13 Summer Programs for Middle School Students in Boston
If you are a middle school student, summer break can be a great time to pick up new skills and explore your interests, and structured programs can help you do just that. Summer programs give you the opportunity to engage in activities, coursework, and discussions that a regular school classroom setting cannot offer. These programs help you learn about new fields, assess your interests, work on individual and group projects, and participate in interactive lessons. In the process, you can build important skills like teamwork, communication, and problem-solving while connecting with peers and learning from supportive instructors and mentors.
Why should you attend a program in Boston?
Boston is home to several leading universities and reputable organizations that run outreach and educational programs for middle school students. Whether you enjoy science and technology, art and creativity, leadership, or exploring different careers, Boston offers a variety of summer programs designed for middle school students with diverse interests. Many programs are held at colleges, labs, workplaces, or community centers, allowing you to experience new learning environments.
To make things easier, here we have listed 13 summer programs for middle school students in Boston.
If you’re looking for online programs, check out our blog here.
1. MIT’s DynaMIT
Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA (10 minutes away from Boston, MA)
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: TBA
Dates: Mid to late August (separate one-week sessions for rising 6th and 7th graders and for rising 8th and 9th graders)
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6 –9
MIT DynaMIT is a week-long program for middle school students interested in STEM. Over the week, you will engage in hands-on STEM activities under the guidance of MIT undergraduates. Conducted on MIT’s main campus, the program offers you access to university labs and spaces where you can work with advanced materials and tools. Themes vary each summer but typically span areas such as health, engineering, math, and tech. Throughout the program, you will participate in group activities to learn new concepts and work on projects to apply what you have learned.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: Rolling; you can view details and apply to the program here.
Dates: 25 hours over two weeks (on weekdays)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
AI Trailblazers is a 25-hour program that introduces you to artificial intelligence through structured instruction and hands-on coding exercises. The curriculum first focuses on Python programming fundamentals, then covers concepts like data analysis, regression, classification, and neural networks. Instruction takes place in small groups, allowing you to receive personalized feedback and ask questions during live sessions. You will access real datasets to understand how machine learning models work. Topics such as ethical considerations in the use of AI are part of the curriculum. The program ends with a guided project that demonstrates your understanding of AI.
3. Breakthrough Greater Boston Middle School Summer Program
Location: Sites in the Greater Boston area
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer; dates not specified
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Middle school students in Greater Boston
Breakthrough Greater Boston’s Middle School Summer Program is a tuition-free academic program designed to help you build academic skills and confidence. You will spend the summer attending small, interactive classes in math, science, literature, writing, and social studies, and working on hands-on projects and enrichment activities. Field trips will bridge classroom learning with real-world experience. You will also spend time on homework and assignments to keep building academic skills over the summer. You can also contact your school about Breakthrough Greater Boston’s school-year programs.
4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines for cohorts across the year; you can check details and apply here.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer sessions
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an eight-week, virtual, research-focused experience in which you will work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor. In the first part of the program, you will explore multiple subject areas to understand different academic approaches and research styles. Weekly meetings will help you build skills in formulating research questions, evaluating sources, and organizing findings. After choosing a focus area, which can be a STEM topic of choice, you will develop a structured research plan under the guidance of your mentor. You will finish by completing a research paper, case study, or presentation that reflects the full research process. This can be an opportunity to build analytical and writing skills that support academic growth as you prepare for high school and future coursework.
5. Arboretum Young Scientists
Location: Harvard Arnold Arboretum, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Four weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Typically, late spring; exact dates TBA
Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th-graders enrolled in Boston Public Schools with an interest in nature and outdoor exploration
The Arboretum Young Scientists Program at Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum offers a fully funded, hands-on summer learning experience to explore the natural world. Over four weeks, you will investigate ecosystems, plant adaptations, and soil composition, exploring outdoor environments such as the Arboretum's gardens and woodlands. Led by Arboretum staff, you will gain experience in scientific inquiry, teamwork, and exploration, while getting a behind-the-scenes glimpse at careers in the natural sciences. During the program, you will design and present a final project that showcases what you’ve learned.
6. Dive In Commonwealth
Location: Commonwealth School, Boston, MA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 6 – August 14 + select Saturdays during the school year
Application deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High-achieving middle school students from low-income families living in and around Boston
The Dive In Commonwealth is a free, multi-year academic enrichment program for middle school students seeking to challenge themselves and grow academically. During the six-week summer session conducted at Commonwealth School in Boston, you will attend core English and math classes and take on electives like computer science, biology, and theater. The program also runs on Saturdays during the school year, providing additional support and guidance as you prepare for competitive high school admissions. In addition to academic instruction, you will have access to field trips, arts, sports, and social activities, helping you build confidence, connect with peers, and develop real-world skills.
7. Massachusetts College of Art and Design Creative Studios
Location: Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, MA
Cost: $845/class; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 27 – August 7
Application deadline: May 31
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7 – 9
Creative Studios is a two-week summer opportunity for you to refine your art skills through daily studio classes at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. You can choose from morning or afternoon sessions in subjects such as drawing, mixed media, creature design, fashion design, comic book art, stop-motion animation, or illustration. Classes run Monday through Friday, three hours per day. Each class will include live lessons, demos, independent work time, group discussions, and one-on-one check-ins with instructors. You will also learn through group and individual projects aligned with your chosen track.
8. Berklee College of Music’s Youth Musical Theater Summer Program
Location: Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA
Cost: $1,100/week + $50 nonrefundable registration fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Week 1: July 27 – 31 | Week 2: August 3 – 7
Application deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Students, ages 12 – 14
The Youth Musical Theater Summer Program is a one- to two-week experience designed for middle school students interested in performing arts. Each day, you will participate in a mix of activities, including warm-ups, theater exercises, and workshops in dancing, singing, acting, and stage writing. You will participate in small-group and full-ensemble sessions to build collaboration skills. Throughout the program, you will prepare for a final performance open to your family and friends. This can be an opportunity to explore musical theater and develop performance skills.
9. Kode With Klossy Summer Camp
Location: Virtual and in-person (sites TBA)
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two weeks in the summer; dates vary by year
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Women and gender expansive teens, ages 13 – 18
Kode With Klossy’s Summer Camp offers a two-week introduction to coding/programming, software development, and machine learning. You will explore these areas through one of four tracks. In the camp’s web development track, you will work with HTML, JavaScript, and CSS to develop an online platform. The machine learning track covers AI and ML concepts, including algorithms, natural language processing, and datasets. In the data science track, you will examine data and draw insights using Python, SQL, and data visualization tools. The mobile app track covers Swift (Apple’s programming language), enabling you to develop an iOS application.
10. Design at Advent
Location: The Advent School, Boston, MA
Cost: $900 – $1,650, based on the program you choose
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two-week sessions in June – August; exact dates vary by program
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students, ages 5 – 12
The Advent School offers a range of summer programs for its students and students from other Boston schools who want to explore STEM in a creative, hands-on way. Each program guides you through the full design process, from posing questions and conducting research to prototyping, refining, and completing a project aligned with your chosen theme. Depending on the program you choose, you will explore the built or natural environment, examining concepts such as color, light, angles, infrastructure, and art to create designs that solve real problems or meet needs. You will also visit museums, innovative community spaces, science centers, and local parks during the program.
11. Science Club for Girls’ Summer Rocketry Club
Location: Science Club for Girls or other sites in Cambridge, MA
Cost: Not specified; details released with application
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Two weeks in the summer; dates TBA
Application deadline: TBA in the spring
Eligibility: Rising 6th to 8th-grade girls and gender-expansive youth
The Summer Rocketry Club is a hands-on program designed to help you explore rocketry and space science. You will spend two weeks working on building and launching rockets, designing model space stations, and operating robotic rovers to simulate space exploration missions. You will study core physics and engineering concepts while building teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership skills. The program provides exposure to STEM pathways through a career panel featuring women in aerospace engineering and related fields. The schedule also includes a field trip to the Harvard Smithsonian Centre for Astrophysics.
12. Girls Who Code Clubs
Location: Remote and in-person options available across various locations
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Ongoing throughout the year; clubs typically meet 1–2 hours per week after school, on weekends, or during the summer
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Students in grades 3 – 12
Girls Who Code Clubs are free programs that help you connect with peers and learn coding. The clubs offer flexible activities; you can start with beginner-friendly coding or explore more advanced topics like artificial intelligence, web development, and game design. The curriculum is project-based, allowing you to apply your new skills to create a solution to a real-world problem that matters to you. Younger members use block-based coding to learn core computing concepts, while older students can follow self-paced tutorials in multiple programming languages. Sessions may also focus on boosting AI literacy, showing you how machine learning works and how it impacts everyday life.
13. Stanford Middle School Scholars Program (SMSSP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; ~12 students/cohort
Dates: Summer Program: July 6 – 24; Fall Semester Meetings: August 26 – December 9
Application deadline: March 25
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 and 7 who reside and attend school in the U.S.; priority given to families with household incomes under $90,000
SMSSP is a selective program that prepares middle schoolers for more demanding academic environments through a three-week summer session followed by weekly sessions in the fall. You will explore topics including academic writing, math enrichment, and the high school admissions process while building strong study habits and critical thinking skills. Instructors will help you develop the skills needed to succeed in selective programs like Stanford Online High School and similar schools. The program also offers you the opportunity to connect with students nationwide and receive academic guidance and support.