10 Online Summer Camps for Middle School Students
For middle school students aiming to strengthen their university admissions profile, starting early is key. Getting involved in clubs, volunteering, and online summer camps lays a solid foundation. While in-person options may not be feasible for everyone, we've compiled a list of 10 online summer camps tailored for middle schoolers. Owing to their virtual nature, they're accessible from anywhere.
These programs delve into diverse interests beyond the school curriculum, offering a chance to explore new passions. Plus, some are entirely free, making them even more accessible for middle schoolers.
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an 8-week immersive program that allows you to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. The 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 and 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.
Dates: 8 weeks starting March 11 (Spring cohort) and June 3 (Summer cohort)
Cost: $1,990. Financial aid available.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 - 8 can apply
Deadline:May 12, 2024 (Summer cohort) | February 18, 2024 (Spring cohort)
2. Veritas AI
Veritas AI offers two programs for middle school students with an interest in robotics and artificial intelligence – the AI Trailblazers program and the AI Junior Fellowship.
The AI Trailblazers program is an introductory course aimed at students eager to explore the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and how it might intersect with robotics. In this program, you'll engage in interactive lessons and hands-on projects that illuminate the core principles of AI. Working in small groups, you'll apply these principles to solve problems and create simple AI-driven robotics projects. The final outcome of this program is a group project where you'll design and present an AI-based solution.
The AI Junior Fellowship, on the other hand, offers a more personalized approach to learning AI, focusing on mentorship and individual projects. As a participant, you will receive one-on-one guidance from an AI expert from top universities like Harvard, MIT, Stanford and more, allowing for a customized learning experience that aligns with your specific interests in robotics and AI. This program dives deeper into the intricacies of AI development and applications in robotics, challenging you to create an innovative project under the mentorship of your assigned expert. Your final output will be your own AI/robotics project.
Dates: AI Trailblazers - Runs for a total of 25 hours over 10 sessions | AI Junior Fellowship - 12 weeks. Starts June 9, 2024 for the Summer.
Cost: AI Trailblazers - $1,790 | AI Junior Fellowship - $2,900. Need based financial aid is available
Eligibility: All school students in grades 6-8
Deadline: Summer cohort - April 21, 2024 (regular admission I) & May 19 (regular admission II). Apply here!
At the University of Texas at Dallas Coding Camps, you'll discover the dynamic fusion of mathematical principles and computer programming. With platforms like Scratch and JavaScript, you'll witness how abstract math concepts come alive in the digital realm. From exploring angles and 3D space to working with random numbers and recursion, students will immerse themselves in a diverse array of mathematical ideas.
A standout offering is the "Bring Math to Life!" camp, where participants embark on a journey to leverage programming for grasping geometry, object manipulation, sequence patterns, and recursive structures in an enjoyable week-long experience. Moreover, the "Modding with Minecraft" camp transports students into the beloved Minecraft universe, empowering them to craft mods using programming fundamentals.
For beginners, the camp provides an accessible entry point with the "Enjoyable Coding with Alice" segment. Through the Alice programming environment's intuitive drag-and-drop interface, participants delve into 3D animation and game development, bypassing the complexities of syntax errors. This segment caters especially to newcomers, furnishing a robust groundwork in programming principles in a user-friendly manner.
Dates: Weekly camps from June 3, 2024 - August 2, 2024
Cost: $150
Eligibility: Students aged 11-14 are eligible
Deadline: Enrollment is open until the Wednesday prior to the start date of the week’s camps.
4. Codecademy
Codecademy's summer camps stand out as a beacon in the online coding education sphere, representing accessibility and inclusivity for learners at every level. Whether beginners take their first steps into coding or experienced professionals refining their skills, Codecademy's carefully curated courses address a wide range of educational requirements.
With real-time coding exercises, group projects, and a supportive community, students not only grasp coding principles but also actively shape their learning journey. Whether delving into the nuances of web development or unraveling the mysteries of data science, Codecademy's summer camps provide a robust foundation for ongoing learning and technological discovery.
Dates: Tentative dates during Summer
Cost: None
Eligibility: Open to all.
Deadline: No specific deadline.
Codecademy's summer camps stand out as a beacon in the online coding education sphere, representing accessibility and inclusivity for learners at every level. Whether beginners take their first steps into coding or experienced professionals refining their skills, Codecademy's carefully curated courses address a wide range of educational requirements.
With real-time coding exercises, group projects, and a supportive community, students not only grasp coding principles but also actively shape their learning journey. Whether delving into the nuances of web development or unraveling the mysteries of data science, Codecademy's summer camps provide a robust foundation for ongoing learning and technological discovery.
Dates: June 24 - 28, 2024
Cost: $595 per week
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8 are all eligible to participate
Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Lavner Camps' Virtual Tech and STEM programs provide an excellent opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of technology. Camp Tech Revolution Online was crafted by a leadership team boasting educational backgrounds from esteemed institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, The Wharton School, Columbia University, Cornell University, Brandeis University, UCLA Graduate School of Educational Leadership, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and others. With a low staff-to-camper ratio ranging from approximately 1:4 to 1:8 and live online instruction delivered by expert educators, Camp Tech Revolution Online delivers a superb STEM camp experience tailored for campers aged 6 to 14. Offering a diverse array of over 35 camps, including Robotics, Coding, Game Design, Minecraft, Roblox, Content Creation for YouTube, Digital Art, Spy Tech, STEM & Medicine, and more, there are ample opportunities for campers to explore their interests in STEM fields.
Dates: Weekly camps from June 3, 2024 - August 30, 2024
Cost: Most courses are priced at $399, with select courses at $449 or $549.
Eligibility: Students aged 6-14 can participate
Deadline: Enrollment is open until the start of each camp session, with sessions running from June 3, 2024 - August 30, 2024.
Hosted by the Illinois Institute of Technology, this summer camp presents a comprehensive exploration of mathematical proof, number theory, counting, and probability through 2-hour online sessions conducted over 5 days. Delving into a diverse range of topics, the camp places particular emphasis on the practical application of mathematics in real-world scenarios, honing skills in abstract reasoning, and mastering the proper utilization of mathematical notation and terminology in both written and verbal discussions. Throughout the program, participants will discover the pivotal role mathematics plays in problem-solving endeavors, ranging from optimizing web searches to capturing images of a black hole nestled at the heart of the galaxy!
Dates: June 10–14, 2024
Cost: NA
Eligibility: Middle School Students of the age of 14 can apply.
Deadline: Registration opens on January 15, 2024. Deadline TBA.
This prestigious math camp offers intensive 3 to 4-week programs in advanced mathematics, either residential or virtual. The residential option blends in-class problem-solving sessions with structured social activities, while the virtual format entails 3–5 hours of daily academic work in addition to online classes. Both formats involve research projects and presentations. Students can choose between two courses: Abstract Algebra & Number Theory or Algebraic Topology, each with specific prerequisites. Admission is highly competitive, with only 40 students selected annually for the residential camp and 64 for the virtual session.
Location: The camp offers both residential (Stanford University campus, Stanford, CA) and remote options.
Dates: You can choose between two 3-week virtual programs or a 4-week residential program:Residential: June 23, 2024 - July 19, 2024Online Session 1: June 17, 2024 - July 5, 2024Online Session 2: July 8, 2024 - July 26, 2024
Cost: $8,250 (residential) | $3,550 (virtual)
Eligibility: Middle School Students and high school students
Deadline: May 12, 2024
Northwestern's Center for Talent Development (CTD) Online Enrichment Courses offers a diverse range of subjects including "The Smartest: The Future of Artificial Intelligence," "Engineering the Future," and "Scratch: Animations & Games." Students explore both practical and theoretical aspects of computer science, fostering a comprehensive, hands-on comprehension of the topics. Each course demands 2-5 hours of weekly engagement, supported by instructor-provided pacing guides and facilitated online discussions. Emphasis is placed on honing effective communication skills through written assignments and active participation in online forums.
Dates: June 12, 2024 - July 26, 2024
Cost: $600
Eligibility: Students in grades 3 - 8 are eligible
Deadline: June 5, 2024
With Girls Who Code Python Activities, you can master programming in Python, one of the most widely used text-based languages. Engage in hands-on projects like creating chatbots, visualizing data with various graphs, or analyzing datasets for trends. Explore representation techniques such as line, bar, pie, histogram, and scatter plots. Dive into exciting projects like analyzing Kickstarter data, experiencing the multifaceted role of data scientists—cleaning, analyzing, and presenting data to stakeholders like policymakers, business leaders, or researchers.
Dates: Self-paced, available year-round
Cost: None
Eligibility: All female middle school students are eligible.
Deadline: No deadline.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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