Certainly, academic summer enrichment programs offer valuable experiences, but they can be quite costly. Fortunately, there are numerous affordable or even free alternatives for high school students to explore their interests and gain experience during the summer months:

1. Online Courses and MOOCs

Websites like Coursera, edX, and Khan Academy offer free or low-cost courses on a wide array of subjects. Students can learn at their own pace and even earn certificates for completing courses. Examples include

Coursera (coursera.org)
edX (edx.org)
Khan Academy (khanacademy.org)
Udemy (udemy.com)

2. Local Community College Classes

Community colleges often offer summer classes at a fraction of the cost of university courses. These classes can provide college-level experience and, in some cases, college credit. Check the websites of community colleges in your area to see what your options are.

3. Volunteering

Volunteering in a field of interest can provide hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the subject matter. It's also a great way to contribute to the community and can be impressive on college applications. The following websites are helpful in supporting your search for volunteer opportunities.

TeenLife (teenlife.com)
VolunteerMatch (volunteermatch.org)
Idealist (idealist.org)

4. Internships and Job Shadowing

Gaining practical experience through an internship or shadowing a professional can be invaluable. Some internships are unpaid, but they provide a real-world experience that can be crucial for future career decisions. You can search for career-related opportunities on the following platforms:

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
Paragon One (paragonone.com/externships) for remote externships
Glassdoor (glassdoor.com) for company reviews and internship postings

Don’t forget to also tap into your own network of friends and family! Start letting others know of your interest to pursue a career-related experience over the summer, and whether they might know of someone with whom to connect you.

5. Local Library Resources

Libraries often host free events, workshops, and seminars during the summer. They are also a great resource for finding books and materials on a wide range of topics. Search the websites of public libraries nearby your home to see what events they might have listed over the summer.

6. Reading and Self-Study

Simply dedicating time to read books, journals, or online publications in a field of interest can be incredibly beneficial. It's a low-cost way to gain knowledge and stay informed about the latest developments in a particular field. Here are a couple of different avenues for discovering published academic material:

Project Gutenberg (gutenberg.org) for free eBooks
Google Scholar (scholar.google.com) for academic papers

7. Starting a Project or Business

Engaging in a personal project or starting a small business can teach practical skills and entrepreneurship. This could be anything from a tech project, a blog, or a small craft business.

Etsy (etsy.com) for selling crafts
GitHub (github.com) for tech projects and collaboration

As a personal project, you could also start your own blog! Consider writing about a topic that fascinates you. Chances are your passion and interest comes through in the posts for the reader as well. This is a wonderful way to show a facet of who you are and what your passions are. This website explains the different platform options for starting an online blog: https://themeisle.com/blog/best-free-blogging-sites

8. Community Service Projects

Participating in or even organizing community service projects can offer leadership experience and a chance to explore social issues in depth. Colleges don’t just want to learn that you know how to do something (the academic part), but also the why you want to do something (the passion part). Getting involved within your community allows you to gain a deeper understanding of social issues at play, and helps you to form a personal connection to the “why” part. The below websites are a great place to get started if you’d like to get involved:

DoSomething (dosomething.org)
Points of Light (pointsoflight.org)

9. Social Media Learning Platforms

Platforms like YouTube have countless educational channels dedicated to teaching skills, offering lecture series, and providing insights into various fields.

Crash Course (@CrashCourse)
Ted-Ed (@TED-Ed)

When used the RIGHT way to search the RIGHT information and from the proper accounts, other social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok and others can provide a surprising amount of useful knowledge. Click here to learn how.

10. Educational Podcasts and Webinars

There are numerous free podcasts and webinars covering virtually every field of interest, offering insights and knowledge from experts and practitioners. Open up your personal calendar, and look at it side-by-side with events hosted on the following platforms:

Apple Podcasts (apple.com/apple-podcasts) for a wide range of educational podcasts
Webinar platforms like Zoom (zoom.us) often list public webinars and seminars

11. Portfolios and Personal Projects

Building a portfolio during the summer offers a dynamic and personalized enrichment opportunity, applicable across a multitude of disciplines including architecture, fashion design, engineering (read about the Maker Portfolio here), and more. This process allows students to showcase their skills, creativity, and growth in their chosen field. By dedicating time to compile and refine their work, students not only have a tangible representation of their abilities but also engage deeply with their discipline, understanding their own style and areas for improvement. Furthermore, a well-crafted portfolio can be a pivotal asset in college applications and job interviews, setting students apart by demonstrating their commitment, hands-on experience, and unique perspective in their field. Where can you house the documentation of your project development and images or videos of finalized pieces? Look no further than a free Google Drive account! It’s easily accessible and sharable.