TryEngineering Summer Institute
Find out what makes our engineering summer camp at Rice University special, and learn about all of our summer programs, activities, dorm life, and field trips we have to offer.
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“Never in my life did I think that I would get to meet one of the engineers that had actually worked on the Apollo program!”
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“The counselors, resident advisors and teachers were amazing! They were kind, encouraging and knowledgeable. It was an experience my child will never forget!”
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“I loved the teachers; they were fun, humorous and made class great!”
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“I had a blast and made new friends.”
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“So many hands-on, project-based activities. I learned a lot that I didn’t know about many different kinds of engineering.”
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“I’ve noticed a great change in my daughter after the [program]. She’s much more mature, more sure of herself; she acquired so much new knowledge.”

2024 Engineering Camp Dates
Session 1: Coming Soon!
Session 2: Coming Soon!
The goal of our engineering camp at Rice is to spark enthusiasm in engineering and technology in the next generation of problem-solvers and difference-makers. We aim to position these innovators for long-term success in academics and in life. If you have ever been interested in Rice University engineering, the TryEngineering Summer program is a great fit for you.
Unsure if engineering is for you? Not sure which type of engineering is best suited? Perhaps you'd rather discover that now rather than waste a year or two of college tuition! And if you are sure you want to be an engineer, then our program will help you hone in on exactly what kind of engineering you can excel!
Learn about our engineering summer camp below and find out more about the summer programs, activities, and field trips we have to offer.
How do we do it?
Organized in nine-day session on campus at Rice University, IEEE TryEngineering Summer Institute unites students from around the world – co-ed, between 13-17 years old – to:
- Engage in hands-on design challenges
- Experience the work firsthand with behind-the-scenes tours with real-life engineers
- Discover not just what's happening today, but what's coming tomorrow, through conversations with renowned guest speakers and incredible Summer Institute counselors
- Create a future of possibility that is fully realized and present for each and every student
- Build skills and conceptual knowledge through hands-on work doing design challenges and classwork building and creating projects of increasing difficulty
- Each student is issued a program-owned laptop for each student to use for the duration of the program at a 1:1 ratio
Give us just nine days at our engineering summer camp, and we'll give you a new outlook on life and a newdefinition of what it means to be an engineer.
Rice University is located at 6100 Main Street, Houston TX 77030 and can be found HERE.
Click the images below to learn more about Dorm Life and Local Tours and Attractions that students enjoy at Rice University.

Dorm Life
Local Tours and Attractions



Engineering Camp at Rice University Details
Enjoy the OEDK! At Rice we are so lucky to be working and studying at the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK). This is a new, state-of-the-art maker space and engineering design facility. It is huge, fully equipped, and our home for the summer! You can read more about it HERE.
It is difficult to explain in words how fundamentally awesome and transformative the OEDK space is, and how inspiring it is to see the work that is being achieved there. Seeing the College's Solar Race Car or other graduate-student level projects going on nearby is very inspiring indeed! Come discover why Rice is considered one of the best engineering schools in the nation!
Opportunities Ahead!
If you are interested in engineering and you want to explore more about your potential future in the industry check out the TryEngineering Summer Institute. At this summer engineering program for high school students, you’ll explore various engineering fields, such as electrical, computer, civil, mechanical, and aerospace. Our engineering summer camp allows for you to meet and work alongside real life professional engineers, which can be a rewarding experience not found at other engineering camps. If you are looking for a summer camp in Houston where your child will not only have a great time but learn life long skills that can help them later in life look no further. By exploring the different engineering fields within TryEngineering's Summer Institute your high school student can start to figure out if they would enjoy a future in engineering. No other Houston summer program will allow for students to learn, have fun, and explore the city better than TryEngineering's Summer Institute, held at one of the best engineering schools in the world.
If you want to learn more about all the different fields of engineering as a whole be sure to check out all of our engineering articles below which will help you get a feel of each different subset we have to offer:
- What is Mechanical Engineering?
- What is Civil Engineering?
- What is Aerospace Engineering?
- What is Electrical Engineering?
*Where did we go last year?*
Johnson Space Center (JSC) and had a behind-the-scenes tour:
NASA Johnson Space Center and Space Center Houston – We will again tour this famed facility each summer because we know engineers who work there and it has been the center of all US human spaceflight for more than 50 years. On a guided behind-the-scenes tour, conducted by a retired Apollo propulsion engineer who helped get astronauts to the Moon, we will visit Mission Control, the Space Vehicle Mock-up Facility where our Rice camp engineering students will get to see current astronauts train and the historic Rocket Park to see the Saturn V moon rocket. We will have access to Space Center Houston and all of the artifacts and displays that trace US achievements in space and how engineers and scientists have contributed. This summer our Rice camp for engineering will be even better!
Rice University Overview

Rice University is a private research university located in Houston, Texas. Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 best engineering schools and universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice University has a strong academic reputation, particularly in the areas of engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences. The Rice University engineering program seizes its advantageous position to pursue ground breaking research. Well known for its research initiatives, Rice University has a strong commitment to innovation and discovery. Some notable research centers and institutes associated with Rice University include the Baker Institute for Public Policy, the Rice Space Institute, and the Rice Quantum Institute.
The Engineering Department at Rice will conduct tours of their facilities as well as make time for Q+A with faculty. This is a great way for our students to learn more about the field of engineering, and to show off the latest ground-breaking work conducted by their students. This opportunity to attend our Rice University engineering camp allows students to study and live on one of the country's top engineering universities is simply amazing. Our Rice engineering summer camp is sure to be one of our most popular locations so register early!
Learn more About Rice University Summer Camps
If you are spending the summer in Houston Texas there is no better way to further your education while also enjoying the season than being at a Rice University Summer camp. A university with such a proud tradition rooted in education is the perfect place to continuing learning outside of the school year. You can learn more about all the Rice University summer camps here, but of course we recommend you take a deep look at our 2024 Engineering summer camp at Rice University.
There isn't a better overnight summer camp in Houston than our engineer camp. Further your education and find a love for the field of engineer with us this summer!
Learn more About our Other Engineering Camp Locations
If you can’t attend summer camp at Rice University this year don't worry. We have other engineering summer camp locations around the United States. Learn more about our other engineering summer programs below:
Engineering Camp at University of San Diego
Located in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, San Diego, our engineering camp is a great opportunity to both enjoy your summer and learn. Hosted at the University of San Diego, which was named one best engineering undergraduate programs in the country, you will not only learn hands on from professionals in the industry, but also soak up the sun!
Located in Philadelphia at one of the most historic and prestigious universities in the country, our engineering camp at UPenn is unmatched. Experience Ivy League life while you live on campus and learn from real life engineers within the Penn Engineering Department, and find out what a future in engineering looks like.