15 Summer Programs for Middle School Students in Washington State

If you are a middle school student seeking to explore new subjects outside the regular school year, summer programs offer opportunities to learn through projects, guided instruction, and collaborative activities rather than traditional classroom lessons. Depending on the program, you might explore areas such as science, technology, arts, music, leadership, or environmental studies. This variety allows you to explore different fields, build foundational skills, and gain a better understanding of your interests.

Why should you attend a program in Washington State?

In Washington State, many universities, nonprofits, and educational organizations offer summer programs designed specifically for younger learners. These programs often draw on strong academic, scientific, and cultural resources available across the state, including research institutions, arts organizations, and environmental learning centers. Participating in a summer program in Washington State can also provide exposure to region-specific topics, such as sustainability, marine science, and technology-focused learning. 

To help you compare options, we’ve narrowed down 15 summer programs for middle school students in Washington State.

If you’re looking for online programs, check out our blog here.

1. Washington MESA College Prep Program

Location: Various MESA centers in Washington
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by center
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12 enrolled in Washington State partner schools

Washington MESA supports middle school students interested in science, technology, engineering, and math through long-term academic enrichment. The program combines tutoring, specialized coursework, and mentorship to strengthen STEM skills over time. You also have access to a broader support network, including educators and trained mentors. Activities are designed to align with different stages of your academic journey, starting in middle school. The program emphasizes guided pathways rather than a single short-term experience. Its structure reflects how STEM learning progresses over multiple years.

2. Veritas AI's AI Trailblazers

Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8

Veritas AI's AI Trailblazers program 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 developing an algorithm to generate a custom list of educational resources based on specified criteria.

3. UW Youth & Teen Programs

Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA / Virtual
Cost: Varies by course (~$900); limited financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Multiple sessions in July and August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: 4th–12th graders

These enrichment courses cover a broad range of topics, including screenwriting, Python programming, architectural design, public speaking, and more. You participate in hands-on workshops led by industry professionals and university educators to develop specific technical or creative skills. Each course is designed to be interactive, shifting from lectures to project-based learning and peer collaboration. You can explore the UW Seattle campus and gain exposure to collegiate-level thinking and equipment. The program focuses on learning by doing, so you produce tangible deliverables such as digital games, short stories, or design portfolios.

4. Lumiere's Junior Explorer Program

Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Several cohorts year-round
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8

Middle school students interested in conducting STEM research can consider Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program. You are matched with PhD mentors from prestigious universities, such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton, based on your chosen topic. The mentor provides support throughout the program to help you gain specialized knowledge. Working on your research project helps you learn to read and interpret academic literature, develop research questions, and produce outputs such as a high school-level research paper or case study. The program is designed to help you develop critical thinking and scientific communication skills. Lumiere also offers a Junior Research and Publication Program for students who wish to publish their research in academic journals.

5. University of Puget Sound Summer Academic Challenge (SAC)

Location: University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, WA
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 4 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: 7th–12th graders attending a public school who are first-generation college students or from an underrepresented group

This summer program for middle school students uses a project-based STEAM approach to explore real-world themes through hands-on work. The middle school track focuses on home design, where you examine how science, technology, engineering, arts, and math influence living spaces across time. You work in teams to design functional solutions while considering topics like sustainability, materials, and environmental impact. Math and planning are used alongside creative design tools to solve practical challenges, while workshops in writing and oral presentation support how you share your ideas. The experience emphasizes collaboration, problem-solving, and applying classroom concepts in new contexts.

6. UW Robinson Center Summer Stretch

Location: University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Cost: $1450 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Lottery admissions
Dates: June 30 – July 23
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: 7th–10th graders

This summer program for middle school students in Washington State offers accelerated, advanced coursework in subjects such as Algebra, Physics, Latin, Creative Writing, and more. You engage in intensive daily sessions that compress a full year of curriculum into four weeks of rigorous study. The curriculum is designed for academically advanced students who prefer a faster pace than traditional schools. You can also utilize university labs and resources while being taught by content experts and graduate-level instructors. The program culminates in a final project or exam that demonstrates mastery of the accelerated subject matter.

7. Museum of Flight – Aerospace Camp Experience (ACE)

Location: The Museum of Flight, Seattle, WA
Cost: Not specified; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Weekly sessions from June 22 to August 28
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Kindergarten–9th grade students

This STEM-focused camp for students in Washington State utilizes the museum’s extensive aircraft collection to teach the principles of flight, navigation, and aerospace history. You can participate in advanced tracks that include wind tunnel testing, flight simulator training, and rocket construction. The curriculum includes physics experiments that explain lift, drag, and thrust through hands-on modeling and data collection. You’ll meet with aerospace professionals, including pilots and engineers, to discuss career pathways and current industry technology, and even get to explore the cockpits of both historical and modern aircraft. 

8. Pacific Science Center Camps for Curious Minds

Location: Several sites across WA
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 students
Dates: Week-long sessions from June to August
Application Deadline: April 30 (tentative)
Eligibility: Students in grades PreK-8

These camps offer immersive science experiences spanning marine biology, robotics, and forensics. Previous camps had middle schoolers engage in wetland ecology by collecting water samples and studying native wildlife in the field. The Seattle Center tracks allow students to utilize museum exhibits for experiments in physics, chemistry, and virtual reality development. Each session focuses on the scientific method, encouraging you to formulate hypotheses, test them, and document your findings. The program aims to foster long-term interest in STEM through discovery-based learning and access to high-quality lab equipment.

9. Lakeside School Investigative Learning Camp

Location: Lakeside School, Seattle, WA
Cost: $615/week (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Week-long camps in July
Application Deadline: June 1
Eligibility: 5th–8th graders

This program offers specialized, non-credit courses to middle school students in Washington State that emphasize critical thinking and hands-on investigation. You can choose from tracks such as Lego Robotics, International Cooking, Music Production, Physics of Flight, and more. You’ll use Lakeside's private school facilities, including high-end science labs and digital media studios, to complete daily projects. The curriculum is designed to be exploratory rather than lecture-based, allowing you to direct your own learning through trial and error.

10. NOAA Middle School Science Camp

Location: NOAA Western Regional Center, Seattle, WA
Cost: $450 (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 14 – 18
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th graders

This science camp introduces you to earth and ocean sciences through hands-on activities connected to real-world problems. During the week, you work with tools and materials used in marine and environmental research, such as navigation charts and water samples. Activities may include studying marine mammals, learning about climate monitoring systems, and responding to simulated environmental hazards. You also interact directly with scientists to understand how their work applies scientific concepts in practice. This summer program for middle school students in Washington State offers a practical look at how science is used to study and protect natural systems.

11. Seattle JazzED Summer Jazz Foundations Camp

Location: Lake Washington Girls Middle School, Seattle, WA
Cost: Sliding scale from $0 to $600
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 7 – 11
Application Deadline: June 20
Eligibility: 4th–8th graders

This summer program for middle school students in Washington State introduces you to instrumental music through a short, beginner-friendly format. You select an instrument and begin by learning to read music and applying basic playing techniques. Instruction focuses on playing jazz in a group setting, so listening, timing, and coordination are part of daily practice. Rather than working individually, you rehearse and perform with other middle school students in a beginning band. The emphasis is on building foundational skills that support ensemble playing, and the camp also connects to a longer-term learning pathway for continued music study. 

12. AWSL Middle-Level Leadership Camps

Location: Cispus Learning Center, Randle, WA
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 750 students/year
Dates: Multiple sessions in August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th graders

This summer program teaches leadership skills through organized activities. You will collaborate in small groups to practice communication, decision-making, and problem-solving. Scenarios and simulations help you see how leadership works in school and group settings, with reflection sessions to analyze how group dynamics influence outcomes. Each camp follows a common framework but incorporates unique activities and traditions to create a distinct experience. The program aims to help middle school students view leadership as a practical skill that can be learned.

13. IslandWood Summer Day Camps

Location: IslandWood, Bainbridge Island, WA
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Weekly sessions in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: 1st–6th graders

Learning in this program primarily occurs through outdoor exploration and hands-on activities, with students spending much of the day in small groups working with instructors trained in environmental education. Activities vary by theme and may include science investigations, creative projects, and guided free exploration. Group games and shared sessions encourage collaboration across different camp groups. Time is also set aside for work in spaces such as gardens or art studios. 

14. Overlake School Summer Program

Location: The Overlake School, Redmond, WA
Cost: Not specified
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Weekly sessions from June to July
Application Deadline: Registration opens early February
Eligibility: Rising 3rd–8th graders

This summer program offers project-based learning across a range of academic and creative subjects. You work on hands-on projects that require planning, experimentation, and collaboration. Middle school offerings include robotics, filmmaking, writing, and design-focused challenges. Instruction is led by experienced educators and uses specialized learning spaces. This summer program for middle school students in Washington State offers a range of disciplines through focused, skill-building activities.

15. The Northwest School Summer Camp

Location: The Northwest School, Seattle, WA
Cost: Day Camp: $1,150 | Half Day: $675 | Boarding Camp: $2,950
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Session 1: July 6 – 17 | Session 2: July 20 – July 31 | Session 3: August 3 – August 14
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 10–16

This program offers an interdisciplinary curriculum in which students select four classes to create a personalized daily schedule. Options range from intensive arts, such as ceramics and digital photography, to STEM courses, including urban gardening and architectural design. The camp aims to foster a ‘culture of belonging’ in which students from around the world collaborate on creative and academic projects. Afternoon activities often include neighborhood field trips and community-building exercises that use the school’s urban campus.