15 Medical Camps for Middle School Students
If you’re specifically looking for medical camps at the middle school level, these programs offer one of the most direct ways to explore healthcare early. Rather than staying at a general-interest level, they place you in structured environments where you can engage in clinical-style activities, build foundational medical knowledge, and understand how different healthcare roles function in practice. Many of these camps introduce you to core areas such as anatomy, patient care, emergency response, pharmacy, and neuroscience through guided, hands-on sessions rather than passive instruction. You also gain exposure to real academic or healthcare settings, often learning from university faculty, medical students, or practicing professionals.
How are camps different from other programs in middle school?
Camps are typically shorter, more structured, and more focused than most middle school programs, making them easier to explore without a long-term commitment. Rather than covering a broad range of subjects, they concentrate on a specific area, such as healthcare, and move quickly into practical applications. In medical camps, this often means participating in simulations, practicing basic clinical skills, studying body systems, working through diagnostic-style problems, and exploring how different health professions operate. Because of the condensed timeline, you spend more time actively doing rather than extended instruction.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 15 medical camps for middle school students.
If you’re looking for online programs, check out our blog here.
1. City of Hope Jr. Medical Investigators Camp
Location: City of Hope - Duarte Campus, Duarte, CA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective | limited space
Dates: June 22 - June 26
Application Deadline: March 8
Eligibility: Students currently in grades 6 - 8
City of Hope’s Jr. Medical Investigators Camp is designed around solving a medical mystery through teamwork, evidence, and diagnostic reasoning. You work through simulated tests, analyze patient-style data, and examine how doctors and researchers move from symptoms to diagnosis and treatment. The activities introduce core concepts in areas such as the immune system, blood, the nervous system, and medical imaging. The case-based format of this medical camp for middle school students encourages you to think through problems step by step rather than simply following demonstrations. You also gain a clearer understanding of how clinicians and researchers collaborate when studying disease and treatment.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program type; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Application Deadline: Rolling | You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: Students in 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.
3. WNE-MHC Junior Golden Bear Summer Camp
Location: Western New England University, Center for Sciences and Pharmacy, Springfield, MA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 - June 26
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Middle school students
This camp introduces you to multiple health-related disciplines through a combination of hands-on activities, demonstrations, and subject-specific sessions. You explore areas such as pharmacy, pharmaceutical sciences, occupational therapy, and neuroscience. The pharmacy component demonstrates how medications are prepared and used across different care settings, while other sessions examine the roles of the nervous system, genetics, and rehabilitation-related fields that support healthcare. The camp also includes guidance on academic preparation, which adds value for students beginning to consider long-term educational pathways. The range of options offered at this medical camp for middle school students can be especially helpful if they are still deciding between patient care, laboratory science, or rehabilitation-focused careers.
4. Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies | financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Eight weeks | timing varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
The Lumiere 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 medicine, STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and are matched with a PhD-level mentor from a leading university. Over the course of the program, you receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and perform an independent research project focused on a real-world question. The program concludes with a formal research paper that presents your findings in a clear, structured manner.
5. Health-STEM Camp
Location: Rappahannock Community College, Warsaw Campus, Warsaw, VA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 - June 18
Application Deadline: Registration opens May 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 - 12
Health-STEM Camp combines medicine-related learning with technology by introducing healthcare sensors, emergency simulations, and clinical skill-based activities. Campers build simple sensor analogs using microcontrollers and circuits while learning how similar tools are used in real healthcare environments. The camp extends beyond biomedical technology to include exposure to nursing, emergency medical services, dental practice, sonography, physical therapy, and pre-med pathways. Practical sessions such as suturing, dental mold-making, and simulation exercises provide a stronger applied component than a traditional classroom camp. Students also work with professional-grade equipment and complete activities that reflect how different real-world healthcare roles operate. Certifications and simulation-based modules add a professional dimension and help reinforce the learning experience.
6. R. Ken Coit PharmCamp
Location: University of Arizona, R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy, Tucson, AZ
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 25 students
Dates: May 26 - May 29
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 - 8
R. Ken Coit PharmCamp introduces pharmacy through a combination of hands-on lab work, collaborative projects, and direct exposure to how medications are developed and used. Students explore topics such as how medicines work, the history of pharmacology, poison prevention, and the role of pharmacists across different healthcare settings. The camp includes compounding exercises and other practical activities that highlight how pharmacy relies on both science and precision. You also learn from current pharmacy students and alumni, which helps make the field feel more accessible and tangible. Group projects and presentations help you organize your learning and communicate it effectively.
7. Youth Health Exploration Camp
Location: UDM's McNichols campus, Detroit, MI
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 20 - July 24
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Middle school and high school students
Youth Health Exploration Camp is designed around active learning, with students engaging in healthcare simulations and practical, skills-based sessions. Campers are introduced to areas such as CPR, patient communication, vital signs, wound care, physical therapy, and emergency response through a structured, hands-on format. Simulation tools and hospital-style scenarios demonstrate how healthcare teams respond to patients and make real-time decisions. The medical camp for middle school students also includes activities focused on teamwork, leadership, and communication, which are central to clinical environments but often overlooked in early health programs. Additional sessions on topics such as nutrition, stress management, and accessibility broaden your understanding beyond core medical skills. You are also introduced to campus environments and healthcare career pathways through tours and interactions with professionals and college students.
8. H.E.A.L.T.H. Camp
Location: Calvin University, Grand Rapids, MI
Cost: $10
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots available
Dates: June 15 - June 18 | June 22 - June 26
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Students aged 9 - 17 years (exact specifications vary by camp)
H.E.A.L.T.H. Camp approaches medicine and healthcare careers through a comprehensive approach that includes wellness, prevention, community health, and clinical professions. You participate in activities related to nursing, CPR, nutrition, physical therapy, and healthy lifestyle behaviors that shape your personal and public health. The program also introduces a variety of careers, including medicine, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and social work, giving you a broader understanding of the healthcare ecosystem. Some sessions focus on direct health skills, while others explore how environmental and lifestyle factors influence overall well-being.
9. Health Care Discovery Camp
Location: Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus, Mesa, AZ
Cost/Stipend: $350 ($50 off for returning campers) | need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 15 - 19 | Session 2: June 22 - 26
Application Deadline: May 30
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 - 8
Health Care Discovery Camp gives you a broad introduction to health and wellness fields through faculty-led activities, workshops, and lab-based exploration. The medical camp for middle school students moves across disciplines such as dentistry, nutrition, counseling, psychology, biological sciences, and veterinary medicine. You learn how these areas connect to patient care and health outcomes while building a better understanding of what different professionals actually do. The program also includes interactive sessions and discussions that support both career exploration and skill development. You engage with healthcare professionals and university staff in a higher education setting, while technology-based activities such as immersive learning experiences add variety to your experience. Alongside subject-matter knowledge, you also work on communication, collaboration, and problem-solving in group environments.
10. Nursing Career Exploration Camp
Location: Black Hills State University (Spearfish) and Black Hills State University-Rapid City, South Dakota
Cost/Stipend: $50 registration fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Dates: June 8 - 11 | June 22 - 25
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6 - 8 in the fall
This medical camp for middle school students introduces them to nursing by connecting patient-care concepts with the scientific principles that support them. You take part in hands-on activities connected to healthcare practice while also learning how nurses interact with patients, medical teams, and clinical environments. Faculty-led sessions help explain the rationale behind common medical procedures, making the experience more informative than a general career overview. The program also includes exposure to healthcare facilities, helping you understand the range of roles available in the field. A key feature of the camp is that it connects practical healthcare activities with the scientific thinking that informs nursing decisions.
11. Health Science Summer Camp
Location: Virginia Peninsula Community College - Historic Triangle Campus and Hampton Campus, VA
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited spots available
Dates: Historic Triangle Campus: June 15 - 18 | Hampton Campus: July 6 - 9
Application Deadline: April 29
Eligibility: Rising 7th , 8th and 9th grade students
This medical camp for middle school students provides a direct introduction to healthcare through practical activities focused on patient care, safety, and emergency response. The program is structured to build foundational healthcare skills, helping you understand how healthcare professionals communicate with patients, respond to urgent situations, and operate within larger care systems. In addition to basic skill-development, the camp also introduces healthcare careers and the educational pathways associated with them. One of its key aspects is the combination of skill development and career exposure in a format that remains accessible for middle school students.
12. Anatomy Academy Summer Camp
Location: University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Las Vegas, NV
Cost: $65 (lunch included)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 8 - June 10
Application Deadline: Direct registration required
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6 - 8
Anatomy Academy Summer Camp focuses on understanding how the human body functions through a combination of physiology experiments, anatomy tools, and introductory clinical activities. You explore organs, tissues, and body systems using digital anatomy platforms, dissections, and microscopy, connecting structural knowledge with functional understanding. The camp also introduces beginner-level clinical skills such as suturing and ECG interpretation. Small-group learning and mentorship from undergraduate pre-med students make the experience more interactive and easier to follow. Faculty guidance ensures each activity is placed within the broader context of medicine, biomedical research, and allied health practice.
13. Junior Boiler Vet Camp
Location: Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN
Cost: $1,300
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50 students
Dates: June 14 - June 20
Application Deadline: February 2
Eligibility: Students entering 8th - 9th grades
Junior Boiler Vet Camp introduces veterinary medicine through a combination of animal-health experiences, practical exercises, and case-based learning. You examine how veterinarians care for companion animals, livestock, aquatic species, and zoo animals, which gives the camp unusual breadth for this age group. Sessions include anatomy-focused work, diagnostic thinking, and guided exposure to how veterinary professionals evaluate, treat, and monitor animal health. The medical camp for middle school students also incorporates field visits and demonstrations that show how veterinary medicine connects to food systems, public health, and animal welfare. A central case study runs through the camp, allowing you to work with peers to interpret evidence and recommend treatment under faculty guidance.
14. Health Careers Camp
Location: MaineHealth Memorial Hospital, Conway, NH
Cost: $250 (reduced cost available based on school reduced or free lunch status)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 16 campers
Dates: June 29 - July 3
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 - 10
This medical camp for middle school students provides a direct introduction to healthcare by placing much of the learning within a hospital environment. You rotate through different departments, interact with professionals, and practice supervised skills that are linked to real clinical workflows rather than general career discussions. Activities include clinical simulations and procedure-based exercises that help you understand how healthcare teams use tools, follow safety protocols, and communicate with patients and colleagues. Small-group learning ensures a structured experience, allowing more direct interaction with hospital staff. The camp also offers training in emergency response and first aid, adding practical value alongside career exploration.
15. UC Irvine Brain Camp
Location: University of California, Irvine, CA
Cost: $2995 (scholarships available)Acceptance rate/cohort size:No information available
Dates: July 20 - July 31
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 - 12
The University of California, Irvine’s medical camp for middle school students introduces students to neuroscience through a combination of laboratory work, seminars, and applied research. You explore topics such as brain anatomy, memory, sensation, neuropharmacology, and brain-machine interfaces, and understand how these areas contribute to medicine and scientific discovery. The program includes hands-on exposure to core neuroscience research methods used in neuroscience labs, including imaging tools, electrophysiology, and other experimental techniques. Workshops on data analysis, experimental design, and scientific communication help you build skills that go beyond theoretical knowledge. You also interact with faculty, graduate researchers, and university students, which gives you insight into how neuroscience is studied in academic and research environments. The program concludes with a final project where you analyze findings and present your work to your audience.