15 Online Summer Camps for Middle School Students
Online summer camps are a practical option for middle school students who want to explore new subjects and build skills outside the standard school year. Many online summer camps expose you to projects, subject-specific tools, and advanced topics that aren’t always covered in middle school classrooms. Since these programs run virtually, you can access instruction and resources from colleges, research organizations, and established education providers without leaving home.
How are camps different from other programs in middle school?
Camps are typically shorter and more focused than semester-long courses or general enrichment programs. Instead of covering broad material, they often center on specific skills, topics, or project-based work completed over a defined period. You may work on coding projects, research assignments, debates, writing portfolios, or simulations designed to mirror real-world applications. Many camps are offered by well-known or academically rigorous organizations, making them a structured way to explore advanced subjects early.
To help with your search, we’ve narrowed down 15 online summer camps for middle school students.
If you are looking for online programs, check out your blog here.
1. Stanford Middle School Scholars Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students
Dates: July 6 – 24
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: U.S. 6th or 7th graders from low-income families
This online program combines a summer academic course with continued virtual meetings during the fall for middle school students. You participate in live, discussion-based classes led by an instructor, with an emphasis on active engagement and collaborative learning. Course options span the humanities and mathematics, including topics such as history, geometry, and applied problem-solving. Sessions focus on reading, discussion, and analytical writing or mathematical reasoning, depending on the course. The structure supports sustained academic exploration beyond a single summer experience.
2. Veritas AI's AI Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts in spring and summer
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. You can apply to the program here.
Eligibility: Middle school students
AI Trailblazers is an online program designed for middle school students who want a structured introduction to artificial intelligence and machine learning. You begin by learning Python basics and foundational data analysis, then move on to topics such as regression, classification, and exploratory data analysis. Later sessions focus on image classification, neural networks, and discussions around AI ethics. The program emphasizes hands-on learning through guided exercises and applied concepts. At the end, you complete a collaborative group project that brings together the technical skills covered throughout the camp.
3. Columbia Scientific Enrichment Month (Virtual)
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: July 1 – July 29
Application Deadline: June 19
Eligibility: Middle, high school, and undergraduate students
This virtual program introduces middle school students to scientific research topics, with an emphasis on health, public health, and cancer-related studies. You attend lectures that cover foundational research skills, including hypothesis development and scientific inquiry. Sessions also address broader topics, including health equity, public health education, and communication skills. Optional working groups allow you to collaborate on public health projects and prepare presentations for a wider audience. The program blends scientific content with structured discussions and project-based learning.
4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
The Junior Explorer Program is a one-on-one online experience focused on independent exploration and project development for middle school students. You work individually with a mentor to explore academic topics and narrow them into a focused research or creative project. Over time, sessions shift from broad exploration to a deeper investigation of a single subject area. Additional support from a writing coach helps you organize ideas and communicate findings clearly. The final output varies in format, depending on the topic and approach you choose, but is typically a high-level paper.
5. Women's Alliance in STEM and Humanities Summer Research Institute
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: Not provided
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12
This virtual summer research program introduces middle school students to structured research across STEM and interdisciplinary fields. You participate in mentor-led workshops that cover foundational concepts as well as current applications within a chosen subject track. Alongside workshops, you complete guided checkpoints that support the development of an individual research project. Mentors provide feedback throughout the process and evaluate final submissions. The program concludes with a virtual showcase where students present their completed work.
6. Junior Diplomat Model UN Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $449
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Weeklong camps from June to August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 11–13
This online summer camp centers on debate, global issues, and Model United Nations simulations for middle school students. You learn how to research international topics, write resolutions, and structure speeches while representing a country in simulated UN committees. Daily activities include public speaking exercises, negotiation practice, and interactive lessons on global problem-solving. The program culminates in a multi-day final simulation focused on a current international issue. Optional one-on-one mentoring sessions are available for targeted work on speaking and solution development.
7. National Symposium for Debate (NSD) Debate Camps
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,995 (Online LD Camp); $1,795 (Online PF Camp)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: July 20 – July 31 (Online LD Camp); June 29 – July 10 (Online PF Camp)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: 6th to 12th graders
NSD offers online summer camps for middle school students interested in Lincoln-Douglas or Public Forum debate. You participate in small-group instruction that emphasizes active practice, discussion, and argument development rather than large lectures. The curriculum covers foundational and advanced debate skills while guiding you through preparation for a selected debate topic. Instruction includes structured drills, practice rounds, and feedback from experienced debate coaches. Camps are designed to accommodate different experience levels while maintaining a consistent focus on research, reasoning, and communication.
8. Mad Science Virtual Summer Camps
Location: Virtual
Cost: $125
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students/camp
Dates: Several camps across the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Varies; typically students aged 7–12+
Mad Science Virtual Summer Camps offer live, instructor-led science sessions delivered online for middle school students. You participate in direct instruction, group discussions, and guided experiments led by the same instructor throughout the week. Each camp centers on a specific science theme, such as space exploration, astronomy, or applied physics. Experiment kits are used during sessions to support hands-on learning at home. The program emphasizes scientific concepts, observation, and problem-solving through interactive activities rather than through lectures alone.
9. Connected Camps
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by camp
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Weekly sessions in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 8–13
Connected Camps runs online summer camps and clubs focused on coding, game-based learning, and collaborative problem-solving for middle school students. You join small-group sessions where games such as Minecraft, Roblox, or other multiplayer environments serve as platforms for building, designing, and experimenting. Activities are guided by trained youth mentors who facilitate collaboration and technical skill development. The structure encourages peer interaction, shared projects, and interest-driven exploration. Overall, the program emphasizes learning through play and community participation.
10. Great Books Summer Program Online Writer’s Workshops
Location: Virtual
Cost: $895 (limited financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 5 – 10
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
This online summer camp offers structured writing workshops for middle school students led by experienced writers. You explore elements such as voice, style, point of view, and world-building through short seminars and creative exercises. Your time will be divided between instruction, independent writing, and peer discussion. Program assistants offer additional support during writing sessions, helping you work through ideas or revisions. The week concludes with a shared reading event where you present selected pieces from your work.
11. Write the World: Virtual Summer Writing Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $349/week
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 30 students/cohort
Dates: Weekly sessions throughout July and August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Writers aged 13–19
This online summer camp provides a structured environment for young writers to experiment with genres like fiction, poetry, and screenwriting. Each session consists of 90 minutes of synchronous live meetings followed by several hours of asynchronous independent writing and peer review. You receive direct feedback from professional authors and editors on your drafts. The program includes daily community prompts and collaborative storytelling exercises to foster a supportive artistic culture. You’ll finish the week with a polished piece ready for publication in the camp’s digital anthology.
12. CodeWizardsHQ Summer Coding Camps
Location: Virtual
Cost: $199 (2 days), $499 (1 week)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Varies by camp
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 11–13
CodeWizardsHQ offers online summer camps that teach coding fundamentals through game-based projects. You learn core programming concepts by building applications and interactive elements within familiar digital environments. The structure is designed to introduce coding logic and syntax without requiring prior experience. Instruction is delivered live by teachers using a custom coding platform. The sessions emphasize hands-on problem-solving and step-by-step skill development.
13. Johns Hopkins CTY Online Courses
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by course (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Typically in May for summer
Eligibility: Students in grades 2–12
CTY Online Courses provide middle school students with access to advanced academic subjects in a virtual classroom format. You explore topics across science, mathematics, language arts, history, and technology, often at a level beyond the standard school curriculum. Courses combine readings, discussions, assignments, and instructor feedback to support independent and guided learning. Instruction is led by experienced educators who facilitate discussion and structured academic exploration.
14. Northwestern CTD Online Core Essentials
Location: Virtual
Cost: $675 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 10 – August 12
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 3–8 who have a score of 90th percentile or higher on a nationally-normed assessment in the subject area of the course, or completion of a relevant CTD course
Northwestern’s Online Core Essentials courses are designed for middle school students who want to study core academic subjects at a more advanced level. You work through math, science, or language arts material using a structured online curriculum with weekly expectations. Courses are flexibly paced, allowing you to manage when and how you complete assignments. Instructors provide regular feedback to support skill development and a deeper understanding.
15. Wolfram Middle School Summer Camp
Location: Virtual
Cost: $500 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~20 students
Dates: July 26 – 31
Application Deadline: July 6
Eligibility: Girls and gender nonconforming students aged 11–14
This online summer camp introduces middle school students to programming and computational thinking through structured workshops and guided activities. You use the Wolfram Language to explore topics including data science, machine learning, and computational design. Instruction is delivered by Wolfram instructors and supported by lectures, coding challenges, and short projects that build technical understanding step by step. Guest panels and Q&A sessions provide exposure to current research areas and career paths in computational fields. In addition to technical work, the program includes collaborative tasks and optional social activities, all delivered in a fully remote environment.
Image source - Northwestern Logo