15 Summer Programs for Middle School Students in New Jersey (NJ)

If you are a middle school student in New Jersey looking for a productive way to spend your summer, a program in your field of choice can be worth exploring!

Summer programs designed for middle school students offer opportunities to explore academic and extracurricular subjects, gain practical skills, and meet professionals, professors, and like-minded peers. These programs can offer you mentorship and experience applying concepts to practical scenarios. 

New Jersey is home to universities and organizations offering a range of summer experiences to middle school students. Many of these opportunities are low-cost or offer scholarships. So as a participant, you get to learn from experts, work on projects, and explore your interests in an accessible way.

Here, we have listed 15 summer programs for middle school students in New Jersey (NJ)

1. The Academy at Rutgers for Girls in Engineering and Technology (TARGET)

Location: Rutgers University Busch Campus, Piscataway, NJ
Cost: $500; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: One-week sessions in June/July; dates vary by grade
Application deadline: April 20
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-11

At TARGET, you will explore various branches of engineering through faculty-led workshops, lab experiments, and team design challenges. You will learn about the engineering design process and prototyping through activities, developing problem-solving and collaboration skills in the process. Rutgers School of Engineering students and faculty members will offer mentorship and guidance throughout the program. The experience can help you get insights into university-level engineering academics and career paths in the field.  

2. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers

Location: Virtual

Cost: Varies according to program; financial aid available

Application deadline: Rolling deadlines.
Program dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.

Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8

The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics.  Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous student projects have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.

3. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s DNALC Summer Camps

Location: DNA Learning Center at Passaic County Biotechnology Innovation Center, Wayne, NJ
Cost: $600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple one-week camps in the June 30–July 4 period
Application deadline: Varies by camp
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12; grade requirements vary for each camp

The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s DNA Learning Center in NJ provides middle school students with practical experiences in molecular biology through its summer camps. You will explore modern lab techniques through experiments guided by expert instructors. For instance, you may get to construct cell and DNA models, extract plant and animal DNA, and genetically engineer bacteria to make new enzymes at camp. The experience can offer you insights into biotechnology, cell biology, and genetics, and lab practices like microscopy and modeling.

4. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program

Location: Fully Virtual 

Dates: Multiple cohorts available each year, deadlines vary accordingly

Cost: Varies according to program. Financial aid available

Age requirements: Grade 6 - 8

Deadline: Rolling deadlines for each cohort. If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines, you can refer to this page!

The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an 8-week program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT,  Stanford, Yale, Duke and LSE. 

During this program, spanning weeks 1 to 4, participants will delve into four distinct topics within their selected track. In weeks 5 to 6, the focus intensifies as participants embark on a deep dive into one specific topic area and finally, weeks 7 to 8 are dedicated to project implementation, with participants receiving guidance and support from their mentors as they bring their projects to life. You can find the application form here. 

5. Liberty Science Center Science Camp

Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ
Cost: $1,000/week (members), $1,050/week (nonmembers)
Cohort size: 20 campers/class
Dates: July 7 – August 15; multiple weekly sessions and courses run each year in the summer
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 1–8; each week’s course is split into formats suitable for different grade levels

Liberty Science Center's Science Camp offers week-long programs offering an introduction to STEM through activities and museum exploration. Courses like "Game On!" and "Calling All Chemists" allow you to participate in interactive experiments like creating a video game and producing a live science show! You may get to work with tools like Tinkercad to create a 3D model, work on a simulated criminal case, and solve puzzles at camp. You will also engage in field trips and outdoor activities during the program. The experience can help you develop teamwork, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills as you work on various challenges that require the application of STEM concepts.

6. NJIT Summer Early College Preparatory Programs (SECPP)

Location: New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ
Cost: $1,525 + $70 application fee; limited scholarships available for students from historically underserved and underrepresented backgrounds
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – August 7
Application deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Students in grades 4–9 with a minimum grade average of B

NJIT’s SECPP offers STEM-focused courses like robotics, biomedical engineering, and sustainability for middle school students. You will participate in hands-on projects, field trips, and activities, gaining early exposure to college-level academics at the NJIT campus. For instance, you will test Newton’s Laws of Motion, apply concepts in anatomy, bioengineering, and biomechanics, to solve clinical problems, code complex programs, and analyze material properties during the program. You will learn about all STEM subjects as well as language arts and engage in recreational activities.

7. Rowan University STEAM Academy: Voyagers

Location: Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Cost: $2,100
Cohort size: ~30 students
Dates: July 7 – 17
Application deadline: June 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7–9 with a GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale

Rowan University’s STEAM Academy is a two-week program that combines STEM and arts to help students explore academic and career interests. Its Voyagers track is meant for students entering grades 7 to 9 interested in experiencing university instruction and learn about options to explore in STEAM fields. You will explore science, technology, and the arts through project work guided by university faculty. The program activities can help you build critical thinking and collaboration skills, which are essential for future academic pursuits. Field trips and extracurricular activities are also part of the learning experience. You will also have access to a scholar-leader session to get some personal development guidance.

8. Camp Middlesex

Location: Middlesex College main campus, Edison, NJ
Cost: Varies by course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – August 15; multiple weekly sessions scheduled
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students, ages 5–13; camp-wise age requirements vary

Camp Middlesex offers an eight-week summer program featuring STEM activities as well as arts, crafts, and sports camps. Depending on the camp you choose, you may create AI robots and design video games, engage in mock trials, and perform simulated heart and brain surgery, building technical and soft skills in the process. You will also engage in challenges, design activities, and lab experiments relevant to your chosen camp course. The experience can help you explore an area of interest through practical training and instruction. You can sign up for multiple weekly sessions to enroll in different STEM and recreational courses.

9. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes

Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,080
Cohort size: 16 students/class
Dates: Session One: June 16 – 27; Session Two: July 7 – 18
Application deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–11

Stanford’s Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer middle and high school students access to online college-level courses over the summer. You can choose from 70 intensive courses across the humanities, sciences, math, business, and social sciences, with options ranging from creative writing and biosciences to game design and C++.  Each class typically consists of virtual lectures, class discussions, homework, and project work. Some courses also allow you to work on problem sets and engage in case study analysis. You will study alongside peers from around the world, gaining experience in cross-cultural collaboration as well as university-level academics. 

10. International Ivy STEM Camp

Location: Various locations in NJ (Basking Ridge, Chatham, Scotch Plains, Short Hills, Somerset, Summit, Saddle River, Wayne)
Cost: Starts at $410/week; exact cost varies based on the format (half-day/full-day) and the location. You can find more details here. Financial aid is available.
Cohort size: 10 students/course
Dates: June 23 – August 15; various weekly sessions scheduled
Application deadline: Varying deadlines
Eligibility: Students, ages 4–14

International Ivy provides a wide range of STEAM (science, tech, engineering, arts, and math) classes to elementary and middle school students. The classes involve expert instruction and collaborative activities to help you build problem-solving and critical thinking skills. You can choose from over 50 courses, including robotics, computer programming, and science experiments, and engage in projects that enhance your understanding of STEM concepts. For instance, if you choose the civil engineering camp, you will get to learn about building resilient structures and develop your own model building that is earthquake-resistant. The courses are run across New Jersey in half-day and full-day formats in weekly sessions to allow you to enroll in different options over multiple weeks in the summer.

11. Club SciKidz STEM Summer Camps

Location: Various locations in North Central NJ, including Morristown, Short Hills, and Basking Ridge, NJ.
Cost: $499/week for most camps (check exact camp details here); scholarships and discounts available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Various camps between June and August;
Application deadline: Registration closes at midnight on Friday, just before the camp week
Eligibility: Grades PK-8

Club SciKidz offers over 70 themed STEM camps, including sessions on astronomy, robotics, and chemistry, designed to help middle school students develop technical skills and explore interests in STEM. Each day includes science demonstrations, lessons, and team-building activities that blend science and outdoor activities. For instance, if you enroll in the Emergency Vet camp, you will learn how to medically examine an animal and also pick up suturing techniques while practicing patching up fruits! The program, held in various North Central NJ locations, provides opportunities to participate in experiments and projects that encourage creative problem-solving. Another option for middle schoolers is the Robot Engineer camp, where you will build robots under the guidance of instructors. 

12. Essex County College Summer Youth Program

Location: Essex County College, Newark, NJ
Cost: $490 tuition + $35 fee; discounts and financial assistance available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: July 7 – 18; Session 2: July 21 – August 1 | Session 3: August 4 – 15
Application deadline: On the Thursday before the session start date
Eligibility: Students in grades 1–8, ages 6–13

The Essex County College Summer Youth Program offers students opportunities to explore a diverse curriculum, including STEM, fine arts, and coding, in a camp-like setting.  You can choose from a variety of camps, from journalism, virtual reality, and coding to basketball and fashion. The exact activities will vary from camp to camp, but each camp offers access to project work, outdoor recreational activities, field trips, and academic prep. For instance, if you choose the coding camp, you will get practical exposure to Python, HTML/CSS, and app or web development. In the STEAM camp, the first week covers engineering basics, and the second week focuses on forensic science, helping you explore how physics, chemistry, and biology help investigators solve crimes.

13. Rowan University’s Attracting Women into Engineering (AWE)

Location: Rowan University’s Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering, Glassboro, NJ
Cost: $200
Cohort size: 25 students
Dates: July 14 – 17
Application deadline: June; exact date not specified
Eligibility: Middle school girls

The four-day AWE program at Rowan University allows middle-school girls to explore several engineering fields. You will explore civil, environmental, electrical and computer, chemical, and mechanical engineering through design-based projects, building miniature structures or prototypes. Lab tours and live demonstrations will help you connect these experiments to real challenges engineers face. You will also engage in mini competitions to test your prototypes. During the program, you will have access to university faculty, staff, and Rowan engineering majors, who offer mentorship and feedback. 

14. TCNJ’s iSTEM Summer Academy

Location: The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ 

Cost: $575/week 

Acceptance rate: Not specified

Dates: July 7 – 11 | July 14 – 18

Application deadline: Not specified

Eligibility: Middle and high school students

At the iSTEM Summer Academy, you will spend a week exploring engineering and design through various activities. During the one-week iSTEM MakerCraft track, you will focus on design and fabrication, using TCNJ’s manufacturing tools like 3D printers to prototype your own inventions and take them home. Here, you will also engage in design challenges throughout the week and get some experience in modeling, 3D printing, and graphic design. During the session, you will build or design catapults, rockets, vehicles, and machines. The experience can help you develop problem-solving and teamwork skills while exploring engineering applications.

15. Student Maker Summer Camp @ Rutgers Makerspace

Location: Rutgers Makerspace, New Brunswick, NJ
Cost: $500 or $450 (early bird fee until June 30)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: August 4 – 7 | August 11 – 14
Application Deadline: Rolling until spots are filled
Eligibility: Middle and high school students 

The Student Maker Summer Camp offers students interested in STEM and entrepreneurship opportunities to get some experience in innovation and invention. The camp focuses on helping middle and high school students develop their creativity and problem-solving skills while working with expert instructors on a university campus.  Here, you will design prototypes using Makespace tools and present your work through a Shark Tank-like pitch. During the program, you will use processes employed for Science Olympiad, Odyssey of the Mind, and/or STEAM Tank to come up with a design/prototype that addresses a real issue.

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