15 Computer Science Camps for Middle School Students
If you are a middle school student curious about coding, technology, or how apps and games are created, joining a camp can be a smart first step. Many computer science camps for middle school students are designed to introduce concepts in a practical, engaging way rather than focusing solely on theory. You get exposure to tools, programming languages, and problem-solving methods used in the real tech industry. Some camps also connect you with technology professionals, helping you understand potential career paths early on.
How Are Camps Different From Other Programs in Middle School?
Camps are usually shorter and more focused compared to year-long programs or courses. Instead of covering many subjects at once, computer science camps for middle school students often focus on a specific skill, such as coding, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, or game development. You might spend a few days or weeks working on a project such as building a website, training a machine learning model, designing a simple game, or programming a robot. Many camps also include collaborative activities where you learn from peers as you solve problems together.
To help you get started, we have narrowed down 15 computer science camps for middle school students.
If you’re looking for online science programs, check out our blog here.
1. Veritas AI – AI Trailblazers Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program type; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohorts (approx. 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio)
Dates: 25 hours total (2-week summer cohort or 10-week weekend cohort)
Application Deadline: Rolling. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: Grades 6–8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous student projects have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and developing a machine-learning algorithm to generate a custom list of educational resources based on specified criteria.
2. Kode With Klossy – Summer Coding Camp
Location: Virtual (Global) + Select in-person locations (USA & UK)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; cohort-based
Dates: June 1 – August 14
Application Deadline: April 7
Eligibility: Young women and gender expansive teens, aged 13-18
If you’re looking for a fully funded computer science camp for middle school students, this program offers an immersive and community-driven coding experience. You’ll join a 2-week intensive where you learn coding fundamentals through hands-on projects in areas like web development and real-world tech applications. No prior coding experience is required, so you can start from scratch and build your skills step by step. The camp focuses not just on coding but also on collaboration, creativity, and confidence-building in tech spaces. You’ll also become part of a supportive global community of students and alumni who share similar interests in STEM.
3. Lumiere Education – Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies | Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; 1:1 mentorship with PhD mentors
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Grades 6–8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorers Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students, designed to build advanced academic writing and research skills. You begin by selecting a subject area, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and are matched with a PhD-level mentor from a top university. Over the course of the program, you receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and carry out an independent research project focused on a real-world question. To strengthen your writing and analytical abilities, you conclude the program by producing a formal research paper that presents your findings.
4. CompSciConnect – University of Maryland
Location: University of Maryland, College Park, MD (commuter)
Cost: $400; need-based financial assistance available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: ~120 students per year; 45–50 spots for Yellow, 10–12 for Red
Dates: Session 1: June 22 – July 2; Session 2: July 13 – July 24
Application Deadline: January to March; applications for the current cycle are closed
Eligibility: Rising 6th graders (Yellow track); rising 8th graders (Terp track); open to all students including home-schooled
CompSciConnect is a three-year computer science program at the University of Maryland, taught by UMD undergraduates, in which middle schoolers progress through three levels of programming across consecutive summers. Students begin with block-based programming in Scratch, advance to web design using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and finish with 3D game design programming in their third year. Alongside the coding curriculum, students explore cybersecurity, cryptology, number bases, and logic, with the program emphasizing connections between computing skills and real-world problems. The summer commitment is two weeks per year, with one Sunday per month of school-year sessions, a December showcase, and a Maryland Day event in April rounding out the annual commitment.
5. SONYC Program – SONYC Summer Program
Location: Andries Hudde Magnet School of STEAM, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – July 30
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Current Grades 6–7; NYC residents only
This program combines coding with environmental science and urban technology, allowing you to explore sound waves and noise pollution while learning to collect and analyze real-world data. Through practical projects, you will build sound-monitoring devices using electronics and coding, gaining experience with both hardware and software. Participants will collaboratively develop smart city solutions to tackle urban challenges. At the end, students will display their projects at a final expo, showcasing their technical expertise and problem-solving abilities.
6. SoC CLICKS Summer Coding Camp – University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Location: UNL Avery Hall, Lincoln, NE (commuter; students bring their own lunch Monday through Thursday)
Cost: $215; no financial aid listed
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 20 students; space limited; registration closes July 20
Dates: August 3 – August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling; registration closes July 20
Eligibility: Current 6th through 8th grade students; no prior programming experience required
SoC CLICKS is a one-week coding camp run by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's School of Computing, where middle school students explore a different STEM field each day through themed lessons and hands-on Python computing exercises. Mornings focus on coding activities and afternoon sessions take students to STEM-focused locations across the UNL campus. The week concludes with a showcase where campers present what they built throughout the week.
7. Computer Science Camps – NC State Engineering Place
Location: NC State University, North Campus, Raleigh, NC (commuter; lunch and snacks provided)
Cost: $550 per week; limited financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; selective; applications reviewed on interest, not first-come-first-served
Dates: AI Play: July 13 – July 17; SECURE IT: July 20 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 27; acceptance notifications sent March 27
Eligibility: Rising 6th through 8th graders; open to home-schooled, out-of-state, and international students
NC State's Engineering Place offers two one-week computer science day camps for middle school students, each focusing on a different area of the field. Computer Science: AI Play covers artificial intelligence through digital game design, with each day built around a different AI concept and its creative applications. Computer Science: SECURE IT is a camp introducing students to cybersecurity, with full curriculum details to be announced. Both camps are staffed by classroom teachers, NC State engineering students, and college staff at a ratio of approximately 1:6, and students can attend both weeks since the curricula are distinct.
8. Oregon State University – Making with Microcontrollers Camp
Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Cost: $200 (needs-based scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohorts (hands-on instruction)
Dates: July 6 – 10
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering Grades 6–8
If you’re curious about how hardware and coding work together, this hands-on computer science camp for middle school students focuses on physical computing. You’ll learn to program the micro:bit microcontroller using the MakeCode platform, working with both block-based and JavaScript coding. As you advance, you’ll develop interactive devices that respond to real-world inputs such as movement, light, or temperature. You’ll experiment, design, and build your own physical computing projects, relying on your creativity and problem-solving abilities.
9. University of Texas at Dallas – CS Summer Camps
Location: Richardson, Texas, USA (Online via MS Teams; limited in-person for select tracks)
Cost: $300 (middle school online camps)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; moderate class sizes
Dates: June 8 – July 31 (multiple 2-week sessions: S1–S4)
Application Deadline: Rolling (until spots fill)
Eligibility: Ages 12+ (middle school camps are online only)
If you're looking for a structured computer science camp for middle school students, this program offers a solid introduction to coding through interactive online sessions. You’ll learn programming concepts using JavaScript while solving fun and engaging problems designed for your level. Classes run on weekdays and are kept short and focused, making it easy to stay consistent without burnout. You’ll also build logical thinking skills through hands-on exercises and guided instruction. The camp is beginner-friendly, so you don’t need prior coding experience to get started. By the end, you’ll have a stronger foundation in programming and problem-solving, setting you up for more advanced computer science learning.
10. Oregon State University – Making Arcade Games Camp
Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Cost: $200 (needs-based scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohorts (hands-on learning)
Dates: July 6 – July 10
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering Grades 6–8
If you enjoy games and want to build your own, this is a fun and creative computer science camp for middle school students focused on game development. You’ll start by learning the basics of coding using the MakeCode platform, which supports both block-based and JavaScript programming. As you progress, you’ll design and develop your own arcade-style games, including platformers and top-down games with multiple levels. The camp is beginner-friendly, so you don’t need any prior programming or game design experience to get started.
11. Oregon State University – NW Cyber Camp
Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Cost: $200 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohorts (hands-on learning environment)
Dates: July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering Grades 7–8
If you’re interested in cybersecurity, this highly engaging computer science camp for middle school students lets you step into the role of a digital detective. You’ll explore how to protect information online by learning concepts like encryption, phishing detection, and digital forensics. Through hands-on challenges, you’ll solve puzzles, uncover hidden clues, and understand how real-world cyber threats work. The camp is beginner-friendly, so you don’t need any prior coding or computer science experience to participate. You’ll also get the chance to interact with cybersecurity professionals and college students, giving you insight into future career paths.
12. The Coding Space – Camp Coding Space
Location: New York City, NY (Upper East Side, Brooklyn, Long Island)
Cost: Starting from $875
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small groups (personalized attention)
Dates: Weekly sessions throughout summer (Monday–Friday)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Ages 8–13
In this program, you’ll spend your mornings learning core programming concepts through project-based activities, where you build, test, and improve your own code. In the afternoons, you can choose a specialized pathway like AI, game design, robotics, or digital art, allowing you to explore what excites you most. The camp focuses on interactive learning rather than lectures, encouraging you to think independently and solve problems using logic and creativity. You’ll also collaborate with other students, share ideas, and develop confidence while working on meaningful tech projects.
13. University of California, Berkeley – Coding & Engineering Nano-Satellites Camp
Location: UC Berkeley Campus, Berkeley, CA
Cost: $1,550 (optional residential add-on: $1,350)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohorts
Dates: Various sessions from June 22 to July 31
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7–9
This program blends coding, space exploration, and engineering, allowing you to learn block-based programming — and, for more advanced users, Python or JavaScript — while designing and constructing your own model satellite. Throughout the week, you’ll solve real-world engineering challenges and explore how coding is used in actual space missions. The camp includes interactive labs, design challenges, and even a visit to UC Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory, where you’ll see how scientists work day to day. You’ll collaborate with other students, experiment with ideas, and refine your designs through an iterative process. By the end, you’ll present your own satellite project, gaining both technical skills and confidence in applying computer science to real-world problems.
14. Oregon State University – AI Camp
Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Cost: $200 (needs-based scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohorts (hands-on sessions)
Dates: July 13 – 17
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering Grades 6–8
In this program, you’ll learn how to create and train simple AI models, including systems that can recognize patterns, movements, and gestures. Through guided coding activities, you’ll apply these models to solve real-world problems or build creative projects. The camp also explores important topics such as the ethical use of AI and the impact of these technologies on society. You don’t need any prior coding experience, making it a great starting point for new computer scientists.
15. Foundations of Programming – Johns Hopkins CTY
Location: Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA (residential or commuter); Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA (residential or commuter)
Cost: $6,717–$7,801 depending on site and format; financial aid available; $187 lab fee; $55 CTY membership fee required
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 18–20 students per class; requires CTY-level quantitative identification score
Dates: Summer A: June 28 – July 17; Summer B: July 19 – August 7
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Rising 7th through 11th graders; qualifying test scores required; no prior programming experience necessary
Foundations of Programming is a three-week residential computer science course offered through Johns Hopkins CTY, where students work through programming concepts using a high-level language such as Java, C, C++, or Python, depending on the instructor. The curriculum covers algorithmic thinking, object-oriented programming, data types, control structures, recursion, sorting algorithms, and graphical user interfaces, with students completing lab exercises, supplemental problems, and programming projects throughout. By the end of the course, students are expected to understand software development standards used in professional settings and be able to apply programming techniques across other languages. The class size of 18–20 students allows for close instruction and individual feedback throughout the three weeks.