Access ASU offers a variety of exciting, educational summer camps to prepare students for their futures

Arizona summers are scorching, driving people of all ages to the air-conditioned indoors. But staying inside all day can get boring, especially for kids. Access ASU at Arizona State University offers a variety of exciting summer camps to keep kids engaged and learning while staying cool, and this summer was no exception.

In each program, students explored the ASU Tempe campus, learned about the many resources available to them, explored career options, made new friends and even lived in the residence halls. These unique opportunities let them interact with the college experience long before enrolling, allowing them to see themselves as future Sun Devils.

Barrett Summer Scholars (BSS) program

BSS is selective and designed for academically motivated high school students. During the course of this year’s program, students participated in courses taught by ASU faculty, ate in dining halls, lived in the residence halls and made new friends.

Amy Ball, the director of outreach experiences for Access ASU, discussed the unique nature of the BSS programming. 

“Through academically rigorous coursework and college-level discussions, Barrett Summer Scholars inspires students by fostering critical thinking, leadership and a deeper understanding of their academic and career interests,” Ball said.

A major part of BSS is the TRACK experience, where students learn more about the different majors and areas of study from ASU instructors. Students enjoyed hands-on experiences in a field that is interesting to them and participated in discussions at a college level.

“The goal is to expose them to higher education through a discussion seminar and critical reading,” Abby Wheatley, an associate teaching professor at Barrett, The Honors College, said.

BSS is a fantastic opportunity for all future Sun Devils to learn more about their own academic capabilities. Through social activities and discussions, students develop an idea of what pursuing a postsecondary education is like at ASU. The program teaches them skills such as critical thinking, peer collaboration and scholarly debate — skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives.

To learn more about BSS and register for the 2027 session, read more here.

To learn more about Barrett, The Honors College at ASU, read more here.

Access ASU Leadership Institute summer program

This iconic ASU program focuses on servant leadership, financial literacy, community engagement and career exploration. More than 1,300 students have benefited from the program since 1995. 

Over the course of the program, high school juniors and seniors participated in workshops and leadership activities in a collaborative group setting. Students also explored the ASU campus to see what being a Sun Devil is like. Throughout the program, students met with faculty and staff who provided guidance on college applications, tuition costs, scholarship applications and more. 

Judith Robles, the mother of Anthony Robles, an NCAA-winning wrestler and ASU alum, was featured as a keynote speaker at the program’s closing ceremony. Robles reinforced to the students that with hard work, dedication, preparation and strong leadership, all goals are achievable.

To learn more about Access ASU’s Leadership Institute program and to register for next year’s session, read more here.

RISE Summer Leadership Institute

A similar program to the Access ASU Leadership Institute, the RISE Summer Leadership Institute is also designed for high school juniors and seniors. 

In this special program, participants learned about leadership by reflecting on the past. Students lived on the ASU campus in the residential halls while receiving assistance from university staff with planning their college journey. They experienced introductory college courses and worked alongside esteemed professors to research what careers and majors are most fitting for them. During this residential program, students learned about choosing a major, community networking, financial wellness, leadership development, personal growth and self-care. Selected participants also worked on a weeklong servant-leadership project, reinforcing the connections between philanthropy and leadership. 

Alongside academic endeavors, students also had the chance to participate in fun social activities. During this year’s “sip and paint" event, students gathered for a relaxing evening of painting while the hip-hop class provided students with a more energetic night of learning dance moves at the Sun Devil Fitness Center. RISE also offered a "phonetic spit workshop,” where students were encouraged to create and perform their own poetry for their fellow campers. 

The closing ceremony gave students the opportunity to present what they had learned during the program to their families. RISE ensures that students have a well-rounded understanding of college before attending, and that they know they are welcome within the Sun Devil community.

To learn more about RISE and to register for next year’s session, read more here.

INSPIRE summer program

ASU welcomed high school students from across the state for INSPIRE, a weeklong residential program in which students a firsthand look at campus life while exploring their identity, community and future, all at no cost to families.

High school student participants in grades 9–12 stayed in ASU residence halls, ate in the dining halls, socialized with other students and participated in engaging workshops directed by ASU students, staff and faculty.

This program centers on an academic support network alongside cultural engagement, pairing college-prep sessions on topics like choosing a major and navigating admissions with activities guided by community leaders that highlight culturally meaningful traditions.

This impactful program educates participants about important cultural elements while also encouraging and aiding them to achieve their college goals.

Madison Billy, an ASU student studying clinical exercise science, participated in INSPIRE as a student, and this year was a lead camp ambassador. 

“It’s been an honor to be a part of INSPIRE as long as I have; twice as a student, twice as a camp ambassador, and now as a lead camp ambassador,” Billy said. “From participating and seeing all the resources ASU has to offer their Indigenous students, to using them throughout the school year, and now sharing them with my peers and future students.”

To learn more about INSPIRE and to sign up for next year’s session, read more here.

Access ASU’s summer programs help keep students thinking about their futures over summer break. Whether they are interested in science, arts, mathematics, engineering or something else, there is an ASU summer program for every student.

View a full list of summer programs offered by ASU here.