If you are a parent looking for engaging architecture-focused programs for your kids, or a high school student interested in gaining valuable pre-college experience, take a look below at Archinect's latest highlight of summer architecture programs.

For the 2024 season, we have curated another two-part special featuring educational events for all ages and regions across the United States and Canada. With spring quickly approaching, now is the time to secure your spots.

Part 1 focuses on summer courses and workshops for elementary, middle, and high school students ready to discover architecture's basics.

Jump directly to these included Archinect Partner Schools and featured schools:

• Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc)
  
• Pratt Institute
• Tulane University School of Architecture
• UCLA Architecture and Urban Design
• Temple University Tyler School of Art and Architecture
• University of California, Berkeley College of Environmental Design
• University of New Mexico School of Architecture + Planning
• University of Southern California (USC) School of Architecture
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture
• University of Virginia School of Architecture

Check out 26 more summer architecture programs for kids and high school students here.

Design Immersion Days

Institution: Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) , an Archinect Partner School, in Los Angeles, CA
Dates: June 17 – July 12

Details: "Design Immersion Days (DID) is an immersive four-week summer program that introduces high school students to design and architecture. It is intended to inspire curiosity about the world of design, introduce basic design knowledge and critical thinking skills, and familiarize students with the expansive architecture and design culture of Los Angeles. Throughout the program, DID students are exposed to examples of design and modes of production at all scales, from analog physical building and traditional drawing to multiple forms of digital output—augmented reality, 3D modeling, 3D printing, and more. In the classroom and beyond, participants explore ways of seeing, thinking, and making that are essential for anyone interested in pursuing a career in architecture or design."

Pratt Center K-12 Summer Scholars Program

Institution: Pratt Institute , an Archinect Partner School, in Brooklyn, NY
Dates: July 8–19

Details: "Center K-12 aims to increase access to instruction in art, design and architecture to K-12 youth in all New York City boroughs. All programs introduce the strengths of an art and design education through courses in art, design, and related fields. Classes are taught by faculty from the Schools of Art, Design, and Architecture. The Summer Scholars program offers art and design studio classes for middle and high school students for two weeks in July. The program offers an Architecture course for high school students grades 9-12. Students are introduced to the field of architectural world-building using video game engines and augmented reality technology. The class offers students a chance to work with physical/digital drawings and model making towards an architectural world-building. Students gain experience in physical model making, physical drawing, digital model-making and are introduced to Augmented Reality workflows used in both architecture and the video game industry."

Explorations in Architecture and Design (Pre-College Summer Program)

Institution: Tulane University School of Architecture , an Archinect Partner School, in New Orleans, LA
Dates: Five two-week courses held over June and July (June 10–21; July 1–12; July 15–26)

Details: "Explorations in Architecture and Design is a pre-college program for rising juniors and seniors interested in analyzing the fundamentals of design and thinking at the architectural scale. Students delve into ideas, methods, and issues of the built environment in the unmatched cultural context of New Orleans. This studio-based program encourages participants to investigate the world around them from the design perspective and engage in lectures, studio time, field trips, discussions, and critiques."

JumpStart at UCLA Architecture and Urban Design

Institution: UCLA Architecture and Urban Design , an Archinect Partner School, in Los Angeles, CA
Dates: June 24 – July 19

Details: "JumpStart is a 3.5-week summer studio for individuals contemplating careers in architecture, design, and related fields. The program is open to students from all backgrounds and carries six quarters of University of California credit. To participate in JumpStart, students must hold a high school diploma (or equivalent). This year’s program will be delivered in person. Students will be assigned to an instructor for a studio on campus, and will attend Technical Seminars, Theory Seminars, as well as group-work sessions in person."

TeenArch Studio at UCLA Architecture and Urban Design

Institution: UCLA Architecture and Urban Design , an Archinect Partner School, in Los Angeles, CA
Dates: July 1–19

Details: "TeenArch Studio is a three-week architecture experience for high school students interested in exploring architectural and design thinking. The program carries three quarter units of University of California credit. TeenArch Studio is open to students who are 14 years of age or older by the first day of Summer Sessions 2024 (July 1, 2024), and enrolled in grades 9 through 12 during Spring 2024. This year’s program will be delivered both in-person and online in a remote learning format. Students who elect to complete the program in-person will be assigned to an instructor for a studio on campus, and will attend Technical Seminars as well as group-work sessions in-person. Students who elect to complete the program online will be assigned to a remote instructor and online studio space, and will attend Technical Seminars, Theory Seminars, as well as group-work sessions in-person. There will be a Field Trip in Los Angeles on Saturday, July 6, 2024."

Pre-College Summer Architecture Institute

Institution: Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University , an Archinect Partner School, in Philadelphia, PA
Dates: Session II: July 8–19; Session III: July 22 – August 2

Details: "At Tyler’s Summer Architecture Institute, students participate in a rigorous introduction to the field of architecture, engaging in collaborative design problems, faculty presentations, virtual site visits, and hands-on projects. The program introduces students to methods of architectural representation and design and processes related to constructing and understanding the built environment. Students will leave the Architecture Institute with new skills and insight into the many college degree pathways and professions within this field."

Pre-College Environmental Design Institute

Institution: Tyler School of Art and Architecture at Temple University , an Archinect Partner School, in Philadelphia, PA
Dates: Session II: July 8–19; Session III: July 22 – August 2

Details: "Environmental designers create places that are ecologically sound, socially equitable and resilient, while addressing the challenges of climate change. At Tyler’s Environmental Design Institute, students explore careers within landscape architecture and horticulture and gain valuable skills in our world-class research facilities. Students participate in lectures, field studies, and hands-on projects that incorporate science, design, and sustainability."

embARC Summer Design Academy

Institution: University of California, Berkeley College of Environmental Design in Berkeley, CA
Dates: July 1–26

Details: "Spend your summer immersed in the world of architecture, urban design, and sustainable city planning on the UC Berkeley campus. embARC is an engaging college-level course that offers you the chance to study at the top-ranked public university for architecture and the built environment alongside students from all over the world. Challenging design assignments, one-on-one reviews with instructors, field trips around the Bay Area, and a design/build project for a community nonprofit introduce you to the skills, ideas, and culture of an environmental design education. You'll leave the program with a strong portfolio for your college applications in any area of environmental design and credit on an official UC Berkeley transcript."

Architecture + Design Summer Academy

Institution: University of New Mexico School of Architecture + Planning in Santa Fe & Albuquerque, NM
Dates: June 10–28 (Santa Fe) and July 8–26 (Albuquerque)

Details: "The University of New Mexico School of Architecture + Planning presents the Architecture + Design Summer Academy, a program designed to introduce high school juniors and seniors to the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, and community and regional planning, preparing them for application to our undergraduate programs. Participants will learn about diverse topics in architecture and design through lectures, design assignments, and field trips in Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Students will have the opportunity to study with instructors from multiple disciplines over the course of each session and receive feedback on their work from local professionals and community leaders during a final review. A limited number of full scholarships are available on first-come, first-served basis. Students may take both sessions. Non-credit and dual high school and university credit options are available."

Exploration of Architecture

Institution: University of Southern California (USC) School of Architecture in Los Angeles, CA
Dates: June 16 – July 13

Details: "Exploration of Architecture is an immersive 4-week program that engages high school students with architecture thinking and the design process. This program will challenge you to connect more deeply with the built world by providing opportunities to experience and create meaningful places through dynamic learning methods. You will imagine and draw, as well as discover, examine, and analyze architecturally impactful places and buildings. You will gain insights into the profession through talks, conversations, and interviews with leading architects. The goal of the program is to stimulate you to pursue further education as architects, designers, and scholars who are leaders in your community and beyond. This dynamic program is conducted on campus and taught in-person by USC Architecture faculty members. It offers 3-units of college course credit."

Discover Architecture

Institution: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Architecture in Urbana-Champaign, IL
Dates: July 14–20

Details: "The program is organized around the design studio and provides a studio-focused, design-intensive workshop over the course of the week. Students learn such through making as they explore introductory drawing and modeling. They also receive a picture of what to expect from life as an architecture student and an architect. This residential program introduces students to campus and includes travel to one of the Midwest’s most notable architectural landmarks. If you’re intent on studying architecture or just wondering if the discipline might be for you, Discover Architecture will offer a foundational experience that assists prospective students to enter an undergraduate program in Architecture."

Design Discovery Youth Summer Program

Institution: University of Virginia School of Architecture in Charlottesville, VA
Dates: Session 1: June 10–15; Session 2: June 24–29

Details: "Design Discovery is a 6-day youth summer program hosted by the UVA School of Architecture that invites high school students of all backgrounds to unlock their creativity through design-thinking. Participants operate in both academic and real-world settings, engaging in fabrication workshops, design firm and construction site visits, and a lunch-and- learn series with a diverse cross-section of UVA alumni, faculty, and students. All participants have dedicated workspace in our studio environment and are introduced to our robust fabrication labs. The program culminates in a celebratory exhibition with food, families, and friends.The Design Discovery program was established with the mission to make design education accessible to all — demystifying design and introducing it as an empowering way of seeing and making the world. The program offers tuition waivers for low-income families and dormitory options for non-local participants."

More architecture summer programs

2024 Vacation Programs
Institution: Center for Architecture - AIANY in New York, NY
Dates: April 23–25

Introduction to Architecture Online: Foundation Studies and Portfolio Development
Institution: The Cooper Union in New York, NY
Dates: July 8 – August 9 (online)

Architecture Summer Program for High School Students
Institution: Cornell University in Ithaca, NY
Dates: June 24 – August 2 (online)

Girls Build! Spring 2024
Organization: Chicago Architecture Center in Chicago, IL
Date: April 7

Experiment In Architecture
Institution: Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, IL
Dates: July 8–19

HiArch Summer High School Program
Institution: School of Architecture at the University of Illinois at Chicago in Chicago, IL
Dates: July 15–19 & July 22–26

From the Ground Up - Summer Discovery Program in Architecture
Institution: University of Houston and Wonderworks in Houston, TX
Dates: June 17 – July 19

Harvard GSD Design Discovery Youth
Institution: Harvard University in Cambridge, MA
Dates: June 10–28 (in-person and online)

BAC Summer Academy for High School Students
Institution: Boston Architectural College (BAC) in Boston, MA
Dates: July 1 – August 2 (in-person and online)

Urban Design and Planning Fellowship
Institution: Boston Architectural College (BAC) in Boston, MA
Dates: June 24 – August 9

KidsBuild!
Institution: Boston Society for Architecture in Boston, MA
Dates: April 6–7

CCA Young Artist Studio Program for Middle School Students, Architecture and Interior Design
Institution: California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA
Dates: June 10–14 and August 5–9

CCA Summer Atelier for High School Students, Architecture and Interior Design
Institution: California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA
Dates: June 17–29

CCA Pre-College for High School Students, Architecture and Interior Design
Institution: California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA
Dates: July 8 – August 2

Summer Scholars, Explorations in Architecture and Design
Institution: University of Miami in Miami, FL
Dates: June 29 – July 19

Architecture Camp
Institution: Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto, ON
Dates: Week 1: July 2–5; Week 2: July 8–12; Week 3: July 15–19; Week 4: July 22–26; Week 5: July 29 – August 1; Week 5: August 6–9

Alberti Program
Institution: Washington University in St. Louis in St. Louis, MO
Dates: June 3–28

Architecture Discovery Program
Institution: Washington University in St. Louis in St. Louis, MO
Dates: July 14–27

University of Nebraska, College of Architecture’s High School Camp
Institution: University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, NE
Dates: June 9–14

ArcStart
Institution: University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI
Dates: July 8–26

Virtual Architecture Summer Camp Academy
Institution: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Milwaukee, WI
Dates: August 4–10 (online with an optional in-person visit to Milwaukee on the final day)

D _ CAMP: Design Camp at the Fay Jones School of Architecture and Design, University of Arkansas
Institution: University of Arkansas, The Innovation Hub at Winrock International in North Little Rock, AR
Dates: June 10–14

Camp Architecture and Design
Institution: The Center for Architecture and Design in Columbus, OH
Dates: Week 1: June 3–7; Week 2: June 10–14; Week 3: June 17–21; Week 4: June 24–28

Design a Space That's Wright for You
Institution: Taliesin Preservation in Spring Green, WI
Dates: June 17–21 (online)

Pre-College Design Camp
Institution: University of Kansas in Lawrence, KS
Dates: June 9–15

Inside Design
Institution: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg and Alexandria, VA
Dates: June 16–21 (in-person in Blacksburg); June 24–28 (in-person at Washington-Alexandra Architecture Center); July 16–21 (online)

CAED/Architecture Summer Career Workshop
Institution: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo in San Luis Obispo, CA
Dates: June 23 – July 19

Camp ARCH
Institution: Texas A&M University in College Station, TX
Dates: July 8–13

Architecture Summer Institute
Institution: Florida Atlantic University in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Dates: July 8 – August 2

Imagine Architecture
Institution: Carleton University in Ottowa, ON
Dates: In-person: July 8–12, July 15–19 & July 22–26; Online: July 29 – August 2

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This curated list is a sample of the variety of spring and summer architecture-related programs available for kids and high school students. Besides highlighting the programs listed above, we want to acknowledge the dedication of each program's coordinators, instructors, organizers, and volunteers, who devote their time to teaching and empowering young minds.

Be sure to stay tuned for part two, where we highlight architecture and design summer programs for adults, high school graduates, and current college students.

Are you interested in promoting your school or organization's summer program on Archinect? Know of a great summer program that's not listed above? Reach out to us.