Big Red Summer Academic Camp

Big Red Summer Academic Camps are residential career exploration camps held at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. By participating in a camp, youth live on and explore the Nebraska campus, meet students from across the country, investigate an interest or potential career, and have lots of fun making new friends. (This is not a commuter camp). During the week-long camps, students will work with university faculty to explore the topic of their particular camp, like engineering, digital media, or food systems. After spending several fun-filled days on campus, families are invited to attend a capstone presentation where students showcase their achievements. 

Big Red Summer Academic Camps are open to students going into grades 9-12 during the 2026-2027 school year. Housing and food are provided. Space is limited, and camps will fill on a first-come, first-serve basis. To ensure the optimal co-hort learning experience, each camp sets a maximum registration. A waitlist option will be available. Please see Camp Sessions for a list of camps offered, descriptions, capacity, costs, and scholarship opportunities.

Big Red Summer Academic Camps are hosted by Nebraska Extension 4-H Youth Development and University faculty members in various academic areas across campus.

2026 Dates & Deadlines

Deadlines are 11:59 p.m. CT on each of the following days:

• Scholarship Application Deadline - Friday, January 23
• Registration Opens - Tuesday, February 10, at 8:00 a.m. CT
• Early Bird Tuition Rate Deadline - Friday, April 17
• Regulation Tuition Rate Deadline - Friday, May 1
• Late Tuition Rate and Final Registration Deadline - Friday, May 22
• Health Form Submission Deadline - Friday, May 22
• Big Red Camps - Sunday, June 7 - Friday, June 12

Scholarships

Some camps offer scholarships unique to their academic discipline. Big Red Camps also offers general scholarships that may be applied to any camp experience.

Scholarship applications are due January 23, 2026. Scholarship offers will be presented via email on or before February 8, 2026.

Campers will be provided with a unique scholarship code to use at registration.

Registration opens at 8:00 a.m. on February 10, 2026, on the Big Red Camps web page.
 

Registration

Registration opens Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. CT.

No refunds will be issued after May 22, 2026.

Please see Camp Sessions for specific camp rates and maximum enrollment. 

All housing and food will be provided for campers throughout the duration of the camp. Campers, parents, and responsible adult family members will receive a series of email newsletters with directions to campus, check-in time, required health form, suggested packing list, and answers to frequently asked questions. 

Registration Opens February 10, 2026