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Join the University of Minnesota’s Under the Hood Summer Program.
Don’t Just Use AI. Build It.
Don’t Just Use AI. Build It.
Forget the basic chatbots and simple prompts. This summer, we’re tearing down the "black box" and going Under the Hood to show you how Artificial Intelligence actually works.
Why "Under the Hood"? Since 2018, our program has evolved from a local math partnership into the flagship program of the UMN Data Science and AI Hub. We renamed the camp to reflect our mission: moving beyond the "black box" of AI to empower you with the math, code, and ethics that drive the modern world. This program is miles beyond your typical classroom. This is your transformation from a tech consumer into a tech creator. You won't just learn theory—you’ll use real-world datasets to solve high-stakes problems in:
Medicine: Unlocking life-saving insights.
Gaming: Building smarter, more adaptive logic.
History: Decoding the patterns of the past.
No code? No problem. Whether you’ve never written a line of Python or you’re ready to architect advanced neural networks, any student entering 11th or 12th grade for the 2026-27 school year will find their crew here. Join a high-energy community of innovators, industry experts, and fellow explorers.
Are you ready to experience what’s Under the Hood? Register today!
Reserve Your Spot
Reserve Your Spot
Because we maintain a low staff-to-student ratio to ensure a high-quality, hands-on experience, seats are limited and filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
Week 1 (Beginner (July 13 - 17) , 8:30 am – 4:00 pm): $125 This course is required for participation in Week 2
Week 2 (Advanced (July 20 - 24), 8:30 am – 4:00 pm): $175
Bundle both weeks for a full-immersion experience!
This Program is limited to those that will be in grades 11 or 12 in the 2026-2027 school year. If students do not fall into one of those categories, contact DSAIevents@umn.edu.
Final Deadline: Registration will officially close as soon as all sections for the week are full. Don't miss your chance to go "Under the Hood"—secure your spot today!
Scholarships & Accessibility
Scholarships & Accessibility
We are committed to making data science education accessible to all students. A limited number of full fee waivers and scholarships are available for students with financial need. To apply for a waiver, please complete the scholarship section within the registration form before registration closes.
Summer 2026 Informational Q&A
Summer 2026 Informational Q&A
Watch our recorded session to hear from staff about the curriculum, projects, and what to expect on campus.
Our Journey & Impact
Our Journey & Impact
Real Projects. Real Impact.
Real Projects. Real Impact.
Last year, our AI Explorers proved that when you give high schoolers the right tools, they can tackle professional-grade challenges. In just one week, students went from writing their first lines of code to building complex models that predicted Titanic survival and classified wild mushroom safety.
The camp experience bridged the gap between the classroom and the real world:
Spirit & Community: Campers got a true taste of UMN life, including a surprise visit and high-fives from Goldy Gopher.
Tech in Action: Students stood in awe during a live robotic dog demonstration, seeing firsthand how the neural networks they coded in the morning can power the autonomous machines of the future.
This is more than just a coding camp; it’s an invitation to join the UMN community and see where your skills can take you.
7+ Years
7+ Years
Empowering Students Since 2018.
100% Hands-On
100% Hands-On
Every student builds and presents a custom ML model.
Zero to Coder
Zero to Coder
No prior experience required to start.
Join the Mission
Join the Mission
Help Us Power the Next Generation.
Help Us Power the Next Generation.
The Under the Hood program is more than a camp—it’s a collaborative ecosystem. Our curriculum is brought to life by the UMN Data Science and AI Hub, along with a dedicated team of volunteers and industry experts who bridge the gap between the classroom and the professional world.
Are you a Tech Professional or Researcher?
Are you a Tech Professional or Researcher?
We are looking for passionate individuals to help us demystify AI for the innovators of tomorrow. Your expertise can help a student move from a "coding error" to a "breakthrough."
Be a Guest Speaker: Spend an hour sharing your career journey and showing students how ML is used in the real world.
Be a Project Mentor: Work hands-on with students as they build, troubleshoot, and refine their final projects.
Share Your Expertise: Help our "Daily Sprints" run smoothly by providing technical guidance on Python or Deep Learning.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the team at dsaievents@umn.edu.
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