Pre-College
UNC Asheville Pre-College Programs
UNC Asheville’s Pre-College Programs introduce high school students to college-level study, university life, and career options in a dynamic learning environment. Each one-week program offers deep immersion into an academic topic, challenging activities, and the opportunity to engage with industry professionals.
Be the first to know when registration opens for our Summer 2026 programs!
Thank you for your interest in UNC Asheville’s Pre-College Summer Programs! Complete the brief interest form below to receive a notification as soon as registration becomes available— expected by mid-December 2025.Testimonials
Pre-College Art Programs:
Great Smokies Young Writers Workshop: Character as Story & The Poet’s Toolbox
June 14 – 19, 2026
Hone your literary skills through workshops with experienced local authors and poets. Generate new pieces, revise works-in-progress and critique works of others in a collaborative workshop setting.
Great Smokies Young Writers Workshop: Forms of Poetry & Writing Essays, Memoirs & Auto-Fiction
June 21 – 26, 2026
Hone your literary skills through workshops with experienced local authors and poets. Generate new pieces, revise works-in-progress and critique works of others in a collaborative workshop setting.
Ceramic Pottery
June 14 – 19, 2026
Gain hands on experience in the ceramics studio and learn new techniques. Express creativity while learning to manipulate clay into sculpture and pottery. Create vessels by wheel-throwing and coil building. Learn to paint with underglazes. Form plates & shallow bowls by rolling out clay and carving. Take home your creations!
Ceramic Pottery
June 21 – 26, 2026
Gain hands on experience in the ceramics studio and learn new techniques. Express creativity while learning to manipulate clay into sculpture and pottery. Create vessels by wheel-throwing and coil building. Learn to paint with underglazes. Form plates & shallow bowls by rolling out clay and carving. Take home your creations!
Music Composition & Songwriting
June 21 – 26, 2026
Develop creative and performing skills through composition, song-writing, and improvisation exercises. Create original music individually, and compose music collaboratively with other students. Perform original and improvised music on your instrument/voice. The week will culminate in a performance of a new, original musical work.
Film Scoring & Sound Design
June 21 – 26, 2026
Music is an important part of the storytelling process in films. Learn how to compose cinematic music that evokes emotion using Hollywood film scoring techniques. In this class, we will develop a score concept, work with virtual instruments and compose music for an animation film. Sound design is taught by using textures and effects to enhance dynamics for visual impact. Musicians, non-musicians and film students are welcome.
Pre-College Science Programs:
River Ecology & Adventure
June 14 – 19, 2026
Explore and discover our natural, aquatic world. Engaging field-based learning will pair with outdoor skills and trips. Learn about Southern Appalachian stream ecology while canoeing sections of pristine rivers, hiking to wilderness swimming holes and investigating local aquatic species, and be challenged to think critically about human impact on the environment while rafting exciting whitewater. This program offers a thrilling, hands-on learning experience that blends the excitement of outdoor adventure with the science of stream ecology.
River Ecology & Adventure
June 21 – 26, 2026
Explore and discover our natural, aquatic world. Engaging field-based learning will pair with outdoor skills and trips. Learn about Southern Appalachian stream ecology while canoeing sections of pristine rivers, hiking to wilderness swimming holes and investigating local aquatic species, and be challenged to think critically about human impact on the environment while rafting exciting whitewater. This program offers a thrilling, hands-on learning experience that blends the excitement of outdoor adventure with the science of stream ecology.
Geology & Adventure
June 14 – 19, 2026
Learn about the geology of the Southern Appalachians while hiking to scenic landmarks. Practice field-based learning while rock climbing and rappelling on the beautiful granite bodies of western North Carolina. Experience the geology of caving systems while spelunking. Enjoy time outdoors, build lifelong friendships, participate in adventure experiences, and see what it is like to be a geologist for a week!
Geology & Adventure
June 21 – 26, 2026
Learn about the geology of the Southern Appalachians while hiking to scenic landmarks. Practice field-based learning while rock climbing and rappelling on the beautiful granite bodies of western North Carolina. Experience the geology of caving systems while spelunking. Enjoy time outdoors, build lifelong friendships, participate in adventure experiences, and see what it is like to be a geologist for a week!
Introduction to Engineering & Mechatronics
June 14 – 19, 2026
Launch into the world of engineering and robotics with our brand-new Introduction to Engineering & Mechatronics Pre-College Program. This immersive, hands-on summer experience is designed for high school students eager to explore mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, and robotics in a fun and engaging environment.
Meteorology
June 21 – 26, 2026
Interactively explore the wonders of our atmosphere and experience the joys of a career in meteorology. Learn the fundamental principles of the atmospheric sciences through hands-on demonstrations and study the relationship between pressure, temperature, and elevation in the mountains. Build your own research-quality weather station. Visit the National Centers for Environmental Information, a permanent weather station, and a local media outlet to learn about careers in professional meteorology. Become a broadcast meteorologist for a day and present your forecast in a real television studio.
Wildlife Wonders: Appalachian Zoology
June 14 – 19, 2026
Aspiring biologists and naturalists will explore the animal life of the southern Appalachians through discussions, workshops, hands-on lab experiments, and field trips. Identify local species by searching for salamanders in a private reserve, snorkeling in clear mountain streams, and studying specimens under microscopes. Learn to use zoological tools such as aquatic and insect nets, binoculars, and dissecting and compound microscopes. Field trips will focus on observing and identifying vertebrate wildlife across Western North Carolina’s diverse habitats. Through readings and discussions, we’ll also tackle questions like which species of wolves once roamed these mountains.
Game Design & AI
June 21 – 26, 2026
Step into the future of creativity with a hands-on exploration of how artificial intelligence is transforming game design. In this immersive one-week camp, students will collaborate in design teams to create their own AI-enhanced or AI-themed games, learning to guide “vibe-coding” tools that turn imagination into interactive experiences. Using low-code 2D and 3D platforms, participants will explore the ethics and artistry of AI while prototyping original digital worlds. The week concludes with a showcase of student creations and reflections on what it means to design in an AI-driven world—perfect for anyone curious about the intersection of technology, storytelling, and innovation. No coding experience required, just bring your curiosity and a love for games.
Pre-Med
June 14-19, 2026
Work with a team on a simulated patient case, run microbiological and biochemical tests, debate treatment options and navigate the patient-doctor relationship. Learn about heart anatomy and function through a hands-on pig heart dissection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Participants enrolled in both Pre-College weeks will need to check out on Friday, June 20 and check in again on Sunday, June 22, as we do not have the ability to house students over the weekend in-between sessions.
Participants with a roommate request, please have both parties email precollege@unca.edu
There are some need based scholarships available for Climate, Robotics, Rocketry & Aerospace Engineering. Email info@destinationspace-stem.org for more information.
Check-in will be on Sunday from 3:30pm – 5:00pm and check-out will be on Friday at 11:00am.
Students will have a closing session on Friday from 9:00am-11:00am where they are presenting material they learned over the week. All parents and guardians are invited to the closing session.
Linens are not provided, so you’ll need to bring your own. Bed size is extra-long twin. We recommend 1 twin sheet set (xl twin), pillow with case, bath towel, and wash cloth
For participants that live outside of a reasonable driving distance, you may fly into the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL). Upon registration, please choose the appropriate “add on” shuttle option.
We don’t have a Day Camp or Commuter option, as they are meant to be an immersive program for teens to experience not only their academic program, but also what it is like to live on a college campus. While the academic programs will occur during the day, there are lots of nighttime activities as well.
Have additional questions? Please contact us at precollege@unca.edu.