14 Middle School Summer Programs in Boston
- Stephen Turban
- 20 hours ago
- 9 min read
If you are a middle school student, summer programs can be a great way to utilize your break productively. These programs give you the chance to explore new subjects, dive into advanced academics, and even get a small taste of campus life. Whether you're hoping to boost your problem-solving skills through intensive STEM workshops or explore creative passions like writing, engineering, or coding, summer programs can offer all of this.
Boston is a hub of top universities and research institutions, whose summer programs can offer you early exposure to high-level learning and access to industry-grade tools. These opportunities help you build practical skills, from coding and data visualization to public speaking and teamwork. They also include mentorship by professionals, which helps you build meaningful connections and experience what studying at a top institution might look like. In this blog, we've handpicked 14 middle school summer programs in Boston.
14 Middle School Summer Programs in Boston
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies by program type and cohort; Need-based financial aid available
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year (Summer, Fall, Spring, Winter)
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines based on cohorts
Eligibility: Middle school students (grades 6–8) with a strong academic interest
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program (JEP) is designed to give middle school students a rigorous introduction to independent research, especially in STEM fields such as biology, medicine, and public health. Under the mentorship of PhD researchers from top universities like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Yale, you’ll build critical thinking and problem-solving skills by developing your own research project. The program tailors each experience to your personal interests, helping you cultivate expertise and prepare for future academic competitions or advanced research. With personalized guidance and a strong emphasis on analytical reasoning, JEP offers a unique foundation for exploring complex scientific questions even before high school.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Location: English High School, 144 McBride St, Boston, MA
Cost: Free for Boston Public Schools (BPS) students; $60 per week for out-of-district students
Dates: July 8 – August 9, Mondays & Fridays, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until filled
Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th graders (priority to BPS students)
The Beantown Summer Basketball Learning & Enrichment program offers Boston middle school students a dynamic blend of athletics and personal growth. Hosted by the Beantown Panthers at English High School, this summer camp runs twice a week, combining intensive basketball training with academic and character-building activities. You will develop fundamental basketball skills, teamwork, and leadership on the court while participating in enrichment sessions off the court. The program emphasizes both physical health and educational
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program type and cohort; Need-based financial aid available
Dates: Summer Cohort: 25 hours over 2 weeks (weekdays only); Spring Cohort: 25 hours over 10 weekends.
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines based on cohorts
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
The Veritas AI Trailblazers Program offers a robust introduction to artificial intelligence and machine learning for middle school students. Over 25 hours of live instruction and guided projects, you’ll learn Python programming, data analysis, regression techniques, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. A 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio ensures personalized attention, helping you build and deploy real AI-driven projects like music classification tools or recommendation systems while developing a strong portfolio. This program’s hands-on curriculum and close mentorship make it a standout option for younger students curious about the intersection of computer science and real-world applications.
engagement, fostering well-rounded development in a supportive environment. It’s an excellent option for students looking to stay active, build confidence, and form friendships during the summer.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Harvard Arnold Arboretum, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Dates: 4 weeks in July
Application Deadline: Typically in late spring; exact date released with annual application
Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th graders enrolled in Boston Public Schools with an interest in nature and outdoor exploration
Arboretum Young Scientists is a fully funded summer program that invites Boston Public School middle schoolers to become hands-on investigators of the natural world. For four weeks each July, you’ll explore ecosystems, plant adaptations, soil composition, and more, spending your days outdoors among the gardens and woodlands of Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum. Led by Arboretum staff, the program blends scientific inquiry with fun activities, teamwork, and behind-the-scenes experiences that introduce you to careers in the natural sciences. You’ll cap off your experience by designing and presenting a final project that showcases your learning.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Commonwealth School, Boston, MA
Cost: Free
Dates: 6 weeks during July and August, plus select Saturdays throughout the school year
Application Deadline: Typically opens in January for summer admission
Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th graders from low-income families living in the Boston area, especially those who identify with historically underrepresented groups, qualify for free/reduced lunch, or would be first-generation college students
Dive In Commonwealth is a rigorous, tuition-free program designed for academically driven middle schoolers who want to explore advanced subjects and prepare for top-tier high schools. Over six weeks each summer, you’ll take core classes in English and math that reinforce essential skills, along with electives in subjects like biology, computer science, and theater. The program also integrates athletics, field trips, and social activities, fostering a supportive community where students build friendships and confidence. Held at Commonwealth School’s historic brownstone campus in Boston’s Back Bay, Dive In continues during the school year with select Saturday sessions.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Community-based; open to eligible applicants from the African community
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: Typically free or low-cost
Dates: 5 weeks during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Students in grades 1–8 from the African community in Boston
The Summer Learning Academy is designed to support middle school students from Boston’s African community through a blend of academic enrichment and culturally meaningful experiences. Over five weeks, you’ll participate in activities that go beyond the classroom, like STEM challenges that build problem-solving skills, field trips that broaden horizons, and cultural events that deepen connections to heritage. The program functions under the umbrella of the organization’s year-round After School Academic Enrichment initiative, making it an extension of school-year learning.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Space-limited; first-come, first-served basis
Location: “e” inc. Science + Action Center, Boston, MA
Cost: $500
Dates: Four weeks throughout August (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: Rolling until complete; early registration encouraged
Eligibility: Open to students aged 5-12. Grade 6 and 7 middle school students can join as part of the higher end of the age group
“e” inc.’s Summer Science Discovery Program is a Boston favorite for kids and young teens eager to get hands-on with environmental science. Over four weeks in August, you’ll explore topics like ecosystems, sustainability, and climate through experiments, projects, and outdoor adventures. Each day blends lab-style investigations with exploration in local green spaces, helping you connect scientific concepts to the real world. You’ll also participate in creative problem-solving activities aimed at fostering leadership and stewardship of the planet.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; approximately 12 students
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: July 7 – 25 (summer) with continued sessions August 27 – December 10
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 or 7 from low-income backgrounds who live and attend school in the U.S.
Stanford’s Middle School Scholars Program provides younger students the opportunity to study advanced math concepts in a supportive, challenging environment. The summer component focuses on Real-Life Applications to Mathematics, where you’ll tackle cryptography, modular arithmetic, and financial math, learning to apply abstract concepts to decode and solve real-world problems. Small, live online classes foster collaboration and discussion, building both critical thinking and teamwork skills. The program continues into the fall with additional sessions that help you explore selective high school programs and enrichment opportunities, setting the stage for a strong academic future.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Dates: Varies based on camp
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Middle school students who are at least 14 years old, and rising freshmen
The Illinois Tech Camp is a virtual program designed to challenge curious students with topics they might not encounter until advanced high school or even college. Through daily two-hour live online sessions, you’ll dive into subjects like number theory, combinatorics, proofs, and probability, seeing firsthand how these abstract ideas apply to real-world challenges. This camp gives you a glimpse into higher-level mathematics while developing logical reasoning and problem-solving skills in an interactive setting.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Virtual & in-person (select U.S. cities)
Cost: Free
Dates: June 2 – 13, July 7 – 18, July 21 – August 1, August 4 – 15
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Young women and gender-expansive youth aged 13–18
Kode With Klossy is a two-week, fully funded summer program founded by supermodel and tech advocate Karlie Kloss to help diversify the tech industry. The camp offers four specialized tracks: web development, mobile app creation, data science, and machine learning, allowing you to explore a coding pathway that excites you most. You’ll gain practical programming skills by building websites, designing apps, analyzing datasets, or experimenting with AI models. The program includes guest speakers from leading tech companies and mentorship opportunities with industry professionals. Whether you attend virtually or in one of the in-person hubs, Kode With Klossy is a supportive space to develop your coding confidence and connect with a community of like-minded peers.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Location: Virtual / In-person
Cost: Free
Dates: June 22 – July 27
Application Deadline: May 21
Eligibility: Female-identifying students in grades 6–11
The Women’s Alliance in STEM and Humanities Summer Research Institute (WASH SRI) is a fully funded, six-week program designed to immerse female-identifying students in serious academic research. You can choose among three intensive tracks: Introduction to Number Theory to explore mathematical structures and proofs; Computational Neuroscience to analyze brain data and investigate neural processes; or Demystifying Deep Learning to learn how AI systems recognize patterns and make decisions. Each week features 2–3 hour workshops that combine technical instruction with mentorship on how to publish your work or prepare for more advanced research. Guided by university faculty and graduate students, you’ll sharpen your analytical and communication skills in a collaborative environment focused on discovery.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Location: Online (edX platform, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA)
Cost: Free (optional paid certificate available)
Dates: 8 weeks; self-paced
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Learners interested in data science and R programming
Harvard University’s Data Science: R Basics course on edX offers an accessible way for you to stretch into college-level topics to explore data science fundamentals. As the entry point to Harvard’s Professional Certificate Program in Data Science, this self-paced, eight-week course helps you build foundational skills in data wrangling, visualization, and statistical reasoning using the R programming language. You’ll analyze a real-world dataset on U.S. crime statistics, learning how to write R scripts that answer meaningful questions through data. The course is designed for beginners; no prior coding experience is required.
Bonus Options Close to Boston
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; limited spaces available
Location: Igliozzi Recreation Center, Providence, RI (close to Boston, ideal for regional campers)
Cost: $100 for full camp access, tournament entry, and Community Day
Dates: August 18 – August 23
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until filled
Eligibility: Middle and high school students with wrestling experience; open to rising athletes eager to improve
Shutdown Camp is a five-day high-impact wrestling program designed to elevate athletes' skills through rigorous training, hands-on mentorship, and competitive experiences. Held in Providence, this camp features two-a-day sessions led by college coaches and NCAA standouts, focusing on advanced techniques, mindset conditioning, and match strategy. On the fifth day, campers put their progress to the test in a live tournament, which is also open to external participants. The week wraps with a Community Day celebration, bringing together families and coaches to honor the athletes’ growth and dedication.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; fills on a rolling basis
Location: Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, just outside Boston
Cost: Overnight-$5,995 / session, Day -$3,695 / session
Dates: Session 1: Overnight June 29–July 12, Day June 30–July 11, Session 2: Overnight July 13–July 26, Day July 14–July 25
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6–8
EXPLO at Wellesley is a summer program designed specifically for middle schoolers to explore new interests, develop independence, and build friendships in a vibrant community. Set on the stunning 500-acre Wellesley College campus, you’ll dive into workshops and activities ranging from garden club and hip-hop dance to Dungeons & Dragons and art studio sessions. Evenings feature movie nights, concerts, and campus-wide events. On weekends, you pick your adventure: head out for whale watching, ropes courses, Duck Tours in Boston, or days at Six Flags. The program balances on-campus creativity and off-campus exploration, giving you the freedom to discover your passions and the confidence to navigate new experiences.
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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