10 Free Winter Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 7 min read
If you are a middle schooler and want more chances to learn skills outside the classroom, winter programs might be exactly what you’re looking for. These short but intensive programs introduce you to advanced topics such as robotics, environmental science, or creative problem-solving, while also teaching collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. Many of these top programs are completely free or offer full financial aid, making them accessible to you. The programs will allow you to explore subjects and connect with mentors and peers who can help shape your career.
To make your search easier, we’ve rounded up 10 free winter programs for middle school students.
Location: In-person or virtual (nationwide and global)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly stated
Dates: Flexible, offered during the school year or summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 3–12; clubs must be facilitated by an adult
The Girls Who Code Clubs Program is a free, flexible initiative designed to help students in grades 3–12 explore coding and computer science in a supportive, community-based setting. You’ll work through a self-paced curriculum, covering web development, cybersecurity, game design, and artificial intelligence. Younger students (grades 3–5) start with hands-on activities and visual coding through tools like BlockJam, while older students (grades 6–12) can explore text-based languages and emerging technologies. Clubs also feature a new AI Literacy Unit and an Emerging Tech Zine, introducing members to cutting-edge topics like generative AI in age-appropriate ways.
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies by cohort. Need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple rolling cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines. Varies by cohort: summer, fall, winter, or spring.
Eligibility: Middle school students interested in exploring academic fields through mentored projects
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program (JEP) is designed for middle school students who wish to explore their academic interests through personalized, project-based learning. You will work one-on-one with mentors who are scholars from top research universities, including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE. You will build projects that you are passionate about, gaining valuable experience in academic inquiry and creativity. Lumiere provides need-based financial aid for qualifying applicants, and multiple rolling deadlines allow flexibility for students to join throughout the year. You can apply here.
Location: Online (Virtual)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Cohorts of about 12 students
Dates: August 27–December 10
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: U.S. students currently in grades 6 or 7 from families typically earning under $90,000; students must attend both summer and fall sessions
During the Stanford Middle School Scholars Program, you’ll meet weekly with your SMSSP cohort instructors online. These sessions focus on developing skills in academic writing, growth mindset, and exploring selective high school options. You’ll also receive mentorship and guidance as you plan your next steps, including applying to rigorous high school programs such as Stanford Online High School. Families play an active role, too; parents or guardians attend at least one conference and can join outreach events.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: varies depending on the cohort; full financial aid available for eligible students
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines (applications accepted year-round)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
The AI Trailblazers Program by Veritas AI introduces middle school students to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning through an engaging and interactive virtual format. Over 25 hours of instruction, you will learn the basics of Python programming alongside foundational AI topics such as data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. The program emphasizes hands-on learning through creative projects, such as building models to classify music genres or designing algorithms that generate personalized educational resources. Veritas AI, founded by Harvard graduate students, aims to inspire young learners to explore the applications and ethics of AI from an early age.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Ongoing; self-paced modules (30–60 minutes each)
Application Deadline: None; rolling enrollment through educator registration
Eligibility: Designed for middle school students (ages 11–14)
The Day of AI curriculum, developed by MIT RAISE (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education), introduces you to the core ideas behind artificial intelligence and its ethical, creative, and social impacts. Through a spiral curriculum model based on the UNESCO AI Competency Framework, you’ll build a deep understanding of how AI systems work, how they learn from data, and how they affect our daily lives. The program’s goal is to give all students AI literacy, the knowledge, and confidence to use and question AI responsibly. Each lesson includes educator guides, student worksheets, and short hands-on projects that use real-world AI tools and concepts.
Location: Virtual and classroom-based (via MIT RAISE and MIT STEP Lab)
Cost/Stipend: Free (curriculum resources provided to educators)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Ongoing; resources released on a rolling basis
Application Deadline: None
Eligibility: Designed for middle and secondary school students (ages 11–18); implemented through participating educators and schools.
The RAICA (Responsible AI for Computational Action) program, developed by the MIT Scheller Teacher Education Program and MIT RAISE, introduces you to artificial intelligence through project-based learning focused on ethics, creativity, and responsible design. The program combines coding and AI literacy with opportunities to design meaningful, socially responsible applications. Through interactive modules and creative challenges, you’ll explore topics such as natural language processing, data science, reinforcement learning, image recognition, and affective computing. Each lesson encourages problem-solving, collaboration, and ethical reflection.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: There is no information available
Dates: October 9
Application Deadline: October 6, 11:59 PM EST
Eligibility: Open to U.S. citizens in grades K–12 and undergraduate students
Through NASA’s Next Gen STEM Virtual Career Connection series, you’ll get to connect directly with NASA subject matter experts working on the Quest Mission, the project behind the X-59 aircraft. During this interactive session, you’ll learn about the careers that design, build, and test the future of flight, from aerospace engineers to materials scientists and skilled tradespeople. After the presentation, you’ll have a chance to ask questions and hear firsthand what it’s like to bring cutting-edge aircraft from concept to reality.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: 100 credits (≈ $50 value); free credit available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 1–6 students per class
Dates: December 22–26 (five consecutive days)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to students ages 5–7
The Winter Camp: Weather Art Projects by Outschool is a five-day live art camp designed for young learners who enjoy creating and learning about weather. In this hands-on camp, you’ll explore a new type of weather each day and create a unique weather-themed art project to match. You’ll experiment with various art materials, including oil pastels, watercolors, crayons, markers, acrylic paints, and paint sticks, while following along with the instructor step-by-step. The camp is taught live in small groups by Samara Brown, a creative educator with experience teaching art themed around weather. Students are encouraged to share their artwork and reflections at the end of each session, creating a supportive and interactive environment.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Ongoing (typically 1 hour; can be extended if self-paced)
Application Deadline: None; rolling sign-ups
Eligibility: Designed for middle school students; participation must be coordinated through an educator who registers for the program.
Hour of Engineering is a free, self-paced online STEM learning program created by Siemens to introduce middle school students to the world of engineering. Through videos, interactive simulations, and real-world design challenges, you’ll learn how engineers think and how they solve problems that improve daily life. The program’s goal is to help you understand what engineering really is and to inspire interest in future STEM careers. The lessons combine digital learning with optional hands-on activities that can be done in class or independently. You’ll explore different engineering disciplines, experiment with design thinking, and see how STEM skills connect to real-world innovation.
Location: Online
Cost/Stipend: Tuition varies by course; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: There is no information available
Dates: Multiple start dates
Application Deadline: December 15 and February 17
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 2–12; students must qualify for CTY through testing or prior academic performance.
The CTY Online Programs from Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth offer academically advanced students the chance to explore college-level and enrichment courses from home. These programs are known for their rigor, flexibility, and the opportunity to connect with motivated peers from around the world. Middle school students can explore signature CTY offerings such as Mathematical Logic, The Language of Computers, Introduction to Astronomy, and Writing for an Audience. Courses are taught by expert instructors, including university-affiliated educators passionate about working with gifted youth.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
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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