15 Programs for Middle School Students in Florida
While in middle school, exploring a new field, area of interest, or activity through structured programs can help you prepare for high school and beyond. These programs go far beyond the classroom, letting you learn about real-world issues, explore emerging fields, and even get an early glimpse into how professionals work in different industries. Whether your interests lie in science, math, creative writing, or coding, there’s a program to match your goals and learning style.
Florida is home to various universities, science centers, and educational nonprofits, all hosting programs for middle school students. From research-focused camps along the coast to pre-college courses led by top universities, the state offers a variety of options. Whether you live in or around Florida or are planning to visit the state, these programs can allow you to explore the state’s strong academic resources. These programs are led by experienced educators and mentors, helping you gain valuable insights and build connections.
In this blog, we have put together 15 programs for middle school students in Florida.
1. FGCU Summer Research Opportunity
Location: Florida Gulf Coast University campus, Fort Myers, FL
Cost: No cost
Dates: July 7 – 18
Application deadline: NA
Eligibility: Middle school students
The FGCU Summer Research Opportunity is a two-week middle school program hosted by the Whitaker Institute for STEM Education at Florida Gulf Coast University. As a participant, you will work with peers on an authentic research project, starting from hypothesis generation and experimental design to data collection, analysis, and interpretation. You will also engage in fieldwork and lab experiments under the guidance of FGCU faculty and student mentors. The projects are centered around scientific themes that connect classroom learning to real-world applications, such as examining environmental patterns or biological data. The free program for middle school students in Florida concludes with presentations where students share their findings with peers and faculty.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type
Dates: 25 hours over two weeks (weekdays) during the summer cohort or 25 hours over 10 weeks during the academic year
Application deadline: Varies according to cohort. You can apply here.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program introduces middle school students to the principles of artificial intelligence through a 25-hour online learning experience. It combines interactive lessons and mentor-led workshops in small groups of around five students, allowing for individualized guidance. The curriculum begins with Python programming and moves on to topics like data handling, image classification, neural networks, and ethical considerations in AI. You will apply these concepts to projects that demonstrate how AI works in real contexts—such as building a model that classifies songs by genre or a tool that recommends study resources. You will receive feedback and support from experienced mentors to set up and refine your project.
3. FGCU GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, & Science)
Location: Florida Gulf Coast University campus, Fort Myers, FL
Cost: No cost
Dates: Available year-round, announced a month in advance
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school students
FGCU’s Girls in Engineering, Math, & Science (GEMS) program is designed to engage middle school girls in hands-on STEM activities guided by university faculty, students, and industry professionals. The program’s goal is to build early interest in fields like bioengineering, chemistry, forensics, environmental science, and technology through inquiry-based learning. You will rotate through interactive STEM workstations where you will conduct experiments and work on engineering challenges with peers. Throughout this program, female mentors serve as role models. Activities also include lab-based investigations, simple design projects, and outdoor experiments that encourage curiosity and creative problem-solving.
4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies based on program type; financial assistance available
Dates: Eight-week cohorts in summer, spring, fall, and winter
Application deadline: Varies according to cohort; the upcoming cohort’s applications are due on November 16
Eligibility: Middle school students with a strong academic background
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an eight-week virtual research-focused experience where you will work one-on-one with Ph.D. mentors from universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. The program can introduce you to the entire process of independent research, from identifying a question to analyzing results and presenting conclusions. During the first few weeks, you explore different academic areas—like artificial intelligence, biology, or social sciences—before spending the second half of the program focusing on one topic for your final project. Weekly mentorship sessions provide structure, feedback, and support to help you refine your methods and develop analytical skills. At the end of the program, you will complete a research project or presentation that reflects your learning.
5. University of Central Florida Geo Explorer Summer Institute
Location: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Cost: $375
Dates: July 21 – 25
Application deadline: May 2
Eligibility: Rising 6th- and 7th-grade students
The Geo Explorer Summer Institute at the University of Central Florida is a one-week program designed for those interested in geospatial science and mapping technologies. You will engage in both classroom lectures and field activities, working with tools like GIS, drones, virtual reality, and augmented reality to understand how spatial data is used in modern research. You will collaborate with undergraduate and graduate mentors on mapping projects, drone-based field studies, and interactive lab sessions that connect science with technology. Limited to only 30 students, the program offers opportunities for small-group mentorship and direct exposure to spatial research tools. The program schedule also includes time in the GeoBus mobile lab, where you will visualize geographic data and experiment with geospatial systems.
6. Pinellas County Schools Summer Enrichment Camps
Location: Various Pinellas County Schools in Largo, FL
Cost: $75/session; reduced to $25/session for students eligible for free or reduced-price meals
Dates: Multiple camps available in June and July
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Elementary, middle, and high school students; each camp has specific grade requirements
Pinellas County Schools Summer Enrichment Camps offer a diverse range of learning opportunities to middle school students across the district, covering topics such as artificial intelligence, journalism, construction, robotics, culinary arts, and performing arts. Each camp focuses on a specific theme and gives you the chance to explore real-world applications of classroom concepts within the chosen theme. You may engage in projects like designing a robot, building a small construction project, creating a short film, or producing a mock news broadcast. In the AI sessions, block-coding tools such as BBC micro:bit are used to teach programming fundamentals, while journalism participants practice interviewing, story writing, and video editing. Construction and design camps introduce blueprint reading, soldering, and architectural basics under the supervision of experienced instructors.
7. University of South Florida Middle School Camps
Location: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Cost: Typically, $495 – $550/camp
Dates: Five-day camps between June and July; exact dates vary by camp
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
The University of South Florida offers multiple in-person summer camps for students entering grades 6–8, with each option combining academic exploration with creative and technical learning opportunities within a subject area. Camps cover disciplines like Archaeology + Art, Cybersecurity, Robotics, Photography, and other themes and are conducted on the Tampa campus. Each camp typically lasts one week and blends hands-on projects with interactive lessons led by USF faculty and trained staff. You may analyze ancient artifacts through art-based projects, learn coding and ethical hacking in Cyber Camp, or design and program robots at the Robotics Camp, depending on the camp you choose. For those interested in digital media, Photography Camp focuses on camera operation, composition, and visual storytelling.
8. University of Central Florida GLAMPing Camp
Location: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
Cost: $200
Dates: June 2 – 6
Application deadline: Applications open in March
Eligibility: Rising 6th and 7th-grade students
GLAMPing is a week-long day camp hosted at the University of Central Florida’s L3Harris Engineering Center, designed to introduce middle school students to major engineering challenges identified by the National Science Foundation. You will participate in hands-on activities in labs and makerspaces, where you may build simple circuits, program robotic devices, or design prototype models while learning how engineers approach complex global problems. The program also includes sessions on leadership and confidence-building to help you build soft skills. You will work in small teams, share ideas, and practice creative problem-solving while guided by faculty and student mentors.
9. Ransom Everglades School Explorers Academy
Location: Ransom Everglades School, Miami
Cost: Session 1: $1,149 | Session 2: $1,099 | Session 3: $1,199
Dates: Session 1: June 16 – 27 | Session 2: June 30 – July 11 | Session 3: July 14 – 25
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
Ransom Everglades’ Explorers Academy offers day camps that combine academic, outdoor, and creative exploration. The program follows a “Build-Your-Own-Camp” model, allowing you to customize your experience with electives such as marine science fieldwork on Biscayne Bay, coding and design in the DREAM Lab, speech and debate workshops, or snorkeling excursions. Each day includes structured activity rotations, group meetings, and one off-campus field trip per session. You can also choose from academic options like Word Wizards for language arts or Number Navigators for math skill-building. Led by Ransom Everglades faculty, this summer program for middle school students in Florida is designed to offer experiential learning through both indoor and outdoor activities.
10. FAMU-FSU College of Engineering ACEE Summer Camps
Location: FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Tallahassee
Cost: $200 – $250/camp
Dates: Weekly sessions available from May through August
Application deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
The ACEE Summer Camps at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering offer week-long STEAM-focused sessions for middle school students interested in exploring fields like robotics, coding, rocketry, space science, and energy systems. These camps feature hands-on learning with mailed robot kits—such as Finch robots—that you will assemble, program, and test remotely. Each session involves small-group lessons where you will work with mentors to build and code robots, explore concepts in artificial intelligence, and experiment with electrical circuits. You will also collaborate with peers on engineering challenges, troubleshoot designs, and explore how real engineers test and refine their work.
11. Florida International University’s CROP Summer Middle School
Location: Florida International University, Miami
Cost: Not specified
Dates: June 30 – July 18
Application deadline: June 6
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
The CROP Summer Middle School program at Florida International University is a three-week academic enrichment experience focused on math, English, and college readiness. Designed for students who are part of the College Reach Out Program (CROP), the curriculum integrates quantitative reasoning and writing with college readiness through a “Path to College” theme. Each day includes guided lessons, group projects, and presentations, helping you connect classroom learning to practical, real-world applications. Miami-Dade County Public School teachers lead most sessions, with FIU faculty also offering insights on academic pathways and research methods. By the end of this program, you will have completed at least one project that reflects both your academic and personal interests.
12. Camp Challenger
Location: Challenger Learning Center, Tallahassee, FL
Cost: $250 for week‑long camps
Dates: Weekly sessions available from May through August
Application deadline: Varies by program
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
Camp Challenger is a STEM-centered program that places middle school students within themed, week-long tracks such as rocketry, robotics, coding, or digital animation. You will spend the week designing, building, and testing hands-on projects using tools like LEGO robotics kits, snap circuits, and 3D modeling software. The curriculum is focused on problem-solving through experimentation, encouraging you to adjust and improve your designs based on results. Educators will guide each team, helping you troubleshoot and explore engineering principles in an accessible, interactive way. The week culminates in a group presentation where you will share and discuss your projects with peers and instructors.
13. Seacamp Programs
Location: Seacamp, Big Pine Key
Cost: Starting at $400/week; you can find more details here.
Dates: Vary by program; check the exact dates here
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students between the ages of 10 and 17
Located in the Florida Keys, Seacamp immerses middle school students in hands-on marine science and aquatic activities that blend learning with exploration. The program includes one- and two-week sessions where you will study marine ecosystems through snorkeling, kayaking, lab experiments, and fieldwork. You will engage in marine research by identifying species, analyzing habitats, and understanding ecological relationships in real ocean environments. Courses cover a range of topics such as coral reef ecology, marine invertebrates, and coastal ecosystems, with sessions often led by trained marine scientists. Beyond the academic component, the camp incorporates water sports, sailing, and creative workshops, allowing a balance between structured study and recreation.
14. Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth: Online Programs
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by course; financial aid offered
Dates: Available year-round
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school students
The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) offers flexible online programs that allow middle school students to pursue advanced study in topics ranging from engineering and creative writing to crime scene investigation and competitive math. You can choose between self-paced courses, structured sessions with set deadlines, or live online classes featuring real-time discussions. Each course typically includes projects, assignments, and instructor feedback that will help you track your progress and build critical thinking skills. The virtual classroom environment will help connect you with peers around the world.
15. Stanford Middle School Scholars Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: No cost
Dates: July 7 – 25 + weekly fall commitment
Application deadline: March 20
Eligibility: U.S. students from low-income backgrounds in grades 6 and 7
The Stanford Middle School Scholars Program is a tuition-free initiative designed to prepare students for academically demanding high schools. Beginning with a three-week online summer course, you will study in a small cohort guided by experienced instructors. The program continues into the fall with weekly sessions from August to December, where you will focus on topics like academic writing, math enrichment, and applying to selective schools. Interactive discussions and collaborative projects form a key part of the experience, helping you build communication and critical thinking skills. Families are also engaged through conferences and outreach events, ensuring you have access to complete support throughout the program.
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