Applications Open for 2026 National Youth Science Camp

Applications are now open for high school juniors and seniors from West Virginia to participate in the 2026 National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp). This esteemed program, which emphasizes science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), will take place from July 11 to August 1, 2026, in the scenic Monongahela National Forest.

The NYSCamp, hosted in West Virginia since 1963, selects two delegates from each state, Washington, D.C., and select countries to attend the residential camp. The program is entirely funded, allowing delegates to participate at no cost, with all housing, meals, academic programming, and transportation provided.

Eligibility and Application Process

To qualify, applicants must be graduating seniors in the class of 2026 or rising seniors in the class of 2027. Candidates are expected to showcase academic excellence in STEAM fields, as well as demonstrate leadership skills and social maturity. Additionally, participants must commit to the full three-week in-person program.

The final application deadline is March 15, 2026. Selected delegates will be informed of their acceptance after April 15, 2026. Interested students can submit their applications through the online portal at apply.nyscamp.org.

Recognizing 2025 Delegates

The announcement also highlighted the 2025 NYSCamp delegates from West Virginia: Max Chen of Morgantown and Ellie Kinghorn of Huntington. Chen, a senior at Morgantown High School and a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, plans to study bioengineering this fall. He expressed his enthusiasm for the camp, stating, “The program offered an excellent balance of outdoor activities and academic insights from successful STEAM professionals in fields such as AI and orthopedic surgery.”

Kinghorn, a senior at Cabell Midland High School, intends to pursue an art major at Marshall University while also volunteering as a missionary. Reflecting on her experience, she noted, “Camp brought a bunch of intelligent kids together and put us in situations that brought us out of our comfort zones and changed us in a way that regular life doesn’t allow for.”

For further details regarding the application process or the program itself, interested parties may reach out to the West Virginia Selection Coordinator, Brian Kinghorn, at 304-696-2876 or via email at [email protected].