13 Free Camps for Middle School Students
If you're a middle school student looking to explore your interests beyond the classroom, summer camps can provide opportunities to learn new skills and discover subjects in a focused setting. These camps explore STEM, the arts, leadership, environmental science, or outdoor education through projects, group activities, and guided instruction. Many camps are free or offer full financial aid, helping make these opportunities accessible to a wider range of students.
How are camps different from other programs in middle school?
Camps are typically shorter and more focused than many academic or extracurricular programs, often lasting a few days or weeks during school breaks. This format allows you to explore a specific subject without committing to a long-term program. Depending on the camp, you may work on coding projects, conduct science investigations, create artistic works, study local ecosystems, or collaborate with peers on group challenges.
To help you explore opportunities, we have narrowed down a list of 13 free camps for middle school students.
If you’re looking for online science programs, check out our blog here.
1. Northrop Grumman Summer Engineering Camp at USC
Location: USC Main Campus, Los Angeles, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 13 – 24
Application Deadline: May 4
Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th grade students (currently enrolled in grades 5–7); requires a B average in math and science
The University of Southern California, in partnership with Northrop Grumman, offers a free STEM summer camp tailored for middle school students interested in engineering. The program introduces students to areas such as civil, mechanical, aerospace, and electrical engineering through engaging activities. You will work on practical projects that may include coding, building circuits, experimenting with rockets, and creating basic robots. Alongside these activities, students gain exposure to the professional world through interactions with experts from Northrop Grumman.
2. Veritas AI’s Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Small cohorts
Dates: 25 hours over 2 weeks (weekdays during the summer) or 25 hours over 10 weeks (weekends)
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Grades 6–8
Veritas AI’s STEM summer camp for middle schoolers is for students interested in exploring the applications of AI to modern technology. You’ll study AI and machine learning, Python programming, data analysis, neural networks, and more through hands-on coding exercises. Topics you can explore include AI in gaming, healthcare, political science, sports, education, and crime detection, with projects such as building video games, classifying medical images, detecting propaganda, predicting sports outcomes, and creating voice assistants. This online program also includes lectures and collaborative activities, as well as instruction in AI ethics and advanced topics such as image classification. You’ll also get hands-on experience after completing a small-group project focused on an AI application of your choice. As part of the program, you’ll get to join an AI community that connects you with like-minded students who are passionate about artificial intelligence.
3. MIT dynaMIT
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance Rate: Not specified
Dates: Week 1: August 17 – 21 (rising 6th/7th graders); Week 2: August 24 – 28 (rising 8th/9th graders)
Application Deadline: March 10
Eligibility: Rising 6th-9th graders
DynaMIT is a week-long, student-led program hosted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that introduces middle school students to the fundamentals of science and engineering. The program is organized into themed days, such as Biology Day and Mechanical Engineering Day, during which students participate in hands-on experiments, such as building circuits or extracting DNA. Throughout the camp, you will be mentored by undergraduate students who guide you through concepts such as the scientific method and design thinking. The program places strong emphasis on supporting students from underrepresented backgrounds and on encouraging sustained interest in STEM fields. It concludes with a final presentation in which students share their projects and prototypes with peers and family members.
4. Lumiere Junior Explorers Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Full financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; 1:1 Mentorship
Dates: Multiple cohorts on different dates throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines for each cohort
Eligibility: Grades 6–8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program offers personalized STEM summer camps for middle school students, with financial aid opportunities available for full or partial coverage. Over the course of 8 weeks, you’ll work one-on-one with a university mentor to develop and execute a personal research project in STEM fields, including Physics & Astrophysics, AI and Data, Biology, Medicine and Public Health, and Environmental Studies. To prepare you to select a research project matching your interests, you’ll begin with broad instruction in your chosen field. You’ll then dive into a specialized field to complete your chosen research project under the mentorship of your instructor. The program is led by mentors from leading research institutions, including Harvard, MIT, Columbia, and Oxford, and is designed to help students develop skills to support their transition to high school or college.
5. SigmaCamp
Location: Silver Lake Camp and Conference Center, Sharon, CT
Cost: Full scholarships available for qualifying families; financial aid offered otherwise
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: August 1 – 8
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: Middle and high school students aged 12–15
The week-long SigmaCamp offers an intensive, multidisciplinary experience in which you explore advanced STEM concepts guided by scientists and faculty from institutions such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale University, Princeton University, and Stanford University. You study a wide range of subjects, including mathematics, computer science, chemistry, theoretical and experimental physics, biology, and engineering through daily Semilabs. These sessions combine seminars and lab work into structured one-and-a-half-hour blocks held in the morning and afternoon. Each day also includes a lecture or guest talk that introduces advanced STEM ideas and current research topics. In the evenings, you can take part in hands-on workshops such as building rockets, glass blowing, or creating silicate gardens. Additionally, you may lead sessions in the Junior Instructor Challenge or present your own ideas through the Experiment of the Day.
6. Air Force Association (AFA) CyberCamps
Location: 100+ U.S. locations
Cost: Free at select locations
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open registration
Dates: Multiple 5-day sessions from early June to mid-August
Application Deadline: Varies
Eligibility: No set age requirement; middle and high school students recommended
The Air Force Association sponsors free STEM summer camps for middle school students at more than 100 locations nationwide. These camps focus mainly on cybersecurity and computer science, where you build foundational skills in secure system configuration and system hardening. You also participate in hands-on coding activities in both Windows and Linux environments, helping you understand how real-world systems are protected and managed. Based on your prior knowledge of computer science and cybersecurity, you can join either the Beginner or the Advanced sessions. In many cases, schedules are designed so you can also attend both levels during the same summer, allowing you to progress step by step. The program wraps up with a team-based final challenge where you apply what you have learned to solve simulated cybersecurity problems that mirror real-world scenarios.
7. Citadel STEM Center - GenCyber Camp
Location: The Citadel, Charleston, SC
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – 19
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 8th-12th graders
The GenCyber camp hosted at The Citadel is a free cybersecurity program for middle school students, supported by grants from the National Security Agency and the National Science Foundation. The program introduces you to foundational cybersecurity concepts, including network security, cryptography, secure coding, cyber ethics, and safe online behavior. You also explore practical topics like system protection and digital safety through interactive lessons and hands-on activities that make complex ideas easier to understand. Throughout the camp, you take part in coding challenges, cybersecurity simulations, and team-based problem-solving tasks to understand how cyber threats are identified and prevented in real-world systems. It often concludes with collaborative activities or challenges where you apply your learning in simulated cyber environments.
8. Columbia University State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP)
Location: Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 31 (summer session) | November – May (academic year session)
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: NYC-area students in grades 7–12 who are NY State residents or U.S. permanent residents; economically disadvantaged and/or from underrepresented groups
The State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP) at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons is a free academic enrichment program for middle and high school students interested in STEM and healthcare careers. It offers coursework in subjects such as anatomy, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, psychology, and advanced mathematics, as well as SAT and PSAT preparation to help you strengthen your academic foundation. Alongside classroom learning, you also take part in academic counseling, college preparation workshops, field trips, and college tours that help you explore different educational pathways and gain a clearer understanding of future opportunities in science, medicine, and related fields.
9. GenCyber Camp at UNLV
Location: University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective, limited seats available;
Dates: Runs as a one-day spring camp and a five-day summer camp
Application Deadline: Usually around late March
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students in Southern Nevada (Clark County)
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas GenCyber camp is a free cybersecurity program that introduces middle and high school students to the fundamentals of digital security and responsible technology use. Supported by national initiatives, the program focuses on building your understanding of topics such as cyber safety, data protection, encryption, and secure system practices through structured lessons and guided instruction. During the camp, you take part in hands-on activities such as coding exercises, cybersecurity simulations, and team-based challenges that reflect real-world scenarios. These experiences help you learn how to identify and prevent cyber threats.
10. NYU College & Career Lab
Location: New York University, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specifiedDates: July 6 – 31
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Current 7th and 8th graders at NYC public schools; students from all backgrounds may apply, with preference for economically disadvantaged, first-generation college students, and students of color
This program begins with a summer exploration phase in which you participate in interactive workshops and hands-on activities across subjects such as engineering, neuroscience, and public health, while also being introduced to business, law, and the arts. You will then move into more focused learning experiences that deepen your understanding in selected areas, supported by mentorship from professionals and guided skill-building sessions. The program also includes career-oriented workshops and exposure to how different industries operate. Alongside this, you will gain real-world experience through internships and structured projects that help you apply your learning, strengthen practical skills, and prepare for future academic and career pathways.
11. UT Southwestern STARS Biology Camp
Location: UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 30 students per camp
Dates: June 5 – 13
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Current 8th-grade students who will take freshman-level Biology the following academic year
The STARS Biology Camp at UT Southwestern Medical Center is a free, two-week program for middle school students who want to explore biology in a more hands-on, engaging way. During the camp, you take part in lab activities that introduce key concepts such as DNA structure, protein synthesis, photosynthesis, and enzyme function. Along with these experiments, you also participate in interactive sessions focused on genetics and cell organelles, helping you build a stronger understanding of how living systems work.
12. Physics Inside Out at Purdue University College of Science
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited enrollment
Dates: June 8 – 12
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Current 7th and 8th grade students; non-residential program, so students should live in or near West Lafayette
The Physics Inside Out program at Purdue University is a learning experience that introduces you to different areas of physics under the guidance of Purdue faculty and researchers. You explore topics such as astrophysics, astronomy, nanotechnology, and the history of modern physics through interactive labs, experiments, and guided activities. The program also includes visits to advanced campus facilities like the PRIME Lab particle accelerator and the PUR1 nuclear reactor, where you can observe real scientific research in action. Alongside this, you engage with faculty members and graduate researchers, hear about their academic and career journeys, and receive support in planning your own goals.
13. Stanford seeME
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited enrollment
Dates: May 16
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Current middle and high school students in the Bay Area; students from underserved schools are particularly encouraged to apply
Stanford’s seeME program is a free summer camp focused on STEM for middle school students that introduces them to mechanical engineering. Participants engage in interactive workshops and select two from six options, covering topics such as autonomous vehicle design, biomechanics of flight, computational mathematics, and biomedicine. Guided by Stanford graduate student mentors, you also learn about academic pathways and careers in engineering and other STEM fields. Alongside the workshops, the program helps you understand what studying mechanical engineering involves and encourages you to explore future opportunities in science and technology through practical, project-based learning.