Opportunity Guide I Summer, Enrichment & Activities Guide

Versed Opportunity Guide is a comprehensive pre-college enrichment program listing that details the vast array of US-based academic and extracurricular programs that provides opportunities for students to explore and pursue their interests and passions.  All entries are curated and many are recommended by our Parent Advisors.

The purpose of the guide is to educate parents and students about the best opportunities available at each age and academic level. These programs maximize learning opportunities and allow students to pursue their interests at the highest levels throughout their school years, which may give them an edge when applying to college.

How to use this guide:

The guide lists educational programs, camps, contests, competitions and other activities, both online and onsite, available to students that are categorized by academic and extracurricular interest. Additionally, the platform allows parents and students to search based on age, school year, location, and general search terms.

To begin, start with a broad interest category that pertains to your child and familiarize yourself with the activity path and how children interested in the same areas have successfully engaged in the variety of activities and programs listed in the guide. As you click on narrower categories, you will get a sense for many of the ways that highly engaged students follow their interests to the highest levels. At the same time, feel free to explore adjacent categories to find related areas as interests change and evolve over time.



  1. Emory University is one of the top 25 Universities in the United States and the Barkley Forum is one of nation’s most successfully competitive intercollegiate debate teams for the last fifty years… Read more
  2. This is a non-credit summer program with both residential and day students. The Emory Pre-College Program (noncredit) offers students an opportunity to preview the best of college life: from… Read more
  3. Comprehensive listing of engineering competitions for students in grades K - 12
  4. Every year, the EngineerGirl website sponsors a contest dealing with engineering and its impact on our world. The topic and detailed instructions for the contest are posted in the fall with a… Read more
  5. Every year, the EngineerGirl website sponsors a contest dealing with engineering and its impact on our world.  The topic and detailed instructions for the contest are posted in the fall with a… Read more
  6. The Environmental Studies Summer Youth Institute (ESSYI) is a two-week, college-level interdisciplinary summer program for talented high-school students entering their junior and senior years. ESSYI… Read more
  7. The Envirothon is world’s largest high school-level natural resources education competition. NCF-Envirothon is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization established to coordinate the delivery of an… Read more
  8. Since 1985, Envision’s immersive career exploration and leadership development programs have inspired more than 800,000 students. Located at top college campuses across the country, Envision programs… Read more
  9. Epsilon Camp is a residential camp serving promising young mathematicians and their families through an intensive student program and parent workshop. This program is for children who are passionate… Read more
  10. Employing the signature “O’Neill process,” the festival provides professional-level support to develop original one-act plays written by middle and high school students. With these methods, the young… Read more
  11. The Experiment in International Living is the nation’s most experienced and respected provider of international education and experiential learning for high school students. For 85 years, our summer… Read more
  12. The Experiment in International Living is the nation’s most experienced and respected provider of international education and experiential learning for high school students. For 85 years, our summer… Read more
  13. EXPLO summer programs allows students to investigate subjects they’re not likely to encounter during the school year. Our courses aren’t for credit and are ungraded. They encourage students to step… Read more
  14. Exploring Engineering at the University of Maryland (E2@UMD) is a one-week residential summer program for high school women (rising 11th and 12th graders) who are considering engineering as a… Read more
  15. High School Explainers, the Exploratorium’s youngest employees, are a diverse group of students who engage visitors at exhibits, lead demonstrations, and run many museum operations. Some are… Read more
  16. The ExploraVision competition for K-12 students engages the next generation in real world problem solving with a strong emphasis on STEM. ExploraVision challenges students envision and communicate… Read more
  17. Each Spring, Summer and Fall, FCDC sponsors an internship program for dozens of High School and College students. They help us get organized by contacting voters, improving our contact data, helping… Read more
  18. Programs offer a space to build, create, think, design, explore, and play! Offered to all ages and interests in the arts, athletics, language, science & technology, sports and outdoor adventure… Read more
  19. Each FBI field office is actively engaged with the community it helps to serve and protect. One of many programs offered by select field offices is the Teen or Youth Leadership Academy. This program… Read more
  20. The FBI National Academy Associates, Inc. (FBINAA) hosts a week long training event for high school students at the FBI Academy every summer called the Youth Leadership Program (YLP).
  21. The Feinstein Institute Summer Student Intern program is a competitive mentored program designed to provide high school, college and graduate students with hands-on experience in disease-oriented… Read more
  22. QuarkNet offers summer research opportunities in science and technology for students who have demonstrated a strong interest in and aptitude for science and mathematics. Students work with scientists… Read more
  23. The TARGET Program is a highly competitive, paid, six-week summer internship opportunity for Illinois high school sophomores and juniors who have strong interest and demonstrated aptitude for physics… Read more
  24. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, the 501(… Read more
  25. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, the 501(… Read more
  26. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, the 501(… Read more
  27. FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) was founded in 1989 to inspire young people's interest and participation in science and technology. Based in Manchester, NH, the 501(… Read more
  28. Pre-teens and teens ages 12 to 17 work alongside Museum staff throughout the summer, sharing programs and exhibits with visitors. This is a great opportunity to serve your community while making… Read more
  29. Every year, in partnership with Science Buddies, Fluor transforms one of its own internal employee engineering challenges into a student-centric challenge in time for Engineers Week (in February).… Read more
  30. Foresight Prep @ Oberlin offers a rare opportunity for high school students passionate about social justice, climate change and sustainability to develop as transformative leaders. Unique amongst pre… Read more
  31. The Forsyth Student Scholars Program (EOP) exposes high-school students to the exciting and rewarding world of scientific research. Created in 1993, the program allows students to work side-by-side… Read more
  32. The Foundation for Teaching Economics sponsors two different programs for high school students each summer:  Economics for Leaders (EFL) and Economic History for Leaders (EHFL).  The curriculum for… Read more
  33. High school students are welcome to apply for an 8 week, paid summer research internship at Fred Hutch. The Hutch has an international reputation for its pioneering research in biological sciences,… Read more
  34. FBLA-PBL inspires and prepares students to become community-minded business leaders in a global society through relevant career preparation and leadership experiences. FBLA-PBL programs focus on:… Read more
  35. Future City starts with a question—how can we make the world a better place? To answer it, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students imagine, research, design, and build cities of the future that showcase… Read more
  36. Future Engineers hosts online innovation challenges for K-12 students. In 2014, Future Engineers launched its innaugural 3D printing in space challenge, sponsored by the ASME Foundation with… Read more
  37. FPSPI 's mission is to develop the ability of young people globally to design and achieve positive futures through problem solving using critical and creative thinking. FPSPI is a dynamic… Read more
  38. Gains in the Education of Mathematics and Science (GEMS) is an Army-sponsored, summer STEM enrichment program for middle and high school students that takes place in participating Army research… Read more
  39. GEMS (Girls Excelling in Math and Science) has been working since 1994 to increase interest in STEM for girls in elementary and middle school and to expose girls to the fun and wonder of these… Read more
  40. The idea of a superhero armed with fantastic powers and tremendous technology has mesmerized the world for nearly a century. The ability to fly without wings, climb buildings like a gecko or see… Read more
  41. Generation TECH will provide high school students with an interest in renewable energy an opportunity to consider renewable energy technologies as a future academic pursuit. The camp will allow… Read more
  42. The United States Geography Olympiad was founded in the summer of 2012 as a nationwide competition to test the geography skills of American students and to help foster geography education throughout… Read more
  43. The George Mason University Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program was established in 2007 by Dr. Lance Liotta, Dr. Emanuel Petricoin III, Dr. Virginia Espina, and Amy Adams to give high… Read more
  44. High school students in the Pre-College Program spend a summer in Washington, D.C., taking advantage of GW's expertise in global development, international relations, public policy and administration… Read more
  45. High school students in the Pre-College Program spend a summer in Washington, D.C., taking advantage of GW's expertise in global development, international relations, public policy and administration… Read more
  46. The Georgetown College Pre-college Academic Experience in Math and Science (PAEMS) is a 13-day residential program that provides academically motivated sophomore (10th), junior (11th) and senior (… Read more
  47. Spend your summer living and learning in Washington, D.C.—an epicenter for international relations. As one of the oldest universities in the world, and long considered a hub for international… Read more
  48. In the American Politics Institute, you’ll take an in-depth look at the three branches of government through a blend of classroom lectures and hands-on debate and simulation exercises. You’ll learn… Read more
  49. Designed for students new to computer programming, coding, and digital design, the Basic Coding & Data Science Institute introduces you to the world of data, digital literacy, and computational… Read more
  50. Georgetown's Business & Leadership Immersion introduces you to the ins and outs of the business world. Combining investment challenges and group presentations with dynamic faculty lectures and… Read more