15 Free STEM Summer Camps for Middle School Students
STEM summer camps can be a great way for middle school students to explore science, technology, engineering, and math beyond what is typically covered in the classroom. These programs often introduce new subjects through coding activities, experiments, design challenges, and collaborative projects that encourage creative problem-solving. Many STEM camps are free or offer full financial aid, making high-quality enrichment opportunities accessible to students from diverse backgrounds.
How are STEM camps different from other programs in middle school?
STEM camps are usually shorter and more focused than year-long enrichment programs or academic courses. Instead of emphasizing grades or formal assessments, they center on exploration, skill-building, and project-based learning in a specific subject area. You might spend a week designing engineering solutions, building machine learning models, conducting physics experiments, or solving advanced math problems with peers who share similar interests.
In this blog, we’ve curated 15 free STEM summer camps for middle school students.
If you’re looking for online summer camps, check out our blog here.
1. Dinah Whipple STEAM Academy
Location: University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Students entering grades 5–12
This program blends STEM learning with discussions of history and identity, giving you a broader perspective on how science and society intersect. Hosted through UNH’s Tech Camp, the Dinah Whipple STEAM Academy introduces you to core concepts in science, engineering, and technology through various projects and collaborative challenges. Depending on your age group, you might explore environmental systems, design community-focused engineering solutions, or experiment with robotics and basic AI concepts. Alongside technical work, the program includes discussions of the Black experience, African history, and the contributions of Black leaders in STEM. You’ll also interact with engineers, instructors, and student mentors, which adds a layer of real-world insight to the experience.
2. Veritas AI's AI Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Spring cohort: 25 hours over 10 weeks (weekends) | Summer cohort: 25 hours over 2 weeks (weekdays)
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual introductory program designed for middle school students interested in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours of instruction, participants learn foundational concepts such as Python programming, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. The program emphasizes interactive learning through lectures and small-group sessions, maintaining a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Students gain hands-on experience by building practical machine learning projects, such as models for classifying music genres or recommending educational resources. The curriculum is structured to make complex AI concepts accessible to younger learners while encouraging creativity and problem-solving.
3. NYU Science of Smart Cities (SoSC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost/Stipend: Full scholarship
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 8 – August 2
Application Deadline: April 29
Eligibility: NYC students ages 12–14 with a strong academic interest in STEM
Over several weeks, in this program, you’ll work in teams to design and build projects using tools like microcontrollers, sensors, and basic circuitry, applying coding and engineering concepts to sustainability and infrastructure challenges. The curriculum blends multiple disciplines, such as computer science, environmental science, and engineering, so you can see how they connect in real-world applications. A distinctive feature is the inclusion of improv-based sessions (Irondale), which help you develop communication and presentation skills alongside technical knowledge. You’ll present a final project that demonstrates a solution to a real-world issue, reinforcing both your technical understanding and ability to explain your ideas.
4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program (JEP)
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies based on cohort; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (exact duration not specified)
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines across the year
Eligibility: Middle school students
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program (JEP) is a virtual academic enrichment program designed for middle school students to explore their interests through guided, project-based learning. You’ll be paired 1-on-1 with mentors from top universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE, providing personalized mentorship and support. Throughout the program, students work on a project in a subject of their choice, helping them develop critical thinking, research, and problem-solving skills. The curriculum is designed to be rigorous yet accessible, offering early exposure to advanced academic concepts in a structured environment. With multiple rolling cohorts and financial aid options, the program aims to make high-quality mentorship accessible to a broad range of students. Overall, JEP provides a strong foundation for younger students to begin exploring academic passions in depth.
5. Northrop Grumman Summer Engineering Camp at USC
Location: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~32 students
Dates: July 13 – 24
Application Deadline: May 4
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in grades 5–7 (rising grades 6–8); minimum B average in math and science; must attend both weeks
Designed for middle school students who want to explore engineering in a structured, immersive setting, this two-week camp introduces you to several core disciplines through hands-on work. You’ll rotate through areas such as aerospace, civil, mechanical, electrical, and environmental engineering, building projects like rockets, bridges, circuits, and robots. Alongside this, you’ll gain exposure to computer science through basic coding and app development. The program runs full days on weekdays, giving you a consistent, in-depth experience rather than a brief overview. With a cohort of about 32 students, you’ll be part of a small, focused group where collaboration and guidance from instructors are central.
7. Physics Inside Out – Purdue University
Location: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN (commuter; lunch provided daily)
Cost: Free; all materials provided
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited; selective
Dates: June 8 – June 12
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: Current 7th and 8th-grade students; requires a teacher recommendation and a written response
Physics Inside Out is a free five-day program at Purdue's Department of Physics and Astronomy, where current 7th and 8th-graders work through hands-on experiments guided by Purdue faculty and graduate researchers. Sessions cover topics spanning nano to astro, including graphene exfoliation, ferrofluid synthesis, atomic force microscopy, magnetism, astrophysics, and infrared light detection. Faculty share their personal paths into science alongside the technical content, giving students a sense of what careers in physics and astronomy look like.
8. MIT dynaMIT
Location: MIT Campus, Cambridge, MA (commuter)
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; competitive; priority given to economically disadvantaged students
Dates: One week in August (specific dates not yet posted)
Application Deadline: Rolling; check website for current dates
Eligibility: Rising 6th and 7th graders from the Boston area from economically disadvantaged backgrounds
MIT dynaMIT is a free one-week STEM program hosted on MIT's campus and run by current MIT undergraduates. Students engage in hands-on activities across areas such as health, engineering, mathematics, and technology, with access to MIT labs and facilities throughout the week. The curriculum varies each summer and combines group learning activities with project work.
9. BEAM Discovery
Location: New York City and Los Angeles, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~100 students per site
Dates: June 22 – July 24 (Los Angeles); July 6 – August 7 (NYC)
Application Deadline: March 23 (NYC); varies for Los Angeles
Eligibility: Current 6th graders; must live in NYC or Los Angeles; preference for students from lower-income backgrounds
If you enjoy solving challenging problems and want to go deeper into math than what you see in school, BEAM Discovery is built around developing that kind of thinking. While longer than a traditional camp, the program lets you take classes in areas like logic, applied math, and problem-solving strategies, all focused on helping you approach unfamiliar problems creatively. The program emphasizes understanding how to think rather than memorizing formulas, so you’ll spend a lot of time working through puzzles and complex questions collaboratively. Alongside academics, there’s a strong community component, with daily activities, games, and field trips that help you connect with other students who enjoy math in different ways.
10. Summer Engineering Experience (SEE) Session 1 – Carnegie Mellon University
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (commuter)
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; selective
Dates: July 13 – July 17
Application Deadline: March 23
Eligibility: Rising 8th and 9th graders
SEE Session 1 is a free week-long program at Carnegie Mellon's College of Engineering, themed around Making and Engineering. Students complete two design projects over the course of the week, one completed as a group and one tackled individually within smaller teams, both using everyday household materials. The projects are structured around problem-solving, critical thinking, and the engineering design process, with educational presentations from CMU faculty and staff running alongside the hands-on work.
11. SAGE Camp – SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
Location: SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Stanford University campus, Menlo Park and Palo Alto, CA (residential; overnight)
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; competitive
Dates: June 21 – June 27
Application Deadline: Mid-March
Eligibility: High school and middle school students from all backgrounds; open to U.S. students
SAGE Camp is a free one-week residential program at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, a Department of Energy facility operated by Stanford University. During the week, students hear from scientists and engineers about their careers, shadow STEM professionals in their day-to-day work, complete hands-on team projects, and tour SLAC facilities. The program also includes college campus tours, a visit to a local observatory, and evening activities designed to build connections between students and STEM professionals.
12. Girls Who Code Summer Pathways Programs
Location: Online (self-paced); select cities offer in-person Industry Immersion Days
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; open enrollment
Dates: June 29 – August 14
Application Deadline: February 25; April 10
Eligibility: Girls and non-binary students in grades 6–12; open to students nationwide
Girls Who Code Pathways is a free, self-paced online program where students complete hands-on coding projects in one of five curriculum tracks: game design, data science, AI, cybersecurity, or web development. Students work at their own pace over six to seven weeks with access to a virtual community on Discord, optional corporate partner events, career panels, and advisor-led workshops on emerging technologies. Students in select cities can also participate in in-person Industry Immersion Days with partner companies.
13. NYU College and Career Lab (CCL)
Location: NYU Campus, New York, NY (commuter)
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; selective
Dates: July 6 – July 31
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: NYC residents attending school in one of the five boroughs; rising 8th and 9th graders; economically disadvantaged, first-generation college-going, and students of color are encouraged to apply
The NYU College and Career Lab begins with a free, four-week summer intensive for rising 8th- and 9th-graders, where students attend college-style lectures and workshops led by NYU faculty. They explore academic subjects ranging from neuroscience to philosophy, and engage in career exploration activities simulating roles such as immigration lawyer, physical therapist, and game designer. The summer component connects to year-round Practice Labs that build professional and soft skills throughout the school year. Students who complete the program are invited back for the Immersive Stage, a two to three-week experience for older students that includes introductory college courses and internship opportunities.
14. Black Girls Code Summer Camp
Location: Multiple cities across the United States (including Oakland, CA, Atlanta, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and more) + virtual options
Cost/Stipend: ~$100 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June – August (varies by location; typically 1 week)
Application Deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Ages 10–17
In this summer camp, through a partnership with a professional game studio, you’ll explore how real-world games are made by designing assets, crafting storylines, developing gameplay mechanics, and even creating sound elements. The structure of each day blends coding sessions with collaborative work, mentorship, and guest speakers, so you’re not just learning technical skills but also how creative teams operate. By the end of the program, you’ll complete a capstone project: a game you designed and built, which you’ll present to peers and industry professionals. The environment is designed to be supportive and community-focused, especially encouraging girls to explore pathways in tech and game development.
15. OSUIT STEM Summer Academy: Emerging & Converging Technology
Location: Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, Okmulgee, OK
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 31 – June 5
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 8–10
At the OSUIT STEM Summer Academy, you’ll spend the program living on campus, which gives you a preview of college life while participating in hands-on lab sessions led by instructors and professionals. The curriculum spans a wide range of fields, from engineering technologies and construction to healthcare, automotive systems, and even culinary arts, so you’re exposed to how STEM connects to different industries. Rather than focusing only on theory, the program emphasizes building, problem-solving, and working on practical projects in specialized facilities. You’ll also collaborate with peers and gain insight into potential career paths through direct interaction with faculty and staff.