).

The International Economic Olympiad (IEO) is an annual economics competition for high school students aimed at fostering creative problem-solving skills. It takes place from July 24 to August 2, 2023, with both in-person and online participation options.

The 2023 Kaggle AI Report invites participants to centralize and summarize the rapid advancements in AI from the past two years. The final notebook submission deadline for the contest is July 16, 2023.

The summer presents an opportune time for teens to engage in a variety of activities that can augment their resumes while simultaneously cultivating their personal and professional development. From internships and summer programs to volunteer opportunities and contests, there are numerous avenues for students to explore their interests, develop valuable skills, and make a positive impact. By actively participating in these activities, students can make the most of their summer break and set themselves up for success in their academic and career journeys.