15 Camps for Middle School Students
Camps for middle school students offer structured opportunities to explore interests, build skills, and learn outside the regular school environment. These programs often focus on activities that help you apply concepts in areas like science, technology, arts, and leadership. Unlike short workshops or one-time classes, camps typically allow you to spend several days or weeks working on projects and developing new abilities while working with other students.
How are camps different from other programs in middle school?
Camps usually emphasize active participation rather than lectures or test-based learning, with schedules built around projects, experiments, and guided exploration. They also tend to offer more flexibility in subject matter, allowing you to focus on specific interests instead of following a fixed curriculum. Since camps bring together students from different schools and backgrounds, they often create environments centered on shared interests rather than grades or competition.
To help you compare your options, we’ve narrowed down 15 camps for middle school students.
If you are looking for online programs, check out our blog here.
1. MIT dynaMIT
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Week 1: August 10 – 14 (rising 6th/7th graders); Week 2: August 17 – 21 (rising 8th/9th graders)
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: Rising 6th-9th graders
DynaMIT is a student-run, week-long program hosted at MIT that introduces middle schoolers to the core principles of science and engineering. The curriculum is divided into themed days, such as Biology Day or Mechanical Engineering Day, featuring experiments like building circuits or extracting DNA. You’ll be mentored by MIT undergraduates who will guide you through the scientific method and design thinking. The program specifically targets students from underrepresented backgrounds to spark long-term interest in STEM. It concludes with a final project presentation where you’ll showcase your prototypes to peers and family.
2. Veritas AI: AI Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Middle school students
AI Trailblazers is a technology-focused program that introduces you to core concepts in artificial intelligence and machine learning while you’re still in middle school. You’ll learn how algorithms work by experimenting with data, training simple models, and analyzing how AI systems make decisions. The program emphasizes hands-on problem-solving rather than abstract theory, helping you understand how AI is applied in real-world contexts. Lessons also explore ethical considerations, such as bias and responsible use of technology. Through guided projects, you’ll practice breaking down complex problems into logical steps.
3. Penn GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science)
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: $650 (tentative); Need-based financial assistance is available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Rising 7th-9th graders of all genders who live and attend school within 60 miles of Penn’s campus
This day camp for middle school students is designed to encourage you to explore engineering disciplines through interactive, lab-based activities. You’ll cycle through various "GEMS" labs, including bioengineering, materials science, and robotics, where you will build and test your own creations. The curriculum is taught by Penn Engineering faculty and graduate students, providing high-level technical insights in an accessible format. Beyond the lab, the camp includes sessions on professional development and women's history in STEM.
4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Middle school students
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a research-oriented program designed for middle school students who want to explore academic inquiry across different subjects. As a participant, you’ll work through structured research activities with a mentor, practicing skills like asking the right questions, evaluating sources, and organizing information. The program emphasizes critical thinking and clear communication rather than memorization. The format is designed to mirror how research is conducted at higher academic levels, as you develop a project from idea to completion.
5. Space Academy
Location: U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL
Cost: Starts at $1,899
Cohort Size: 12-16 students/cohort
Dates: Several weeklong cohorts
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 12–14
Space Academy is a camp that immerses you in astronaut training and mission simulations. You’ll participate in physical challenges such as the 1/6th Gravity Chair and the Multi-Axis Trainer to experience life in space. The curriculum involves a simulated mission where you’ll take on roles in Mission Control or as flight crew members to solve real-time technical anomalies. You’ll also use high-performance flight simulators and learn outdoor survival skills like water egress and land navigation. The program concludes with a graduation ceremony recognizing the technical and teamwork skills gained during the expedition.
6. Smithsonian Summer Camp
Location: S. Dillon Ripley Center, Washington, DC
Cost: $396 – $495 (additional costs and member discounts available)
Cohort Size: 16-20 kids/camp
Dates: Several 1-week sessions from June 22 to August 14
Application Deadline: Registration for the general public opens mid-February
Eligibility: Students entering kindergarten through 9th grade
The Smithsonian Summer Camps offer students behind-the-scenes access to the Smithsonian's vast collections and research facilities. The middle school tracks focus on specialized areas such as forensic science, museum curation, or aerospace history. As a participant, you’ll spend your days conducting lab work inside museum galleries, interviewing curators, and analyzing artifacts. The program is heavily project-based, often culminating in the creation of a mini-exhibit or a scientific report. It provides a blend of history, art, and science that is not available in a traditional classroom setting.
7. EXPLO 360°
Location: Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
Cost: Overnight: $6,295, Day: $4,045; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 28 – July 11 (overnight), June 29 – July 10 (day); Session 2: July 12 – 25 (overnight), July 13 – 24 (day)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 7th-9th graders ages 12-14
EXPLO 360° is a camp for middle school students where you’ll get to customize your experience by choosing from over 50 workshops and electives. Academic tracks include Medical Rotations, Veterinary Science, and Forensic Science, where you can perform sheep lung dissections or practice animal first aid. Beyond the classroom, the camp emphasizes social independence through elective clubs like Dungeons & Dragons, Hip-Hop dance, and strategy gaming. Evening events and weekend trips to Boston or Salem provide a traditional camp feel on a collegiate campus.
8. Northwestern CTD Academic Summer Camps
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Cost: $1,005 – $6,105 (varies by session and course type); Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 28 – August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 6th-12th graders; Certain courses may have specific prerequisites
The Center for Talent Development (CTD) provides high-achieving students with intensive, fast-paced courses that delve into subjects not typically covered in middle school curricula. You can choose from tracks in engineering, creative writing, social sciences, and advanced mathematics. The camp structure combines rigorous morning and afternoon seminars with supervised social and recreational activities in the evening. You’ll work with teachers and industry professionals to produce high-level projects or research.
9. Interlochen Summer Arts Camp
Location: Interlochen Center for the Arts, Interlochen, MI
Cost: $5,250 – $10,350; Financial aid available
Cohort Size: 12 students
Dates: 2-,3-,4-, and 6-week camps from June – August
Application Deadline: January 15 (priority); Rolling after
Eligibility: Students in grades 3-12
Interlochen is an arts camp where you can specialize in music, theater, visual arts, creative writing, dance, or film. You’ll spend several hours each day in intensive studio practice or rehearsals led by world-class artists and educators. The camp features hundreds of performances and exhibitions throughout the summer, giving you frequent opportunities to showcase your work. In addition to your primary major, you can choose elective classes to explore other artistic disciplines.
10. Lawrence Hall of Science Summer Camps
Location: UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Cost: $1,295; Financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 1 – 12; Session 2: June 15 – 26; Session 3: June 29 – July 10
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering grades 1-6
This camp focuses on deep-dive STEM exploration through themes like Animal Scientists and Surviving on Mars. You’ll utilize the Hall’s public museum space and private laboratories to conduct experiments and build prototypes. The curriculum emphasizes the engineering design cycle, requiring you to test, fail, and iterate on your projects. Field trips to UC Berkeley research labs are often included, giving you a look at professional scientific inquiry. Each week ends with a "Maker Faire" style showcase for parents and peers.
11. National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF): Explore STEM
Location: Occidental College/University of Denver/UC Berkeley/Seattle University/UCSD
Cost: Starts at $2,899; Scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Weeklong camps in June and July
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school students
NYLF: Explore STEM is a multi-disciplinary STEM camp designed to introduce you to applied science and engineering fields while you’re still in middle school. As a participant, you’ll rotate through hands-on labs in areas such as robotics, forensic science, medicine, and engineering design. Activities focus on problem-solving, experimentation, and using real tools like coding platforms, CAD software, and laboratory equipment. In addition to technical learning, the program includes structured leadership and teamwork exercises. The instruction emphasizes exploration across STEM fields rather than specialization in a single subject.
12. Bronx Zoo Junior Scientist Summer Camp
Location: Bronx Zoo, Bronx, NY
Cost: $775 (5-day camp); $1,350 (2-week program)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Several sessions across July and August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 7-8
This science-focused camp for middle school students centers on wildlife, ecosystems, and conservation research. You’ll explore animal biology and environmental challenges through exhibit visits, hands-on investigations, and close observation of living species. Different camp themes introduce skills such as scientific inquiry, problem-solving, and the use of basic field tools. Activities often include puzzles, experiments, and guided challenges that connect animal behavior to real-world conservation efforts. You’ll also learn how scientists monitor species and respond to environmental change.
13. Camp Invention Leaders-in-Training (LIT)
Location: Several locations nationwide
Cost: Starts at $185
Cohort Size: 5-10 LITs/site
Dates: Weeklong camps in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: 7th-9th graders
The Leaders-in-Training (LIT) program at Camp Invention is a hybrid between a counselor-in-training role and a STEM leadership camp. You’ll be assigned to mentor groups of younger elementary students as they build inventions like DIY rockets. While assisting the instructors, you’ll participate in your own specialized curriculum focused on professional communication and creative problem-solving. You’ll learn the behind-the-scenes of managing an innovation lab, including supply logistics and group motivation techniques. This camp for middle school students provides a structured way to gain volunteer hours while staying engaged in STEM activities.
14. UMBC Summer Enrichment Academy
Location: University of Maryland, Baltimore County, MD
Cost: $374
Cohort Size: 10-25 students/course
Dates: Weeklong sessions across June and July
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 6th-8th graders
The UMBC Summer Enrichment Academy includes a wide range of camps designed for middle school students interested in exploring academic and creative subjects. You can choose from topics spanning technology, artificial intelligence, engineering, business, arts, music, debate, and civic engagement. Learning takes place through workshops, projects, and guided activities that introduce both foundational concepts and real-world applications. Some sessions emphasize technical skills like coding or data-driven decision-making, while others focus on performance, design thinking, or strategic reasoning.
15. School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) Middle School Program
Location: School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $1,300 (summer on-campus), $648 (fall and spring)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by program
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 10-13
SAIC offers focused studio courses that let you explore different areas of visual art through hands-on projects. Depending on the course, you might work with drawing fundamentals, animation techniques, fashion design processes, or comic and graphic storytelling. Instruction emphasizes both creative exploration and technical skill-building, such as working with design elements, digital tools, sewing techniques, or narrative structure. Museum visits and city-based observation exercises are often used to support visual analysis and idea development. You’ll work independently and collaboratively while receiving structured feedback on your projects.
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