15 Summer Programs for Middle School Students in Houston
Summer programs are a good option for middle school students, offering early exposure to practical learning and skill-building. Many summer programs are organized by respected universities, research centers, or nonprofits, giving you access to high-quality instruction and mentorship.
From project-based workshops to simulations, these programs can help you grow academically, boost your confidence, and build interests that may shape your future career path. For students in Houston who are curious about science, technology, engineering, and related disciplines, the city offers a range of opportunities.
In this blog, we've carefully selected 15 summer programs for middle school students in Houston!
15 Summer Programs for Middle School Students in Houston
1. Rice University’s Tapia STEM Camps
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $2,500
Dates: July 6 – 11 | July 13 – 18 | July 20 – 25 | July 27 – August 1
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12
At Tapia STEM Camps, you’ll spend a week living on the Rice University campus, working with students your age on STEM-focused projects. You’ll get hands-on experience with topics like carbon capture technology by building physical models or, in an alternative track, design a fictional college admissions algorithm using spreadsheet-based coding. Whichever project you choose, you’ll present your findings to peers and mentors at the end of the week. Campers also take part in a Houston-based field trip, which may include a visit to NASA's Johnson Space Center. Projects are organized by grade level to ensure your learning stays challenging but suitable.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
Location: Online
Cost: Varies according to program; need-based financial aid is available
Application deadline: Multiple deadlines throughout the year
Dates: Two weeks in the summer; a commitment of 25 hours on weekdays
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
This virtual program is designed to introduce you to artificial intelligence and machine learning in a way that's hands-on and guided. Over the course of the program, you'll use Python to explore concepts like data classification, image recognition, and neural networks, all while building your own AI project based on a topic you're passionate about. Group sessions are kept small, typically just five students per mentor, so you’ll get individual support as you move through the curriculum. Past participants have worked on a wide range of projects, including music genre classifiers and resource-recommending algorithms. The structure includes lectures, interactive labs, and real coding practice, even if you're just starting out. You’ll finish the course with a completed project that reflects your learning and creativity.
3. University of Houston Summer Camps: Mars Rover Explorers
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: $375; scholarships of up to $350 available
Dates: July 14 – 18
Application deadline: July 7
Eligibility: Students entering grades 3–8
At the Mars Rover Explorers Camp, you’ll join a team to design and build a model Mars rover or habitat for a science mission on Mars. The camp blends science and math knowledge with practical engineering challenges, helping you grasp the steps of space exploration. You’ll research Mars, plan your rover or habitat, and test your designs through simulated missions. The camp emphasizes teamwork, experimentation, and creativity, with instructors guiding you through each stage of the process. By the end of the session, you'll showcase your finished model to fellow campers and program staff.
4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies according to program; need-based financial assistance is available
Dates: The program runs multiple cohorts throughout the year, including summer sessions that begin in June/July
Application deadline: Deadlines vary for each cohort
Eligibility: Middle school students
If you're interested in doing a focused academic project from home, the Lumiere Junior Explorer Program gives you the opportunity to work one-on-one with a mentor from a university like Harvard or Stanford. This eight-week program is structured in three parts: topic exploration, subject deep dive, and final project creation. In the initial weeks, you’ll explore various subjects within a theme like sustainability, neuroscience, or AI, before narrowing your focus to craft a specific research project. You’ll have regular virtual meetings with your mentor, supplemented by additional resources to support your progress. At the program's conclusion, you’ll submit a final project or paper demonstrating what you’ve learned.
5. Girlstart STEM Summer Camp
Location: Pro-Vision Academy, Houston, TX
Cost: $350 per session
Dates: June 9 – 13
Application deadline: May 23
Eligibility: Students identifying as girls in grades 6 to 8
Girlstart's week-long summer camps focus on helping girls explore STEM fields through hands-on projects, guided instruction, and team-based challenges. Each session covers a variety of subjects, which could include anything from coding and chemistry to neuroscience or space science, depending on the curriculum that week. The goal is to help you develop core skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork, while also exploring career paths in science and technology. You’ll work with other girls in small groups, try out new tools and techniques, and develop projects that reflect your creativity and curiosity. These sessions are hosted in collaboration with local schools and organizations in the Houston area.
6. Rice University's Computer Engineering Design Academy
Location: Rice University campus, Houston, TX
Cost: $499; a limited number of scholarships are available
Dates: July 14 – 18
Application deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Middle school students
At this week-long program on Rice University’s campus, you’ll study computer engineering through a series of design projects involving CAD (Computer-Aided Design), microelectronics, and 3D printing. The emphasis is on transforming ideas into prototypes, using tools like Arduino boards and rapid prototyping methods to create tangible projects. You will also develop an understanding of programming concepts and see how robotics and automation relate to solving everyday problems. Whether you're building your own gadget or learning to control circuits, the goal is to help you understand how engineers bring ideas to life.
7. Stanford Middle School Scholars Program (SMSSP)
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Dates: July 7– 25, with weekly online after-school meetings in the fall
Application deadline: March 20
Eligibility: U.S.-based low-income students currently in grades 6 and 7
The SMSSP is a tuition-free online program that starts with a three-week summer course and continues with weekly meetings throughout the fall semester. If accepted, you’ll join a group of 12 students participating in live sessions led by instructors from Stanford Online High School, most of whom hold PhDs. You’ll focus on writing, math enrichment, and high school preparation, gaining insight into a demanding academic environment. Topics covered include evaluating different types of high schools, exploring academic interests, and developing essential study skills. After the summer course, weekly meetings help reinforce what you’ve learned and keep you engaged throughout the year.
8. Women’s Alliance in STEM and Humanities Summer Research Institute
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: June 22 – July 27; weekly sessions conducted over six weeks
Application deadline: May 21
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–11
This free, six-week online program offers middle school students an opportunity to explore challenging STEM topics while developing research skills. Each week, you’ll meet virtually with peers and instructors to study areas such as number theory, computational neuroscience, or deep learning. For example, in the neuroscience track, you’ll learn how to model brain activity using Python and study how computers can simulate neural behavior. You’ll also have the chance to work on a mini-research project that reflects your interests, guided by mentors who provide feedback and direction. At the end of the program, your work may be reviewed for further development or shared with academic communities.
9. Rice University's Introduction to Research and Innovative Design in Engineering (iRIDE) Academy
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: $499; a limited number of scholarships are available
Dates: June 9 – 13
Application deadline: April 18
Eligibility: Open to 6th-7th grade students
Through the iRIDE Academy (Introduction to Research and Innovative Design in Engineering), you’ll learn about real-world engineering by tackling design challenges that connect directly to problems in your community. The program starts with an orientation at Rice University, featuring lab tours, hands-on group projects, and guest lectures from engineers in sectors like aerospace, civil engineering, and environmental science. One day, you might work on designing a rescue helicopter for flood emergencies; another day, you could investigate transportation system design. Throughout the week, you’ll develop a capstone project focused on a real problem and practice presenting your solution.
10. University of Houston Summer Camps: Technolochicas Code IT
Location: University of Houston, Houston, TX
Cost: $350 (scholarships are available)
Dates: July 22 – 26
Application deadline: July 10
Eligibility: Open to students entering 6th–10th grade
Technolochicas Code IT is a camp designed for girls interested in computer science, with a particular focus on making technology feel personal and relevant. As a participant, you’ll study coding through storytelling and problem-solving, working on projects that reflect your own experiences and interests. While learning technical skills like basic programming and logic, you’ll also talk about the social impact of technology and how representation matters in innovation. The sessions are led by mentors who aim to create a more inclusive environment in STEM and encourage diverse voices in the tech industry. The camp is part of a broader effort by the University of Houston to provide STEM-focused opportunities to K–12 students and is especially welcoming to first-time coders.
11. Bootstrap’s Data Science Course
Location: Your school
Cost: Free
Program dates: Varies
Application deadline: Varies
Eligibility: Students in grades 5-12
Bootstrap’s Data Science curriculum is a classroom-integrated program that introduces students in grades 5–12 to foundational concepts in statistics and data analysis. Instead of applying to a summer camp individually, this free program is integrated into your school day or a school-hosted camp, taught by your regular teachers. The lessons leverage real-world data and are directly linked to subjects such as math, social studies, or science. You’ll gain skills in calculating averages, interpreting graphs, and using data to answer important questions. Collaborating with universities like Brown and UC San Diego, Bootstrap provides research-based modules that your school can adapt to fit your level and learning pace.
12. Sally Ride Science Academy at the University of California San Diego
Location: Virtual
Cost: $275 - $320
Program dates: July 7 – 25
Application deadline: May 24
Eligibility: Open to all middle school students
At the Sally Ride Science Academy, participants can explore a variety of STEAM subjects, including marine biology, geology, coding, screenwriting, and engineering, all through week-long workshops. These programs are designed for students from kindergarten through 12th grade and are led by experienced instructors who bring both subject matter expertise and teaching skills. During your workshop, you might use Lego Mindstorms to build robots, design 3D models using CAD software, or experiment with circuits and Raspberry Pi. Workshops often include stories of women scientists and inventors, providing role models from underrepresented backgrounds. Sessions take place on the UC San Diego campus, offering a university setting where learning is hands-on and project-based.
13. MIT RAISE’s Creativity and AI Workshop
Location: Virtual
Cost: No cost
Program dates: Self-paced program, takes place over 10 hours
Application deadline: Varies by location
Eligibility: Upper elementary and middle school students
This workshop introduces you to AI through interactive projects that cover creativity, ethics, and problem-solving. Developed by MIT’s RAISE initiative, the curriculum explores how AI works and its applications in generating text, music, images, and video. You’ll use tools like Scratch, App Inventor, and Jupyter Notebooks to create your own AI-based art and apps, all while learning the basics of machine learning and neural networks. Alongside technical content, the course explores topics such as algorithmic bias and deepfakes, helping you think critically about how technology impacts society. While it’s not a standalone camp, you’ll need support from a parent, teacher, or mentor to go through the curriculum at your own pace. You can go through the full curriculum here.
14. Berkeley Coding Academy’s Summer Academy
Location: Online
Cost: Starts at $2,699. Limited scholarships are available.
Program dates: July 14 – August 1
Application deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students aged 12-18
This online program takes you through the entire data science and artificial intelligence journey in three weeks. Designed for students aged 12–18, it begins with Python fundamentals and advances to complex topics such as machine learning, neural networks, and data visualization. You will work with real-world datasets to develop coding notebooks, perform statistical analyses, and create models capable of making predictions or identifying patterns. By the end of the course, you’ll complete a capstone project on a topic of your choice and present your findings to peers and mentors. One-on-one mentorship is included to help you troubleshoot problems and refine your project.
15. GirlsWhoCode Clubs
Location: Remote and in-person options available across various locations
Cost: Free
Program dates: Ongoing throughout the school year; clubs typically meet 1-2 hours per week after school or on weekends.
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Clubs are open to all middle school students
Girls Who Code Clubs are ongoing programs that give you the space to learn programming with guidance from mentors and support from peers. These clubs are open for students in grades 3–12 and are usually free, often held through schools, libraries, or after-school programs. They may happen during the school year or summer, either online or face-to-face, with curricula tailored to your skill level. You’ll learn computer science fundamentals like loops, variables, and conditionals while working on team-based projects with real-world applications. Alongside coding, the club emphasizes community and leadership, connecting you with women in tech who serve as role models and guest speakers.
Image source - RICE Univeristy