The advantage of any program is simply providing exposure (although minimal) to see if this is a field a student want to pursue.
I’m sure there are more programs. I did a simply search and there are many - and I’m sure others of varying costs. I just searched local to your area - tried UMKC but KU came up.
You noted there were none but that’s far from the case.
Here’s the one near you and it sounds great - even for kids from far away. It’s not free but a scholarship is given to all students that cover all costs, sans travel, which doesn’t impact you since it’s less than an hour away. I don’t see a grade requirement - just says HS students.