15 Chemistry Summer Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 days ago
- 11 min read
If you’re a middle schooler interested in chemistry and looking for the next challenge, summer programs can be a surprisingly smart choice. Whether it’s hands-on lab work, real-world problem-solving, or a first-hand glimpse into what advanced academics can look like, chemistry summer programs for middle school students can be an enriching experience.
Many are held on university campuses, giving you a chance to experience college life early on. Some even include exposure to professionals in the field, helping you understand how chemistry connects to industries like healthcare, politics, or even tech. While it might sound like something that comes with a hefty price tag, a number of these programs are fully funded or scholarship-based. They’re often selective and offer rigorous curriculum, factors that speak to their quality, not just their competitiveness.
If you’re looking for a way to build practical skills, meet like-minded peers, and get a foot in the door early without spending a fortune, it’s worth exploring one of these chemistry summer programs for middle school students.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,400 (need-based financial aid is available)
Dates: 8-week program
Summer I: Starts June 2
Summer II: Starts July 14
Application deadlines:
Summer I: Typically in the second week of May
Summer II: June 23
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The Junior Explorer Program by Lumiere Education is a fully online research program created for exceptional middle school students who wish to explore their academic passions. This 8-week program pairs you with PhD mentors from prestigious universities such as Harvard, Yale, and MIT for personalized, 1-on-1 guidance. You select a topic of interest, including several STEM options, engage in challenging coursework, and develop an in-depth research project with expert support.
By the end of the program, participants typically see growth in their critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and creative skills. Lumiere also offers need-based financial aid to ensure wider accessibility. Applications are reviewed year-round, and you can check the website for upcoming cohorts and deadlines.
Location: Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY
Cost: Free
Dates: The summer session is typically held in July
Application deadline: Typically in April for the summer session
Eligibility: Students in grades 7-12 with a minimum of 80% grade average, especially in math and science
Columbia University’s State Pre-College Enrichment Program (S-PREP) is a free academic enrichment initiative designed for students in grades 7 through 12 interested in pursuing careers in medicine or related STEM fields. You engage in rigorous coursework in math and science, including biochemistry, chemistry, and organic chemistry. In addition to the summer session, S-PREP holds an academic year session from November to May. To be eligible for either session, you must maintain at least an 80% grade average, particularly in math and science, and demonstrate a strong interest in medicine or STEM.
You also attend career development workshops and receive college counseling services. The program features field trips and college tours to enhance college readiness. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to apply for summer research programs for high school students offered by Columbia’s Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute and the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center.
3. MIT dynaMIT
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Dates: There are 2 sessions:
Week 1: Rising 6-7 gradersFrom July 11 to TBA
Week 2: Rising 8-9 gradersTBA
Application deadline: February 10
Eligibility: Rising 6-9 grade students
MIT’s dynaMIT is a free, week-long summer program that takes place on the MIT campus. It encourages participation from middle school students who belong to economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Designed for rising 6th to 9th graders, the program offers hands-on STEM experiences led by current MIT students. You can expect to explore science subjects, including chemistry, with activities that prioritize experiential learning. Students work in small groups and build critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The program is non-residential, so you will commute daily to the MIT campus. Applications typically open in the spring, with deadlines announced on the program’s website.
Location: University of California, San Diego, CA
Cost: $275 (scholarships are provided)
Dates: July 14-18
Application deadline: June 6
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The Sally Ride Science Academy’s “A Dose of Pharmacreations” at the University of California (UC) San Diego is a week-long chemistry summer program for middle school students interested in pharmacy and healthcare. Led by UC San Diego staff, the program introduces you to the vital roles of pharmacists and the part they play in healthcare. You will engage in activities that simulate real-world scenarios to develop critical STEAM skills, including communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving. The curriculum also includes meetings with guest experts in pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, providing insights into various career paths within the field. The course fee is $275, and scholarships are available to ensure accessibility for all interested students.
Location: University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Cost: $9,094 (scholarships available)
Dates: August 3-16
Application deadline: Currently accepting applications until seats are full
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
Summer Discovery’s “Natural Science” program at the University of Cambridge is a 2-week academic experience for middle school students. Hosted at one of the world’s most prestigious universities, the program has an interdisciplinary curriculum covering core scientific disciplines, including chemistry, biology, and physics. You engage in experiments and collaborative projects that demonstrate how foundational scientific principles apply to fields like nanotechnology, materials science, and biochemistry, while also exploring the intersection of these fields. In addition, you can expect an immersive environment that builds a community of like-minded peers, fostering teamwork and communication skills. The program also offers career guidance, college visits, and social activities designed to give you a holistic campus experience. Eligible students will also provide a personal statement along with their completed application.
Location: Multiple locations
Cost: From $6,459 (financial aid available)
Application fee: $55 (waived with financial aid) or $250 for international applicants
Dates: Varies by location but typically between late June and early August
Application deadline: Typically in May
Eligibility: Students in grades 7-11
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) offers the “Chemistry in Society” course, a chemistry summer program for middle school and high school students. This course explores the role of chemistry in addressing real-world challenges through activities such as testing water for toxins, examining alternative fuels, and even debating how to preserve a community water source in a simulated town hall meeting. You participate in laboratory experiments, foster skills in critical thinking, and hone the art of public speaking. You can expect to be challenged, inspired, and emerge as a student ready to take on high school chemistry with confidence. With a cohort size of 18-20 students, the course will involve close collaboration and communication with peers who share your interests. You can also take a look at Crystals and Polymers and Fast-Paced High School Chemistry, 2 more enriching CTY chemistry summer programs for middle school students.
Location: Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
Cost: $550 (scholarships available)
Dates: July 14-18
Application deadline: July 2
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
Georgia Tech’s Summer P.E.A.K.S. (Programs for Enrichment and Accelerated Knowledge in STEAM) offers a variety of week-long, hands-on programs, including the “Ignite Your Curiosity: Reactions, Enzymes, and the Power of Chemistry in Action!” The chemistry summer program for middle school students aims to increase participants’ STEAM knowledge through experiential activities that emphasize critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and innovation. Instructors include Georgia Tech’s PhD chemistry graduates who will guide you through chemical titrations, the fascinating processes of fermentation and enzyme function, and more. The program is held on the Georgia Tech Atlanta campus, with daily sessions running from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
Cost: $2,970 for tuition, $2,405 for residential add-on, and a $135 lab fee (scholarships available)
Dates: July 10 - August 8
Application deadline: Open until seats are full
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8 with an indication of being an advanced learner (see the ‘Eligibility’ section here)
Chem Lab is a chemistry summer program for middle school students provided by Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development (CTD). This program provides an immersive on-campus experience, allowing you to explore scientific concepts through laboratory experiments. Participants dive into several topics such as stoichiometry, atomic theory, intermolecular forces, periodic trends, and more. You will have the autonomy to experiment by adjusting variables yourself as well as share your findings with others. With a keen focus on building your confidence in advanced laboratory studies, the course promises a thorough curriculum in a compact duration of 3 weeks.
Location: Gann Academy or Bentley, Waltham, MA
Cost: $699 for tuition and $699 for residential add-on (scholarships available)
Dates: July 28 - August 1
Application deadline: Registrations open until seats are full
Eligibility: Students entering grade 8 through entering college
The Boston Leadership Institute offers a 1-week Polymer Chemistry summer program at the Gann Academy or Bentley University campus in Waltham. You get to synthesize and analyze polymers, covering materials from everyday items like silly putty to advanced applications in medicine and materials science. You will explore the properties and uses of various polymers, such as nylon, plastics, and DNA, with the possibility of making something of your own. To ensure a high-quality learning experience, the course is led by an award-winning instructor, with past students engaging with professors from Tufts and MIT. The program has a 10:1 student-to-staff ratio, providing you with the guidance you need to maximize the opportunity to learn. The program may also involve outdoor activities and day-long outings for a well-rounded experience that is both fun and academically enriching.
Location: Gann Academy or Bentley, Waltham, MA
Cost: $2,500 for tuition and $2,097 for residential add-on (scholarships available)
Dates: June 30 - July 18
Application deadline: Students are admitted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Students entering grade 8 through entering college
The Chemistry Research program at the Boston Leadership Institute is a competitive 3-week summer course designed for those interested in green chemistry and its applications. Held at the Gann Academy or Bentley University campus in Waltham, the program offers an insight into sustainable chemical practices. The curriculum emphasizes the development of experiments, background research, effective controls, and reproducible results. In the past, students have studied the 12 principles of green chemistry and presented research projects on award-winning initiatives. 3-week programs by the Boston Leadership Institute often include 2 field trips, with chemistry students having visited the D-Lab at MIT and the BURECS Lab at Boston University, among other places. These visits are known to give you first-hand exposure to real-world applications and professionals in the field.
Location: North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Durham, NC
Cost: $1,495 (financial aid available)
Dates: June 22-27 or July 13-18
Application deadline: Students are admitted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising 7-9 graders
The “Beauty by Chemistry: The Science and Art of Making Cosmetics” course at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) is a week-long residential chemistry summer program designed for middle school students. Offered at the Durham campus, the course blends scientific inquiry with creativity, making you explore the chemistry behind everyday cosmetic products. Moreover, you also experiment and create beauty products yourself, while learning about the beauty industry’s ethics, safety measures, and sustainability practices. The program is part of NCSSM’s Summer Accelerator series, which offers rigorous, high-quality courses for academically talented students. You can also view “Intro to Analytical Chemistry”, another option within the series that takes place from July 6-11 in Morganton, NC, and costs the same at $1,495.
Location: Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA
Cost: Multiple options and costs starting from $3,695 that you can view here (scholarships, grants, and financial aid options available)
Dates: Multiple options between late June to late July
Application deadline: While seats are full for the current year, you can still join the waitlist
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The Environmental Science + Policy workshop is part of EXPLO 360°, a summer program hosted at Wellesley College for middle school students. This course empowers you to tackle pressing global issues like climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution by integrating scientific inquiry with policy development. You will collect and test water samples for contamination, develop policy solutions to environmental issues, and more. You can also expect simulations of international negotiations to address resource scarcity and climate change mitigation strategies, building your diplomacy and critical thinking skills.
Beyond this workshop, EXPLO 360° offers a customizable experience where you select 2 workshops along with 2 electives from over 40 options, allowing you to tailor your learning to your interests.
Location: Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
Cost: $745 for commuters and $1,175 for residential (including course-specific lab fee; scholarships available)
Dates: July 6-11
Application deadline: While seats are full for the current year, you can still join the waitlist
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The “Wild World of Chemistry” is a week-long chemistry summer program for middle school students offered by Michigan Technological University’s Summer Youth Programs (SYP). Held on the Houghton campus, this course provides a view of the diverse applications of chemistry in everyday life. You engage in recycling plastics into eco-friendly cleaners, extracting DNA, purifying copper, and more. The curriculum also includes using chemistry to solve simulated crimes, offering a practical understanding of chemical principles. Beyond the classroom, you reside in campus housing, dine in university facilities, and partake in supervised recreational activities, providing you a glimpse into college life and the essence of community among peers.
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost: $675 (partial scholarships available)
Dates: June 30 - July 10
Application deadline: Students are admitted until seats are full
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7-9
Stony Brook University’s Science Exploration Program is a summer initiative by the Institute of STEM Education (I-STEM) that deepens the scientific understanding of middle school students through a tailored, grade-specific curriculum. For students entering the 7th grade, the focus will be on developing laboratory skills across scientific disciplines, including chemistry. 8th-grade students can expect to dive into chemistry, environmental chemistry, and more through case studies, aiming to make them confident to take on high school coursework. The program, with a tuition fee of $675, accepts a maximum of 24 students per grade level. You are encouraged to make an application as early as possible, as admissions happen on a first-come, first-served basis.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free (with an $81 certificate fee)
Duration: 2 weeks at 10 hours per week (self-paced)
Application deadline: Open to enrolments
Eligibility: Open to all learners at a beginner level understanding of the subject
Coursera’s “Introduction to Chemistry: Reactions and Ratios,” offered by Duke University, is a beginner-friendly virtual course designed for students with limited background in chemistry. It covers fundamental topics such as chemical reactions, stoichiometry, the periodic table, periodic trends, and more, aiming to prepare you for further study in chemistry. The curriculum includes video lectures, readings, assignments, and a final exam that build upon each other to enhance your understanding.
While the course is self-paced and free to audit, you have the option to purchase a certificate upon completion. A foundation in algebra is recommended to navigate the problem-solving aspects of the course effectively.
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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