10 Best Summer Camps for Gifted Students
- Stephen Turban
- 5 hours ago
- 6 min read
Gifted students looking for fun activities that enhance their knowledge can participate in summer camps. Camps are a good way to not only explore new subjects but also partake in hands-on activities. Programs designed for gifted students tend to be academically rigorous.
You also meet like-minded peers who become part of your network. Moreover, these camps may include outdoor activities, so you make the most of your summer holidays. Here are some summer camps for you to consider.
10 Best Summer Camps for Gifted Students
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: 8 weeks, varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
If you’re a gifted student looking to pursue research, you can opt for Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program. Paired with PhD mentors from prestigious universities, such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton, who are experts in their fields, you conduct original research. Through this process, you learn to read and interpret academic literature, build research questions, and create outputs such as a high school-level research paper or case study, which enables you to build crucial skills. Through feedback and writing coaching sessions, you develop scientific communication skills. You can publish your research in academic journals by opting for the Junior Research and Publication Program.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 7 – 14 per class
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost: $75; full scholarships available
Dates: June 29 – July 30
Application deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Middle school students enrolled in public and parochial schools in New Haven, CT
Ulysses S. Foundation offers a 6-week rigorous program where you study a challenging curriculum. Learning a range of subjects in humanities and the sciences, you expand your knowledge of different subjects. Humanities classes teach you subjects like art, writing, poetry, and philosophy. Similarly, investigations classes cover biology, chemistry, finance, and architecture. In the afternoon, you take an elective of your choice depending on your grade. Through this program, you develop a range of skills, experience advanced academics, and interact with like-minded people.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (weekends, spring cohort) or 25 hours over 2 weeks (weekdays, summer cohort)
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program enables gifted middle schoolers to cultivate their interest in technology. It helps you gain foundational knowledge of AI and machine learning. To provide a holistic experience, the program teaches topics like Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Thereafter, you apply what you learned to a practical project. In this project, you solve a real-world challenge using technology in a field of your interest. In the past, students have built a machine-learning model to classify music genres and a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $400 – $650 per student
Dates: One- and two-week programs in June and July
Application deadline: First-come, first-served until seats are filled
Eligibility: Rising 6th – 8th grade students
This is a STEAM program for middle schoolers. It offers several one- or two-week courses for you to choose from based on what you are interested in. You will be grouped according to your grade. Like many camps, this program focuses on hands-on activities and practical experiences to solidify your learnings. Thus, you build creative problem-solving skills while learning to apply STEAM concepts to real-world challenges.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Wangenheim Middle School, San Diego, CA
Cost: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – 24
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
Sally Ride Academy is a workshop-based program. Here, you gain hands-on experience in diverse STEAM subjects. You step into the role of various STEAM professions to explore the field and career pathways. Leading instructors teach these diverse subjects and act as mentors to guide you throughout the program. Middle schoolers can opt for workshops in engineering, robotics, entrepreneurship, marine biology, geology, and even creative areas like art, VR, and screenwriting. The program also involves hands-on projects that help you build practical skills.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 16 – 18
Location: Gilman School, Baltimore, MD
Cost: $1,045 commuter (includes lunches) or $2,100 residential
Dates: June 22 – 26 or July 6 – 10
Application deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 or 8 who meet the ACT, SAT, or CogAT score requirements
This program at Michigan State University is aimed at gifted middle schoolers looking to expand their knowledge of math, science, and technology. You encounter a rigorous curriculum that prepares you for advanced academics in the future. In one track, you attend three classes in these subjects throughout the week. You can expect to partake in scientific modeling, collaborative lab work, data analysis, and discussion-based reflection. Through this program, you learn to apply mathematics, science, and technology to real-world challenges.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20
Location: SMU Lyle School of Engineering, Dallas, TX
Cost: $600
Dates: July 6 – 10 (boys), July 13 – 17 (girls), or July 20 – 24 (co-ed)
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th graders
This is a selective program for middle schoolers interested in engineering. It is designed for students with little to no experience in engineering and design. Here, you gain an introduction to general processes and topics in electrical, mechanical, civil and environmental, and computer science. Hands-on activities walk you through the engineering process from start to finish. Engineering students at SMU act as mentors throughout the program and provide support.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Cost: $150 – $200; limited scholarships available
Dates: Various sessions in the summer
Application deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6 – 8
OSU offers a range of STEM summer camps for you to partake in. Each of these camps blends theory with practical application to impart holistic learning. You can opt from a range of tracks in biology, computer science, cybersecurity, and engineering. Some of the activities involve observing wildlife, coding, programming, investigating cybercrimes, reverse engineering, and more. You also receive the opportunity to interact with college students and professionals who introduce you to their academic and career paths.
9. Penn GEMS
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: To be announced; limited financial aid is available
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Rising 7th – 9th graders who live and attend school within 60 miles of Penn’s campus
Penn GEMS is an engineering, math, and science camp aimed at middle schoolers. You delve into various subjects in these fields to gain hands-on skills. Under the guidance of Penn faculty, you learn about bioengineering, robotics, AI, materials science, and more. You learn how engineers solve real-world problems, participate in STEM challenges, and work in groups. Through this program, you develop confidence in STEM subjects. Meanwhile, group work improves your collaboration and communication skills.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small classes
Location: Online or in person at Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Cost: $990 – $6,025, depending on duration
Dates: Varies by course
Application deadline: One week before the start date
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 12; additional academic criteria vary by course
Gifted students may benefit from Northwestern’s CTD courses in various subjects. Held online as well as in person, you can participate in a track based on your future aspirations. Each course involves a challenging curriculum that fosters critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You also interact with experienced faculty and professionals to gain insights into specific fields and careers. You can expect to learn a subject through a blend of theory and hands-on practice, thereby developing strong foundational knowledge.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. 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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