15 Summer Internships for High School Students in Montana
If you are a high school student looking for a productive way to spend your summer, consider participating in an internship. Many summer internship programs for high school students provide opportunities to explore your chosen field and gain industry experience. Additionally, you can develop practical skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork while learning how to navigate the professional work environment. Participating in a summer internship can also make your college applications stand out by demonstrating a deep interest in your subject.
Why choose a summer internship in Montana as a high school student?
Participating in a high school internship in Montana provides an opportunity to engage with organizations and institutions such as the McLaughlin Research Institute, the Historic Clark Chateau Museum & Gallery, the University of Montana, and others. These programs offer work experiences, research opportunities, and the chance to collaborate with professionals in the field. Additionally, you can begin to develop your professional network by connecting with experts and peers with similar interests. If you’re looking for opportunities that are accessible and well-suited to high school students, Montana offers a range of options across education, research, healthcare, conservation, and public service.
To simplify your search, we’ve put together a list of 15 summer internships for high school students in Montana that offer meaningful experience and clear learning outcomes.
15 Summer Internships for High School Students in Montana
1. McLaughlin Research Institute: Summer Internships
Location: McLaughlin Research Institute, Great Falls, MT
Stipend: $3,500
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: June 15 – August 7
Application Deadline: December 1 – January 31
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors and seniors
The McLaughlin Research Institute’s Summer Internships provide an opportunity to work in a laboratory setting alongside professional scientists. During the internship, you will contribute to research on diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, learn how to operate laboratory equipment, and gain insight into the process of designing scientific experiments from the ground up. Additionally, you may participate in data analysis and attend laboratory meetings where researchers discuss their latest findings. You’ll gain valuable hands-on experience with advanced biomedical research equipment, which is typically available to students at the college level. The program involves a small group size, allowing for meaningful interactions with mentors and ample opportunity to ask questions.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies depending on the cohort
Eligibility: High school students
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program designed for motivated high school students. During the program, you will have the opportunity to work with high-growth start-ups across various industries, including technology, deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. The start-ups involved in the program are typically high-growth companies, often raising over one million dollars. As an intern, you will collaborate closely with your managers and a Ladder Coach on real-world projects and present your work to the company. Here is the application form.
3. Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) Youth Corps
Location: Various locations in Montana
Stipend: ~$1,200 bi-weekly allowance + Education Award
Cohort Size: Crews of 6-8 students
Dates: 8 weeks in June – August
Application Deadline: February – April 24 (rolling)
Eligibility: Montana high school students aged 17-18
The Montana Conservation Corps (MCC) Youth Corps program is for those who want to be outside and don’t mind a bit of hard work. As a participant, you’ll join a crew of students to fix trails and help restore natural areas in places like Glacier or Yellowstone. You’ll spend about nine days at a time camping and working with specialized tools like pulaskis and crosscut saws. It’s a lot of manual labor, but you’ll learn a ton about teamwork and land management. You’ll earn a certified service award and valuable leadership experience while living in Montana’s most beautiful backcountry. Crews also spend time discussing environmental ethics and conservation history.
4. U.S. Forest Service: Youth Conservation Corps
Location: Various ranger districts across the U.S., including Montana
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: 1-3 months in the summer
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students ages 15-18
As a participant in the U.S. Forest Service’s Youth Conservation Corps program, you’ll get to help take care of Montana’s national forests. You might spend your day fixing fences, helping with wildlife surveys, or cleaning up campgrounds. You’ll also get to work with professional rangers and see what it takes to manage thousands of acres of land. Besides the work, you’ll also have "education days" where you’ll learn about local plants and animals. This program is ideal if you’re considering a career in forestry or wildlife management.
5. Helena Area Summer Jobs Program
Location: Various locations in Helena, MT
Stipend: Paid
Cohort Size: ~40 students
Dates: Early June – mid-August (tentative)
Application Deadline: May
Eligibility: Current high school students and recent high school graduates between the ages of 15 and 19
The Helena Summer Jobs Program connects you with local Helena businesses for paid work experience. Opportunities may include positions at a bank, manufacturing facility, healthcare office, or other local businesses. Along with the job, you’ll participate in a training series that teaches you how to succeed in a professional workplace. You’ll also get paired with an adult mentor who will meet with you regularly to talk about your career goals. This program offers a unique combination of a paid paycheck, a professional mentor, and college credit through Helena College.
6. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Various locations across the U.S., including Montana (within 45 miles of your home)
Stipend: $3,000
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: 8 weeks (June – August)
Application Deadline: November 21 – January 25
Eligibility: High school current juniors and seniors (16+)
The American Fisheries Society hosts the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program with the aim of building the next generation of aquatic scientists. As a Hutton Scholar, you will be matched with a professional biologist in your area to assist with field research and laboratory analysis. Your daily tasks might include sampling local fish populations, monitoring water quality, or helping with the restoration of sensitive habitats. This role provides a significant financial stipend and a fully funded trip to a national summit. It is also one of the most prestigious science internships available to high schoolers.
7. NIH Summer Internship Program (SIP)
Location: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, Hamilton, MT
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Highly competitive
Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: December 8 – February 18
Eligibility: U.S. graduating high school seniors located within 40 miles of an NIH campus; More info here
The National Institutes of Health offers the Summer Internship Program (SIP) for students who want to tackle complex challenges in healthcare and biomedical research. As an intern, you will be placed within the Intramural Research Program, where you will work full-time under the guidance of a Principal Investigator. You can choose from a wide range of specialties, including epidemiology, bioinformatics, nursing, and behavioral science. In addition to laboratory work, the program provides comprehensive workshops on professional development, wellness, and career planning. You will have the exclusive opportunity to present your findings at a professional Summer Poster Day and network with the world’s leading medical researchers.
8. Logan Health High School Internship Program
Location: Multiple Logan Health facilities across Montana
Stipend: Paid or unpaid, depending on placement (varies by role)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Summer (dates vary by placement)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: High school students (16+)
Logan Health’s High School Internship Program offers a range of internships across clinical and non-clinical departments designed to give you work experience in healthcare. Depending on your interests, you may work with staff in areas like clinical research, medical fitness and wellness, marketing and communications, nutritional services, medical library, plant operations, printing services, or long-term care support at facilities such as Brendan House. You’ll assist professionals with team-oriented tasks, learn about healthcare operations, and develop workplace skills without direct patient care responsibilities. This program helps you explore different healthcare fields while building skills that support future academic and career goals.
9. Red Lodge Area Community Foundation (RLACF): Montana Working Youth Internship Program
Location: Various host organizations in Carbon County, MT
Stipend: Paid (stipends vary by placement)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Summer (June – August)
Application Deadline: Typically spring
Eligibility: High school students in Carbon County
The Youth Internship Program, facilitated by the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation, connects high school students with paid internship placements at local businesses and nonprofit organizations. Internships may include roles such as Garden Assistant, Museum Assistant, Audio/Visual Tech Intern, or Education Assistant, giving you the opportunity to try different career paths while earning money and gaining professional experience. You’ll work alongside mentors in real workplaces, build workplace skills, and receive career readiness support. The program is designed to boost career confidence and help you explore vocational interests in a structured summer setting.
10. Cultivating Connections Youth Farm Internship
Location: Cultivating Connections Montana, Hamilton, MT
Stipend: $12.50/hour
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 6 – August 30
Application Deadline: Early spring (tentatively)
Eligibility: High school students aged 14-18
The Youth Farm Internship offers an introduction to the entire food cycle, from organic vegetable cultivation to professional food service and distribution. As an intern, you will spend your summer outdoors learning high-value skills like herbal remedy preparation, nutritious meal cooking for donations, and managing a retail farm stand. Beyond agricultural work, the program emphasizes community service through supporting the farm’s Special Abilities Camp and planning local events. By participating in this program, you gain a versatile professional resume that highlights leadership, childcare experience, and sustainable farming expertise.
11. U.S. Department of State Pathways Internship Programs
Location: Various U.S. cities, including MT (on an as-needed basis)
Stipend: Paid
Acceptance Rate: Competitive
Dates: Year-round; dates vary by position
Application Deadline: Varies by position (apply via USAJobs)
Eligibility: U.S. high school or college students (16+)
The Pathways Program offers a professional gateway into federal service through two distinct tracks: the Internship Experience Program (IEP) and the Internship Temporary Program (ITEP). As an IEP intern, you will be appointed to long-term roles that last your academic career and include full federal benefits like health and life insurance. As an ITEP intern, you will typically work during seasonal breaks or holidays in temporary positions. Both paths provide you with paid, real-world experience in government operations and international relations. Successful participants may be eligible for non-competitive conversion into a permanent civil service career within 180 days of graduation.
12. Project Bridge
Location: University of Montana, Missoula, MT (with travel to South Korea)
Cost: No cost (fully funded)
Cohort Size: 24 students (8 from Montana)
Dates: December – June
Application Deadline: November 2
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors in Montana with a passing GPA
The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center at the University of Montana partners with the Korea Society and the Pacific Century Institute to select Youth Ambassadors for an intercultural leadership program. As a participant, you will join a cohort of students from Montana, Los Angeles, and New York to study Korean history, language, and modern society. The program features bi-monthly workshops and collaborative research projects designed to build cultural awareness and public speaking skills. The highlight of the experience is an all-expenses-paid, ten-day study tour of South Korea, where you will visit schools, businesses, and historical sites. Throughout the year, you will meet with diplomats and business leaders to grow your professional networks. Following the tour, you will share your insights as an ambassador through community presentations to bridge cultural gaps at home.
13. Clark Chateau Summer High School Internship
Location: The Historic Clark Chateau Museum & Gallery, Butte, MT
Cost/Stipend: None
Cohort Size: Up to 12 students
Dates: 9 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
The Clark Chateau Summer High School Internship is a nine-week program that offers a blend of historical immersion and creative growth for a small group of local students. Interns meet every Wednesday for specialized workshops covering the arts and humanities, led by a rotating group of guest experts and community educators. Beyond these group sessions, you will give back through volunteer work and take charge of your own independent projects. This program offers an ideal environment to experiment with new artistic media while exploring the halls of one of Butte's most iconic landmarks.
14. Montana Tech Metallurgical & Materials Summer Program
Location: Montana Technological University, Butte, MT
Cost/Stipend: None
Cohort Size: ~20 students
Dates: June 14 – 19
Application Deadline: March 31 (rolling)
Eligibility: Montana rising high school juniors and seniors
The Montana Tech Metallurgical & Materials Summer Program is a residential experience that offers an exploration of the engineering principles behind the materials that shape our modern world. As a participant, you will spend a week in university laboratories, moving beyond textbooks to work directly with ceramics, polymers, and metals. The curriculum is highly interactive, featuring activities like blade forging, composite building, and beadmaking to demonstrate core scientific principles. To provide a broader perspective, the program also includes facility tours and professional lectures from industry leaders.
15. Stanford AIMI Summer Research Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,400 program fee + $45 application fee; Financial aid available
Cohort Size: ~50 students
Dates: Session A: June 15 – 26; Session B: July 6 – 17
Application Deadline: December 15 – February 20
Eligibility: U.S. high school students (14+); More info here
The Stanford Center for AI in Medicine and Imaging (AIMI) hosts this intensive two-week virtual program for students eager to explore the intersection of technology and healthcare. As a participant, you will attend technical lectures on machine learning fundamentals and engage in "Meet the Expert" sessions with leaders from industry and academia. The core of the internship involves hands-on group research projects where you try to solve practical problems in medical AI with mentorship from Stanford researchers. This program empowers the next generation of pioneers to use AI for the public good, focusing on health equity and clinical excellence. Once you complete the full session, you will receive an official Stanford AIMI Certificate of Completion.
Image Source - McLaughlin Research Institute Logo