11 Online STEM Camps for Middle School Students
If you are a middle school student interested in science, technology, engineering, or math, online STEM camps offer a practical way to explore those subjects in greater depth. These programs help you build skills, learn from experienced instructors, and connect with peers who share similar interests. Many camps also offer opportunities to interact with researchers and professionals in STEM fields. The online format allows you to access resources from leading universities and organizations across the country without incurring travel or campus housing costs.
How are STEM camps different from other programs in middle school?
Most enrichment opportunities available to middle school students during the school year are ongoing, broad in scope, and span several months. STEM camps operate differently. They are typically short-term, running from one week to a few months, and focus on a specific subject area or skill set. Instead of taking a general science course over an entire semester, you might spend a week building and testing machine learning models, two weeks exploring applied genetics through guided experiments, or several sessions learning Python and completing a real-time AI group project.
To help you get started, we’ve put together a list of 11 online STEM camps for middle school students.
If you’re looking for online summer camps, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These 11 programs span AI and machine learning, genetics, data science, coding, mathematics, engineering design, and independent research, so middle school students with a wide range of STEM interests can find a relevant online option.
Several programs are free, including Stanford SMSSP (for families earning under $90,000), Kode With Klossy, and MAGIC, while others, such as CTY, Northwestern CTD, and UC Berkeley ATDP, are selective academic programs taught at an accelerated pace above grade level.
Many programs specifically support underrepresented students in STEM, including Kode With Klossy (young women and gender expansive teens), MAGIC (one-on-one mentorship for girls from women in STEM), and Stanford SMSSP (low-income households), so students from these backgrounds should take note of these opportunities.
Programs vary significantly in length and format, from self-paced on-demand genetics camps, such as CSHL Fun With DNA, to eight-week mentored research projects, such as Lumiere Junior Explorer, so students can choose based on their availability and depth of interest.
1. Stanford Middle School Scholars Program (SMSSP)
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 6 - 24 in the summer, and August 26 - December 9 during the fall
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: Current grades 6 or 7 students residing and attending school in the United States | admitted students’ families usually have a household income below $90,000, with the average being $55,000.
The Stanford Middle School Scholars Program is run by Stanford Online High School and combines a three-week intensive online summer session with continued weekly virtual meetings through the fall semester. During the summer portion, you will attend live classes five days a week in a structured day-camp format. The academic focus is geometry, taught through an inquiry-based approach that progresses from two-dimensional shapes to three-dimensional models and eventually to higher-dimensional spaces. During the fall semester, you will interact weekly with your cohort and Stanford OHS instructor, covering topics such as academic writing, math enrichment, high school preparation, and growth mindset. Students also participate in workshops hosted by the Stanford OHS teams, including Admissions, Academic Advising, and Writing and Tutoring.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies by cohort | need-based financial aid is 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 deadlines | apply to the program here
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 - 8
Veritas AI's AI Trailblazers program is a virtual learning experience designed to introduce middle school students to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python along with core topics such as data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions supported by a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Past student projects have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and designing an algorithm to generate a customized list of educational resources based on specified criteria.
3. Kode With Klossy - Virtual Summer Coding Camp
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 1 - 12, July 6 - 17, July 20 - 31, August 3 - 14
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Young women and gender expansive teens aged 13 - 18 years
Kode With Klossy is a nonprofit organization that offers free two-week coding camps for young women and gender-expansive teens. You will be placed in one of three curriculum tracks: web development using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS; machine learning and AI; or data science using SQL, Python, and data visualization tools. Each track will take you from a beginner level to a point where you will have built a functioning final project by the end of the two weeks. Camps conclude with a demo day where you present your work. All camps are co-taught by two licensed instructors and supported by at least two instructor assistants who are alumni of the program returning in peer leadership roles. A speaker series featuring women working in technology runs throughout the camp, giving you direct exposure to professional experiences in STEM careers.
4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Location: Online (founded by Harvard and Oxford researchers)
Cost/Stipend: Varies | full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 8 weeks (rolling cohorts throughout the year)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort | you can apply here
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8 | open to motivated students globally interested in exploring academic research or writing
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program pairs middle school students with PhD mentors from universities such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton to explore academic subjects and develop a written project. Research topics range from gene editing to behavioral economics. Across eight weeks, you will learn how to read and interpret academic literature, develop research questions, and create outputs such as a high school-level research paper or case study. You will receive personalized feedback through eight mentor sessions and two writing-coach sessions, ensuring you strengthen both analytical thinking and writing fundamentals.
5. MAGIC - More Active Girls in Computing
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Summer session runs mid-June through the end of August
Application Deadline: May 30 for the summer session, December 8 for the winter session
Eligibility: Middle and high school girls with an interest in STEM
MAGIC is a national, fully volunteer-run organization that pairs middle and high school girls one-on-one with women who have established careers in STEM fields. During each session, you will meet weekly with your mentor for about one hour to explore your interests in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, while working on one or more STEM projects of your choice under your mentor's guidance. In addition to technical learning, mentoring covers topics such as navigating the technology field, what daily life in STEM roles looks like, and strategies for navigating the social and structural barriers that contribute to the underrepresentation of women in technical fields. At the end of the session, you will present your completed project to an audience that includes other mentees, mentors, parents, and MAGIC staff. Although it is not a traditional camp, it offers a rare, dedicated mentorship opportunity with a limited weekly time commitment and fully virtual participation.
6. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) - Online STEM Courses
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $1,325 per course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment for qualifying students
Dates: Multiple, rolling batches available throughout the year | upcoming courses start June 28 and July 19
Application Deadline: Varies by batch, usually around 7 weeks before the batch starts
Eligibility: Students in grades 2 - 12, with specific criteria varying by course
Similar to Northwestern’s CTD program, Johns Hopkins for Talented Youth (CTY) offers a strong catalog of online courses for academically advanced learners across multiple sessions throughout the year. As a middle school student, you can access STEM courses covering topics such as coding, physics, disease modeling, engineering design, applied mathematics, and bioethics. Courses are taught by expert instructors who lead live discussions and assign challenging coursework throughout each session. To participate, you must first complete CTY's Talent Search process and meet the qualifying score requirements based on your grade level. The Johns Hopkins affiliation makes this one of the more established options for academically motivated middle schoolers seeking rigorous online STEM learning.
7. Northwestern Center for Talent Development (CTD) - Online Enrichment Courses
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $575
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrolment
Dates: Multiple sessions available throughout the year, of varying lengths, all flexibly paced
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school students who meet Northwestern’s Emerald eligibility criteria
Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development (CTD) offers live online enrichment courses for academically advanced learners, featuring a catalog spanning STEM and other academic disciplines. You will select one course from subjects such as artificial intelligence, engineering, genetics, climate science, coding, and advanced mathematics. These courses are designed to operate two to five years above standard grade-level expectations in both pace and depth. All the courses feature scheduled online discussions, assignments, and regular feedback throughout the session. The time commitment is approximately two to five hours per week, structured around a mix of direct instruction and independent work. While this is not a structured camp, its flexibility can work in your favor, allowing you to pursue other opportunities alongside it.
8. GSSM GoSciTech Virtual Camp
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: $210 per week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 15 - 19 or June 22 - 26
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising grades 6 - 10 with a selective application process
The GSSM GoSciTech Virtual Camp is a five-day live online STEM program run by the South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics, a nationally recognized public STEM institution. Each day includes two live sessions with your instructor and peers, with hands-on project work completed between sessions using materials available at home. Courses are led by college faculty, university researchers, and GSSM instructors who specialize in their subject areas. Topics include anatomy, engineering, programming, and sports science. You will work alongside peers from across the country in a project-based environment that emphasizes applied problem-solving.
9. CSHL DNA Learning Center - Fun With DNA
Location: Virtual
Cost: $600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Year-round on-demand camp, self-paced, with 60 days of access to recorded materials from your date of registration
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6 - 7
The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center offers a virtual on-demand version of its entry-level genetics camp, Fun With DNA. After registration, you will receive a home-delivered kit containing lab materials, workbooks, and protocols, along with private access to pre-recorded daily sessions by DNALC educators. You will work through hands-on experiments in genetics and cell biology, including DNA extraction, exploring inheritance, and applying basic biotechnology techniques. Throughout the program, you can communicate with DNALC instructors through a dedicated Google Classroom. The on-demand format gives you 60 days of access from your registration date to complete the curriculum at your own pace.
10. UC Berkeley Academic Talent Development Program (ATDP) - Online Courses
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Varies by course and program type, ranging from $790 - $1,190
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: June 22 - July 31
Application Deadline: February 25 for early, extended to May 29 for late applicants
Eligibility: Current grades 7 - 11
UC Berkeley's Academic Talent Development Program (ATDP) offers more than 40 course options, including many designed for middle school students. Subjects span mathematics, computer science, science, and writing. Some courses are specifically designed to introduce high school-level topics to current middle school students, while others accelerate students through full-year high school curricula in six weeks. You will spend three to ten hours per week preparing for each class outside scheduled sessions, due to the rigor of the instruction. Many ATDP courses satisfy UC and CSU A-G college entrance requirements, and the program is operated through UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Education.
11. Create & Learn - Live Online STEM Summer Camps
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Starting at $89 per week for 4 sessions
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment, with a maximum of 3 - 5 students per instructor
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Age ranges vary on a per-course basis, with several being available for middle school students
Create & Learn offers live online STEM camps in subjects such as data science with Python and Pandas, AI and machine learning fundamentals, computational biology, Scratch programming, web development, and other coding and technology subjects. Courses are developed in collaboration with educators from Google, MIT, NASA, and Code.org. In programs such as the Data Science with Python and ChatGPT camp, you will work with real-world datasets, create data visualizations using Pandas and Matplotlib, use AI tools to improve your code, and complete a capstone project applying the full set of skills from the course. You will use tools to work on concrete problems from the first session rather than passive theory. Each week-long camp runs across four consecutive days for about 75 minutes per session, and many courses are available throughout the year for students who want to continue learning beyond summer.
Frequently asked questions
1. What online STEM camps are available for middle school students?
Options include AI and machine learning programs, such as Veritas AI Trailblazers and Kode With Klossy, research and mentorship programs, such as Lumiere Junior Explorer and MAGIC, university-affiliated academic courses, such as Stanford SMSSP, CTY, Northwestern CTD, and UC Berkeley ATDP, genetics programs, such as CSHL Fun With DNA, and engineering and data science programs, such as Create & Learn and GSSM GoSciTech.
2. Are there free online STEM camps for middle school students?
Yes, Stanford SMSSP is free for families earning under $90,000, Kode With Klossy is free for young women and gender expansive teens, and MAGIC is fully free and volunteer-run. Veritas AI and Lumiere offer need-based financial aid for their virtual programs.
3. Which online STEM programs are best for students interested in AI or coding?
Veritas AI Trailblazers is designed specifically for middle schoolers and covers Python, machine learning, and neural networks with a low student-to-mentor ratio. Kode With Klossy offers tracks in web development, machine learning, and data science, and Create & Learn offers AI and data science courses built with input from Google and MIT educators.
4. When should I apply to online STEM camps for middle school students?
Stanford SMSSP closes March 25, and Kode With Klossy closes March 31. UC Berkeley ATDP has an early deadline of February 25, and MAGIC closes May 30 for the summer session. Programs, such as Veritas AI, Lumiere, CTY, Northwestern CTD, and Create & Learn, accept rolling applications throughout the year.