14 Winter Programs for High School Students in Connecticut
Winter programs are a valuable way for high school students to make the most of their break. They enable you to gain practical skills, explore new fields, and connect with peers and mentors. Many of these programs are designed to give you exposure to practical applications, mentorship from professionals, and collaborative experiences with peers who share your interests. These programs combine academic depth with hands-on experiences, allowing you to explore your interest in areas such as science, arts, leadership, or technology.
For students in Connecticut, several institutions in and around the state, such as the University of Connecticut (UConn), Sacred Heart University, and Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), provide structured winter programs. You can explore specialized fields like healthcare, business, science, and the humanities. To make your search easier, we’ve reviewed the best choices and narrowed them down to a list of the 14 top winter programs for high school students in Connecticut.
14 Winter Programs for High School Students in Connecticut
1. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History’s EVOLUTIONS Program
Location: Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 100 students
Dates: Year-round with weekly classes after school, monthly events, and internships
Application Deadline: September 17
Eligibility: New Haven and West Haven freshmen and sophomores
The Yale Peabody Museum’s EVOLUTIONS Program is a year-long after-school science enrichment initiative for high school students from New Haven and West Haven. It focuses on building a deep understanding of natural history, ecology, environmental science, and evolutionary biology through interactive learning and hands-on experiences. You explore topics such as biodiversity, fossils, climate change, and scientific research methods. Activities include museum labs, field trips, science workshops, data analysis projects, and community outreach as museum interpreters. The program allows you to engage directly with Yale scientists, earn achievement badges, and apply for paid internships both as museum educators and research assistants in Yale labs.
2. Ladder Internships
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Cost varies according to program type; financial aid is available / No stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited cohort sizes
Dates: Multiple cohorts offered in Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall; Winter Cohort starts December 8
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort; Winter Cohort: November 16
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students able to commit 10 – 20 hours per week for 8 – 12 weeks
Ladder Internships connects students with high-growth start-ups for 8–12 week project-based experiences. You’ll dedicate 10–20 hours each week working directly with your start-up manager while also receiving mentorship from a Ladder Coach, balancing guided support with independent work. Partner start-ups represent fields ranging from technology and AI/ML to health tech, journalism, marketing, and consulting. Through this structure, you’ll strengthen skills in project management, research, and professional communication while contributing to ongoing initiatives. The program concludes with a formal presentation of your work to your start-up team, giving you valuable feedback and insight into real workplace dynamics.
3. Quinnipiac University Advancing Diversity in Science (QUADS)
Location: Quinnipiac University campus and participating high schools in Connecticut (Ansonia, Hamden, Meriden)
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 75 students
Dates: Three-year program spanning the academic year
Application Deadline: Needs to be coordinated through participating high schools and ConnCAP partner schools
Eligibility: High school students from the towns of Ansonia, Hamden, and Meriden, Connecticut
The Quinnipiac University Advancing Diversity in Science (QUADS) program is a three-year initiative designed to support and empower high school students from diverse backgrounds in Connecticut towns like Ansonia, Hamden, and Meriden. The program focuses on building students’ science skills through place-based education, enabling them to explore environmental health, biology, and chemistry topics in real-world contexts. You engage in activities such as conducting environmental assessments, participating in fieldwork, and collaborating on science projects with mentorship from university faculty and students. You can also earn a college credit while still in high school, receive mentorship by college students, and develop life skills alongside academics.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies according to program type; full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohorts for personalized attention
Dates: Multiple cohorts offered throughout Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall; Winter Cohorts starts December 8
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; Winter Cohort: November 16
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school and demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program allows high school students to work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor on an independent research project. Over a period of 12 weeks to a year, you’ll investigate a topic of your choice in fields such as psychology, economics, physics, computer science, data science, or international relations. The program guides you through designing experiments, conducting research, and analyzing results, providing practical, hands-on experience. The program emphasizes mentorship and skill development, helping you strengthen your research techniques, critical thinking, and academic writing. By the end of the program, you’ll produce a research paper that reflects your findings and will also be eligible for a UCSD credit.
5. CT State Community College Winter Session
Location: Connecticut State Community College operates at multiple campuses across Connecticut
Cost/Stipend: Varies as per credit hours
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: December 29 – January 18
Application Deadline: December 31
Eligibility: All high school students (Dual Enrollment is recommended) | Minimum 2.0 GPA
The Connecticut State Community College Winter Session for high school students is an accelerated academic program held during the winter break, typically from late December to mid-January. It offers high school students, especially those in dual or concurrent enrollment, the opportunity to earn college credits in a condensed timeframe. The session covers a range of foundational subjects such as mathematics, social sciences, and humanities, allowing students to get ahead in their college education or fulfill prerequisite requirements. You engage in activities like focused lectures, group discussions, research projects, and practical assignments to deepen understanding and apply concepts actively. You develop time management, independent learning, and critical thinking skills within a short period.
6. Science Center of CT High School Research Mentorship
Location: Connecticut, mainly involving research mentors from UConn (University of Connecticut) campuses such as Storrs and Farmington
Cost/Stipend: Free or low-cost for students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Academic year opportunities, flexible timing depending on mentor availability
Application Deadline: Not explicitly stated; interested students fill out a High School Mentorship Request Form and submit it to the program coordinator
Eligibility: All high school students
The Science Center of Connecticut High School Research Mentorship is a program designed to connect motivated high school students with research mentors primarily from the University of Connecticut's various campuses. You engage in activities such as conducting laboratory experiments, analyzing data, participating in scientific discussions, and contributing to ongoing research projects under close mentor supervision. The program covers a broad range of scientific fields, including environmental science, cell biology, genetics, immunology, and neuroscience. Throughout the mentorship, you gain firsthand experience in the research process, which can better prepare you for future scientific studies or careers.
7. CT Bar Association High School Mock Trial Competition
Location: Regional trials are held at various courthouses around Connecticut including Bridgeport, Danbury, Hartford, and Middletown
Cost/Stipend: $350 per team
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited capacity; 7 – 9 students each
Dates: December – March
Application Deadline: Varies; teams must register (pay) before regional rounds
Eligibility: High school students enrolled in grades 9-12. Schools can form teams, and students can participate from a single or combined school team
The CT Bar Association High School Mock Trial Competition is an educational program designed to teach high school students about the American judicial system through an immersive, hands-on trial experience. The competition focuses on a fictitious legal case each year, such as a recent homicide case involving warring businesses in a Connecticut locale, allowing students to assume roles like prosecutors, defense attorneys, and witnesses. You engage in activities including legal research, preparing and presenting opening statements and closing arguments, direct and cross-examinations of witnesses, and understanding courtroom decorum. You develop vital skills such as public speaking, critical thinking, analytical reasoning, teamwork, and ethical advocacy.
8. Youth Arts Alliance Winter Portfolio Review
Location: University of Hartford, Hartford Art School, Hartford, Connecticut
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective
Dates: December – March
Application Deadline: No fixed deadline; you schedule a portfolio review date online as per your convenience
Eligibility: High school students preparing or completed portfolios who are prospective applicants to Hartford Art School. Both juniors and seniors can participate
The Youth Arts Alliance Winter Portfolio Review is a specialized opportunity for high school students to present and receive professional feedback on their art portfolios. It is designed to help students who are preparing for college-level art programs by offering personalized assessments of their original artwork, which typically includes a variety of media such as drawings, paintings, sculpture, and digital art. Topics covered include portfolio development, composition, technique, and conceptual presentation. You engage in activities such as submitting your artwork digitally, participating in a one-on-one virtual review session with art faculty or admissions staff, receiving constructive critique, and discussing pathways for art education and career planning.
9. Wilderness School Winter Expedition/Course
Location: Wilderness School facility located in Goshen, Connecticut
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; small cohorts
Dates: 20-day period in the winter months (December through February)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Connecticut youth in the 13–17 age range referred by Department of Children and Families or partnering youth-serving agencies
The Wilderness School Winter Expedition is a specialized outdoor program designed for high school students, focusing on intensive wilderness experiences during the winter months. It covers topics such as survival skills, environmental awareness, team building, and personal development through nature immersion. You engage in activities including winter camping, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and rock climbing, which challenge your physical endurance and adaptability. Unique to the program is its integration of therapeutic practices, mindfulness, and reflective learning to support emotional growth alongside physical skills. You develop vital skills in leadership, problem-solving, resilience, and teamwork as you navigate challenging wilderness settings.
10. Camp KO (Kingswood Oxford) School-Year Programs
Location: Kingswood Oxford School, 170 Kingswood Rd, West Hartford, CT
Cost/Stipend: $300-$470 for camp sessions; specific school-year program costs vary and should be confirmed via contact
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: School-year programs run throughout the academic year with seasonal offerings
Application Deadline: Rolling; early application encouraged due to limited spaces.
Eligibility: All high school students
The Camp KO (Kingswood Oxford) School-Year Programs in West Hartford, CT is designed to offer high school students a supportive environment where they can develop skills across sports, academics, and the arts during the academic year. The program covers a variety of topics, including skill-building in specific sports (such as baseball and volleyball), performing arts like dance, and academic enrichment activities. You engage in activities including sport-specific training sessions, dance intensive workshops, academic tutoring or enrichment classes, and collaborative group projects. The program emphasizes personal growth through teamwork, discipline, and creativity. You develop physical skills, artistic expression, academic improvement, and social-emotional skills such as leadership, collaboration, and self-confidence.
11. Hartford Stage Student Matinee Program
Location: Hartford Stage, 50 Church Street, Hartford, CT
Cost/Stipend: Fee and low-cost tickets to daytime performances for local youth
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open
Dates: Multiple programs between December and March
Application Deadline: No formal deadline
Eligibility: High school students from Hartford and surrounding Connecticut communities, typically organized through school groups
The Hartford Stage Student Matinee Program offers high school students an opportunity to attend live theatrical performances during the school day at Hartford Stage in Hartford, Connecticut. The program aims to expose students to professional theater productions that cover a variety of themes, including social issues, history, literature, and contemporary topics relevant to young audiences. You participate in activities such as attending the performance, engaging in post-show discussions or talkback sessions with cast and creative teams, and participating in educational workshops or study guides provided by the theater. Through this program, you develop critical thinking, cultural literacy, empathy, communication skills, and an appreciation for the performing arts.
12. Local High School Winter Musical/Play Production – Simsbury Public Schools
Location: Simsbury High School, Simsbury, CT
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective
Dates: January 31, February 1, 7, 8; February 2, 9
Application Deadline: No specified deadline
Eligibility: All high school students
The Local High School Winter Musical/Play Production at Simsbury Public Schools is a theatrical program designed for high school students to engage in a live stage performance during the winter season. It centers around producing a full-scale musical or play, offering students the chance to explore various aspects of theater arts, including acting, singing, dancing, and stage production. The program covers topics such as character development, script interpretation, vocal performance, choreography, and teamwork. You participate in activities such as auditioning for roles, attending rehearsals, learning choreography and vocal pieces, and collaborating in set design or backstage work. Through this experience, students develop skills in public speaking, confidence, creative expression, teamwork, and time management.
13. Cornell Precollege Winter Session
Location: Virtual (Cornell University)
Cost/Stipend: $1,940 per credit; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; space is limited
Dates: January 2–17 (three-week winter session)
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (ages 15–19) who have completed their sophomore year | Meet all stated course prerequisites
In this course, you’ll take one intensive class in subjects such as business, science, arts, international relations, or social change, experiencing the pace of a full semester condensed into a short term. Courses are offered both synchronously and asynchronously, combining live lectures, video sessions, and group discussions. You can expect to strengthen skills in critical thinking, writing, and time management while adapting to rigorous college-level expectations. The program also emphasizes interaction; you’ll collaborate with peers worldwide, receive guidance directly from instructors, and contribute to class discussions. At the end of the session, you earn official Cornell credits and a transcript.
14. Savannah College of Art and Design Joint Enrollment
Location: Online (Savannah College of Art and Design)
Cost/Stipend: Standard undergraduate tuition rates apply + $100 application fee; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; limited spaces per quarter
Dates: January 5 – March 12: Winter Quarter; (also available in spring, summer, and fall)
Application Deadline: Rolling; apply in advance of start date
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors (age 16+)
Through SCAD’s Joint Enrollment program, high school juniors and seniors can begin earning college credits while still in school. You take up to two online courses per quarter, each carrying five credit hours, with classes taught by SCAD’s faculty. Offerings include creative fields like drawing, advertising, photography, storyboarding, and design, as well as foundational subjects such as psychology, anthropology, and business. Instruction blends live virtual sessions, Zoom hangouts, and access to SCAD’s digital resources, giving you an authentic taste of the university’s creative environment. The credits earned may later be applied toward a SCAD degree.
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