15 Online Winter Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 11 hours ago
- 8 min read
Winter break is an ideal time to explore new interests and strengthen your skills outside of your regular classes. One good way to do that is by joining an online winter program designed for middle school students.
What are online winter programs? Why should I apply as a middle school student?
Online winter programs cover a variety of subjects, from coding, robotics, and math to writing, creative arts, and science. You can experiment with ideas, take on small projects, and learn directly from instructors who guide you step-by-step. These programs give you a chance to use your free time productively while still leaving space for rest, family, and fun.
Choosing an online winter program can also be a smart financial decision. Most virtual options are more affordable than in-person ones, and you won’t have to spend on travel or housing. You can join classes from home, follow your own schedule, and balance learning with other winter activities.
To help you find a good place to start, here’s a list of 15 online winter programs for middle school students!
15 Online Winter Programs for Middle School Students
Location: Online
Cost: $500/quarter
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: January 13 - March 19
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 5–8
Stanford’s Middle School Math Circle offers a 10-week online winter program for grades 7–8 focused on advanced problem-solving and mathematical thinking. Led by Stanford mathematicians and educators, this program introduces you to topics beyond the standard curriculum. You’ll explore abstract reasoning, logical thinking, and higher-level problem-solving methods in a collaborative setting with peers who share your interest in math. Each weekly session is live and interactive, with a mix of guided discussions and problem-solving exercises. You’ll also receive homework to reinforce what you’ve learned between sessions.
Location: Online
Cost: $50 registration fee + $700 (limited financial assistance available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Jan 13 – Mar 12
Application Deadline: December 15
Eligibility: Students in grades 4–12
The University of Washington’s Mechanics of Writing Workshop helps you improve your academic writing through structured lessons, feedback, and a final writing portfolio. You’ll learn how to organize essays, build strong paragraphs, and refine your grammar. The course also teaches you how to outline, draft, and revise your work effectively. One of the key parts of the workshop is learning how to give and receive constructive feedback, which helps you grow as a writer and understand how others interpret your work. By the end, you’ll have created a portfolio that shows your progress and achievements.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Financial aid is available
Dates: Varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Middle school students
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an online research experience for middle school students who want to explore academic interests through a guided project. You’ll be matched with a mentor, often affiliated with top universities like MIT, Harvard, or Stanford, who helps you choose a topic, learn research methods, and develop your project step by step. As you work through the program, you’ll practice independent investigation, critical thinking, and experimentation. It all leads to a final project that reflects your learning and growth.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: Varies by the cohort
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6–8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. You will learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. Previous student projects have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Location: Online (live Zoom sessions)
Cost: AMC 8 Camp – $795; AIME Camp – $850
Program Dates: December 26–30
Application Deadline: Rolling admission until full
Eligibility: Middle school to advanced high school students preparing for AMC 8, AIME, MATHCOUNTS, or USA(J)MO
Areteem’s Winter Camps provide a focused, intensive environment for developing math problem-solving skills. You’ll engage with algebra, geometry, counting and probability, and number theory while preparing for competitions such as AMC 8 and MATHCOUNTS. Sessions include written and oral problems that encourage discussion and collaboration with peers. Instructors guide students through higher-level concepts in a structured and energetic learning environment. By the end of the camp, you’ll have strengthened both technical skills and analytical thinking.
Location: Online
Cost: $575 per course; need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: January 28 – March 11
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students in grades 3–8. You can view additional requirements here.
Northwestern’s CTD Online Enrichment Courses are flexible, instructor-guided programs that help you explore advanced topics in STEM, humanities, and leadership while building critical thinking and problem-solving skills. You’ll work through the material at your own pace, but with weekly guidance from expert instructors who provide feedback, pacing tips, and support. You can choose from a wide range of subjects, like computer science, creative writing, psychology, engineering, and leadership, based on your interests and grade level. Each course includes interactive activities, projects, and assignments that help you apply what you’re learning in real-world ways.
Location: Online (live Zoom sessions)
Cost: $34
Program Dates: December 22, 23, 29, 30, and 31
Application Deadline: Rolling admission until full (15-student cap)
Eligibility: Youth aged 9+
Online School of Illustration’s Cartooning & Anime Camp is a virtual winter program where middle school students learn illustration skills through daily guided lessons and build a personal art portfolio. You’ll attend daily online sessions led by professional artists who walk you through each step of the creative process. Throughout the program, you’ll learn the fundamentals of design, including how to create expressive characters, build strong compositions, and tell stories visually. You’ll practice drawing faces, poses, and backgrounds while exploring how to use color, line, and shape to bring your ideas to life.
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by course and format; financial aid available
Program Dates: Year-round; sessions offered in Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer
Application Deadline: Varies by session; rolling admission until full
Eligibility: Students in grades 2–12 who meet CTY’s academic criteria
Johns Hopkins CTY’s online programs offer a wide variety of courses for academically advanced middle school students. You can explore subjects ranging from computer science and mathematics to history, science, and the arts. Programs are available in multiple formats, including session-based, individually paced, and live interactive courses, allowing flexibility to match your learning style. Outside of learning, you’ll connect with peers worldwide and participate in discussions, projects, and club activities.
Location: Online
Cost: $450
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: December 28 – 30
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school students
The Great Books Winter Break Program is a three-day online experience where middle school students explore literature and philosophy through guided discussions, creative activities, and collaborative learning. You’ll read and discuss thought-provoking texts with guidance from distinguished college professors and support from trained Program Assistants. Each day includes live sessions where you’ll join small groups, called pods, for interactive conversations that help you build reasoning skills and learn to support your ideas with evidence from the readings. One of the highlights is the “Hideous Cup of Poetry,” a creative segment that blends fun with reflection, encouraging you to play with language and share your voice.
Location: Online
Cost: $99/course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Weeklong programs
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 7–17
At Codingal’s Winter Coding Camp, you’ll practice coding through hands-on projects across Scratch, Python, web development, Roblox, and data science. In Python sessions, for example, you’ll work with loops, conditional logic, and Turtle graphics to solve challenges and create visual projects. Web development courses teach HTML and CSS, guiding you through responsive design and interactive mini-projects. Roblox coding introduces 3D game design and scripting in Lua, while app-building courses cover user interface design and practical AI applications.
Location: Online
Cost: $299
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 8 students or fewer/class
Dates: December 20 – 23 and December 27 – 30
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: 2nd to 8th graders
Planet Bravo’s online winter camp combines hands-on learning, creative projects, and interactive games across four full days. You’ll split time between online instruction and off-screen activities, tackling thematic challenges that build problem-solving and teamwork skills. You will work with instructors in small groups, receive one-on-one support, and rotate through project-based sessions in areas like Roblox 3D game design, Minecraft modding, and 2D animation. Teachers guide you through each step, annotating work and helping troubleshoot challenges in real time. By the end, you’ll have produced tangible projects while building technical, creative, and collaborative abilities.
Location: Online
Cost: $950 (discounts available for early registration)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: December 26 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
AlphaStar’s online winter math camps focus on rapid skill development and advanced problem-solving in preparation for competitions like AMC 8, MATHCOUNTS, and AIME. You’ll work through intensive booster courses that include practice tests, exam strategy sessions, and detailed problem-solving exercises. Each course is tailored to your current skill level, whether you are refining Algebra 1 topics or tackling high-level contest material. Daily sessions challenge you to apply concepts in new ways, building both speed and accuracy, and instructors provide guidance to help you understand complex problems and optimize your performance.
13. CodeWizardsHQ
Location: Online
Cost: $499–$599
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school students
CodeWizardsHQ offers structured online coding classes for middle school students, covering Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS, databases, and APIs through live, project-based learning. You’ll start with Python to build a strong foundation, then move on to JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to create interactive web applications. As you progress, you’ll learn how to integrate databases and APIs to build feature-rich programs that resemble real-world software. Each class is live and taught by expert instructors who guide you through hands-on projects. You’ll apply new skills immediately, and a gamified dashboard helps track your progress and keep you motivated.
Location: Online
Cost: $125 (250 credits)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 3–8 students/class
Dates: December 30 – January 3
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18
Outschool’s Teens Winter Break Camp is a five-day online acting program for ages 13–18 that focuses on advanced performance techniques, scene work, and live group collaboration. Each day begins with vocal and movement warm-ups to help you prepare physically and mentally. You’ll then work through exercises that build focus, develop sense memory, and strengthen your ability to create believable characters. You’ll rehearse scenes from a published play in small groups, guided by experienced instructors who offer personalized feedback on your delivery and character choices.
Location: Online
Cost: Varies by session (contact for pricing; financial assistance information not specified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Winter Break I: December 20–23; Winter Break II: December 27–30
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 3 to 12
Northwestern University’s Center for Talent Development (CTD) offers online enrichment courses for students in grades 3 to 12. These are instructor-guided programs that let you study advanced topics in STEM, humanities, and leadership. You complete the coursework at your own pace while receiving weekly feedback and guidance from instructors. The classes are asynchronous, so you can log in anytime, though some include optional live sessions for group discussions. You can select subjects such as computer science, creative writing, psychology, engineering, or leadership.
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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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