HWS Summer Institute
Make the 2027 summer a season of discovery.
The HWS Summer Institute brings together a distinctive range of learning experiences for high school students, college students, adult learners and creative practitioners. Rooted in the intellectual curiosity, personal connection and experiential learning that define Hobart and William Smith, our summer programs invite participants to explore new interests, develop skills and put ideas into practice.
From entrepreneurship and the natural sciences to the liberal arts, book arts and music composition, each program offers a different way to learn, create and connect. Whether you are preparing for college, pursuing academic credit, exploring a lifelong interest or developing your creative practice, there is a place to begin at HWS.
Discover what you can do this summer.
- Environmental Studies Summer Youth Institute
- RISE! Personal Empowerment
- Finger Lakes Innovation Lab
- Maymester
- Birds in Our Landscape: Ornithology
- Liberal Arts by the Lake
- Wells Book Arts Summer Workshops
- Composer’s Sandbox
High school students
Programs for Pre-College Students
Explore an interest, challenge yourself academically and discover new possibilities in a supportive college environment. These programs give high school students opportunities to learn beyond the classroom and experience new approaches to thinking, creating and problem-solving.
Environmental Studies Summer Youth Institute (ESSYI)
- Two weeks
- On campus
- 1 HWS course credit
A two-week, college-level interdisciplinary summer program for talented high-school students entering their junior and senior years, or soon to be graduates. ESSYI introduces students to environmental issues and interdisciplinary techniques for addressing environmental problems.
RISE!
Personal Empowerment Summer Youth Institute
- July 11–24, 2027
- Residential
- 1 HWS course credit
A two-week residential program for high school students preparing for the move to college. Built on an HWS course now in its 15th year, RISE! helps students develop self-awareness, resilience, communication and time-management skills, then put them into practice in campus life every day.
Finger Lakes Innovation Lab: Food & Enterprise
- July 18–24, 2027
- One week
- Residential
Bring ideas to life in this immersive, weeklong entrepreneurship experience. Work with peers and regional industry partners to explore food, hospitality and business, develop a startup concept and pitch your solution to local leaders.
College students and adult learners
Programs for College Students and Adult Learners
Earn academic credit while pursuing a subject that captures your curiosity. HWS summer offerings provide opportunities to deepen your knowledge, explore new disciplines and connect learning with the world around you.
Maymester
- One course
- HWS credit
Make the most of May with an intensive academic experience that offers college students and other eligible learners a distinctive way to pursue their studies.
Birds in Our Landscape: Ornithology
- Online
Discover the science and wonder of birds in the places you know best. Through an online learning experience, field observation and guided study, participants explore bird behavior, ecology and conservation.
Community, alumni and creative practitioners
Programs for the Community, Alumni and Creative Practitioners
These programs bring people together around shared interests, artistic exploration and the exchange of ideas, with opportunities to develop new skills and connect with others who share a passion for learning.
Liberal Arts by the Lake
Reconnect with the joy of learning through engaging liberal arts experiences in the distinctive setting of the Finger Lakes.
Wells Book Arts Summer Workshops
- June 11–19, 2027
- 2-day and 5-day intensives
Learn from accomplished book artists, printers, calligraphers and paper artists in hands-on workshops welcoming beginners and experienced practitioners alike.
Composer’s Sandbox
A creative opportunity for early-stage composers to explore ideas, develop their work and engage with the practice of musical composition.
Geneva, New York
Why Hobart and William Smith?
Set in the Finger Lakes region of New York, Hobart and William Smith offers a distinctive setting for discovery, creativity and connection. Across the Summer Institute, participants can explore new fields and learn from experienced educators and practitioners.
Questions?
Contact the Summer Institute
Macenzie Peters ’15
Associate Director, Summer Academic Programs