Imagine walking around your neighborhood, to have it morph and shift before your eyes, to see historical events transpiring, to view green data floating in front of you, or to use helpful interactive guides to assist seniors as they move about safely. It's not science fiction anymore. Augmented reality technology is changing the methods that HS students can positively affect their communities, from campaigns for green awareness to educational resources to help younger students learn.
But here is where it gets exciting: you don't need fancy equipment, nor do you need a couple of years programming experience. Armed with the smartphone that you have built into your hand and open-source development tools, you can still develop AR projects that will bring actual benefits to real people in your town. And if you are all about supporting local businesses, protecting cultural heritage or making your town accessible to all, AR allows young people immense opportunities to create imaginative approaches to making use of cutting-edge technology that can specifically benefit their local community.
1. Community Heritage AR Walking Tour
Location: Local libraries, community centers, and makerspace facilities nationwide
Program Dates: Year-round admission with summer intensive sessions (June-August)
Cost: Free to $99/month for advanced development tools; Unity AR Foundation and ARCore for free for student projects
Eligibility: 14-18 year old high school students with minimal smartphone access and interest in local history
Deadline: Rolling admissions for most community programs; summer intensives application deadline March 15th
Create an interactive augmented reality (AR) experience that illuminates the local history in a unique way through smartphone applications that overlays historical content, historical images, and 3D reconstructions on present-day locations in the neighborhood. Students research local archival content, interview local elders, and use free AR development platforms such as Fiz AR Studio_functions like Spark AR Studio, or Unity with Huck AR Foundation, to produce immersive experiences that visitors can see through their mobile phone device when they point their mobile device to significant historic locations. The project considers historic research, community engagement, and technical skills, while caring for future generations regarding protecting cultural heritage.
2. AR Dashboard for Environmental Monitoring
Location: Makerspaces in schools, public libraries with coding initiatives, and nature centers/educational facilities.
Program Dates: Academic year programs (September-May) with summer camps as optional as well
Cost: $0-$49 for sensors of basic components; free development software with educational licenses
Eligibility: Basic exposure to programming or Python/C++ learning; Age 15-18 years.
Deadline: It varies by location with most programs accepting applications during the school year
Create AR applications that display live environmental data like air quality, pollution in lakes, or noise pollution using virtual representations of data overlaid in physical spaces using the camera on a smartphone. Students will learn how to connect IoT sensors and AR interfaces using software like Unity and ARCore to produce interactive representations of environmental issues for local residents within their own environments. The project also transfers skills and knowledge in environmental science and creates awareness of environmental issues within the local community.
3. Interactive AR Science Museum for Schools
Location: STEM-focused community centers, school makerspaces, and library coding programs
Program Dates: Flexible scheduling; most programs have both semester-long and intensive weekend workshops
Cost: Free for most educational programs; premium features optionally available for $25-99/month
Eligibility: High school students interested in education and STEM; AR experience is not required
Deadline: Rolling admissions are available in most programs; check local makerspace calendars for individual deadlines
Utilize augmented reality technology to create an interactive science museum in any classroom: pupils experience and engage with difficult concepts, like molecular structures/movement, planetary movement or historical events as 3D holographic projections that display when the student uses printed markers or QR codes. Both use platforms like Vuforia or Unity AR Foundation. Teen software developers create educational content that bring abstract concepts to tangible and interactive reality for younger students. The initiative captures the intersection of technology and traditional education, while developing both technical skills and pedagogical skills.
4. AR-Powered Local Business Directory
Location: Teen coding camps, community makerspaces, and entrepreneur training programs
Program Dates: Available in summer intensives and weekend programs year-round
Cost: Free development tools; hosting and advanced features $99-299/year for commercial use
Eligibility: 16-18 years old high school students interested in business and technology
Deadline: Applications typically due 30 days before program begins; summer programs have early registration deadlines
Develop AR applications that can allow community members to scan local businesses by holding their phones above storefronts for review content, menus, hours, specials, and virtual tours of businesses. Students learn to merge real-world business data with AR interfaces utilizing some technology like 8th Wall or ARCore, making tools that can assist with local commerce while developing entrepreneurial and technical proficiencies. The project teaches business and programming development while establishing local economic systems.
5. Community Integration through AR Language Learning
Location: Community centers, libraries with multilingual programs, and cultural organizations
Program Dates: Summer programs with interactive summer sessions for refugee and immigrant support organizations
Cost: Free through most community organizations; advanced development tools for $0-99/month
Eligibility: Bilingual high school students or individuals who are interested in serving immigrant communities
Deadline: Rolling registration for majority of community programs; summer intensives April 1st deadline for applications
Develop AR apps to assist foreign language speakers to explore their own neighborhoods in real-time translation overlays, pronunciation guides, and cultural background when they point their phones at street signs, menus, or critical documents. With open development platforms such as Unity AR Foundation and translation APIs, students bridge language and culture while gaining real-world technical skills. This project meets actual community needs while learning to code, develop user interfaces, and be aware of cultures.
6. AR Safety and Emergency Preparedness Guide
Location: Public safety education programs, Red Cross youth clubs, and community emergency response programs
Program Dates: Open year-round with special focus during National Preparedness Month (September)
Cost: Free through emergency response organizations; minimal development expenses with open-source software
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18 interested in public safety and emergency preparedness
Deadline: Most programs accept applications throughout the year; some specialized certificate programs have specific deadlines
Develop AR apps that guide residents through emergency procedures by displaying sequential instructions, evacuation routes, and safety advice on real-world environments when practicing during exercises or actual emergencies. Students work with local emergency responders to create useful tools employing AR development tools, with the benefits of learning survival skills as well as programming skills. This project combines civic service with tech training while creating useful emergency readiness tools.
7. Accessible AR Navigation System
Location: Disability resource centers, inclusive design workshops, and accessible technology programs
Program Dates: Academic year programming with summer accessibility technology camps
Cost: Free through the majority of disability service organizations; assistive technology grants usually available
Eligibility: High school students interested in inclusive design and accessibility advocacy
Deadline: Applications usually considered on rolling basis; summer programs have April 15th deadline
Design AR navigation aids that assist visually impaired, mobility-impaired, or otherwise disabled individuals of the community to navigate public areas independently with audio description, tactile feedback, and voice commands. Students learn about universal design principles while they gain technical expertise in accessible development tools. The project satisfies the fundamental needs of the community as they learn to code and disability rights skills.
8. AR Fitness and Wellness Programs for Older Adults
Location: Senior centers, intergenerational programs, and community wellness programs
Program Dates: Fall and spring semesters with pilot programs during summer
Cost: No charge from most senior service agencies; equipment provided through community collaborations
Eligibility: High school students willing to pursue healthcare technology and senior services
Deadline: Applications typically due 30 days prior to program commencement; summer programs typically require March deadline
Create AR fitness applications tailored for the elderly with exercise, balance training, and social interaction through gamified interfaces that the elderly can utilize at home or in community centers. Students learn aging design principles in the process of creating AR applications using intuitive development tools. The project bridges intergenerational divides while teaching students hands-on skills in health technology and advocacy for the elderly.
9. AR Arts and Culture Preservation Project
Location: Art museums, cultural centers, and community arts organizations
Program Dates: Ongoing programs with intensive summer cultural preservation sessions
Cost: Free to most cultural organizations; art materials and documentation equipment typically provided
Eligibility: High school students with an interest in arts, culture, and preservation of technology
Deadline: Rolling admissions; summer intensives typically have applications due by February 28th
Develop AR experiences that preserve and disseminate local art and cultural heritage in the form of interactive exhibitions where local community members are able to interact with traditional crafts, music, dance, and storytelling through interactive digital layers initiated by physical artworks or performance spaces. Students work together with local artists and cultural leaders to record and digitize traditional practices on AR development platforms. The project preserves cultural heritage and develops technical and cultural competency skills.
10. AR Civic Engagement and Voting Education
Location: Civic education centers, youth government programs, and voter registration organizations
Program Dates: Intensive pre-election programming with year-round civic education components
Cost: Free to most civic organizations; assistance for development provided through democracy education grants
Eligibility: High school students aged 16-18 interested in civic engagement and democratic participation
Deadline: Pre-election programs typically need applications 90 days before elections; general programs have continuous enrollment.
Develop AR apps that enable young voters to discover ballot measures, candidates' positions, and voting regulations by projecting information on mock ballots, polling stations, and civic centers. Students learn about democratic processes and acquire technical skills that enable intelligent civic participation. The project imparts programming and civic duty and enables democratic civic engagement among young people.
How to Start Your AR Experience
Ready to begin? High school students who are interested in these AR projects can begin with free development software like Unity AR Foundation, Google ARCore, and Spark AR Studio, which also offer in-depth beginner tutorials. Most local community makerspaces, libraries, and schools offer introductory workshops where students can learn basic AR development skills prior to working on more advanced community-based projects.
Most successful AR student coders begin small with accessible tools, learning step by step and establishing confidence before working on more ambitious community-impact projects. Well-guided and encouraged by their communities, these projects not only impart excellent technical skills but also illustrate how technology can be a positive influence on local change, setting students up for college and good careers in future tech industries.
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Research offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities around the world.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE Research helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Research’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!
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