15 Programs for Middle School Students in Connecticut
- Stephen Turban
- 4 minutes ago
- 10 min read
Middle school is a good time to start exploring subjects beyond what you learn in class and to build skills you’ll use in high school.
Why should I do a program in middle school?
Enrichment programs can help you try out advanced topics, work on projects, and learn from mentors in areas such as science, writing, or engineering. Some also offer exposure to professional settings or opportunities to collaborate with other students. Many of these programs are free or offer financial aid, so you can participate without needing to make a big financial commitment.
Connecticut, home to universities and research institutions, is an excellent location for such programs. So if you're looking to deepen your academic interests, gain new skills, or explore possible future career paths, joining a program such as the ones listed below can be a valuable step. We’ve put together a list of 15 programs for middle school students in Connecticut that offer strong learning experiences across different subjects.
15 Programs for Middle School Students in Connecticut
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost/Stipend: $75. Full scholarships available
Dates: June 29 to July 30
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: Rising students in grades 6 to 9 enrolled in public and parochial schools in New Haven, CT
The Ulysses S. Grant Foundation provides small, single-grade classes taught by Yale undergraduates, giving you a structured but accessible introduction to college-level learning. You’ll choose between two academic tracks: Humanities (focused on discussion-based learning in subjects like arts, writing, and philosophy) or Investigations (which explores topics such as sustainability, government, and STEM). Over the summer, you’ll build foundational skills in reading, writing, and math, while also diving into topics not typically covered in school. The program maintains a rigorous but supportive environment designed for students seeking academic growth. You'll also gain exposure to new mentors and the Yale campus, helping you prepare for more advanced academic experiences.
Location: Remote. Online mentorship
Cost/Stipend: Varies by subject. Full financial aid available
Dates: 8 week program. Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program is an 8-week selective research experience built for curious middle schoolers who want to dive into real academic projects. The program is fully virtual, and you’ll be paired one-on-one with a PhD-level mentor from a top university. At the start, you’ll choose a subject track- STEM, humanities, or social science, and receive a guided introduction to advanced topics. With your mentor’s support, you’ll design and complete an independent research project on a question that genuinely interests you. Along the way, you’ll gain college-level skills in academic writing, critical thinking, and data analysis. By the end, you’ll produce a formal research paper or project, an impressive achievement at the middle school level.
Location: Hartford Youth Scholars, office at Trinity College, Hartford, CT
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: Three 5-week summer sessions after 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. The school year includes Saturday classes during 7th and 8th grades from September to May. Total program length is 26 months
Application Deadline: Nominations and applications take place during 6th grade
Eligibility: Hartford residents in 6th grade with strong academics and limited access to preparatory resources
Hartford Youth Scholars’ Collegiate Academy is a free, 26-month academic program for highly motivated students from Hartford. Starting the summer after 6th grade, you’ll attend two full-time summer academies with advanced classes in math, literature, writing, science, and a foreign language. During the school year, you’ll meet on Saturdays- 7th grade focuses on SSAT prep, while 8th grade emphasizes high school readiness. You’ll also receive tutoring, leadership training, and support with high school applications. Admission is selective and typically requires a nomination, testing, and an interview.
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies by session. Full financial aid available
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks on weekends during the spring cohort. 25 hours over 2 weeks on weekdays during the summer cohort
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines. You can apply to the program here
Eligibility: 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: Hopkins School, New Haven, CT
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: Summer program runs for 5 weeks full time from July to August. After school program meets weekly from January to May
Application Deadline: Application materials available by the third week of October. Deadline in January
Eligibility: Students in New Haven public or parochial schools applying in 5th grade. Commitment from the student and family to a 4 year program
Pathfinder is a free, multi-year academic enrichment and high school preparation program based at Hopkins School for students from New Haven. Beginning the summer before 6th grade, you’ll take part in five weeks of full-day summer classes in math, science, humanities, and Latin. During the school year, you’ll attend weekly after-school sessions focused on study skills, test prep, and academic reinforcement. The program includes homework support, one-on-one tutoring, and guidance for applying to competitive high schools. Participation continues through 8th grade, with family involvement and consistent engagement being key expectations.
Location: Hamden Hall Country Day School, Hamden, CT
Cost/Stipend: Free. Fully funded by Hamden Hall
Dates: July 13 to July 17
Application Deadline: May 15
Eligibility: Non Hamden Hall students entering grades 6, 7, or 8
The Summer Engineering & Science Academy (SESA) at Hamden Hall is a fully-funded, one-week STEM enrichment program in July that immerses middle schoolers in hands-on lab work and engineering challenges. You will work in state-of-the-art labs with Hamden Hall faculty to explore topics such as DNA forensics, coding, rocketry, cryptography, chemistry, and more. The focus is on experiential learning where you will conduct experiments, build projects, and collaborate to solve problems in a fun, group setting. Daily activities include morning and afternoon research sessions, a supervised swim at the campus pool, and lunch provided.
Location: PEP activities take place locally at participating middle schools or community centers across Connecticut
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: Saturday Enrichment Program on October 4, October 18, October 25, November 8, and November 15
Application Deadline: Application opens September 9 based on previous cycles
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
The Pre-Engineering Program (PEP) is an enrichment initiative that aims to spark interest in STEM careers through interactive math and science activities. Run by UConn’s School of Engineering (often in collaboration with schools and community groups), PEP engages you in hands-on projects that demonstrate real-world engineering concepts. For instance, you might build bridges or towers to learn about structural engineering, design simple machines, create water filters to learn about environmental engineering, or program small robots – all while developing problem-solving skills. In addition to technical activities, PEP may include field trips (like visiting UConn’s engineering labs or local tech companies) and mentoring by UConn engineering students. By the end, you will gain a deeper understanding of what engineers do and what STEM opportunities await in high school and beyond.
8. SigmaCamp
Location: Sharon, CT
Cost/Stipend: $1,850. Sibling discounts available. Twenty percent off for a second child. Thirty five percent off for a third child. Twenty percent off if attending both SigmaCamp and SigmaNext
Dates: August 1 to August 8
Application Deadline: Opens in February
Eligibility: Middle and high school students aged 12 to 15
SigmaCamp is a one-week residential STEM camp for talented students to explore advanced math, physics, computer science, biology, chemistry, and engineering. You will spend a week living on a lakefront campus and learning through hands-on labs, lectures, and workshops led by professors and graduate instructors from top universities. The program also includes fun, non-academic activities (such as sports and art) to foster friendships and build community.
Location: Storrs, CT
Cost/Stipend: $995 per week for residential students. $695 per week for day campers. Financial aid available
Dates: Session 1: June 28 to July 3 | Session 2: July 5 to July 10 | Session 3: July 13 to July 18
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Current female students in grades 5 to 7
SPARK is a week-long summer STEM camp for middle school girls run by the University of Connecticut’s Vergnano Institute for Inclusion. This immersive program gives you a hands-on introduction to engineering and science in a supportive, girls-only environment. Each day blends interactive labs, design projects, and creativity/innovation sessions with mentorship from UConn’s female engineering students and faculty. SPARK uniquely combines STEM learning, women’s empowerment workshops, creativity exercises, and traditional camp fun to inspire the next generation of female engineers.
Location: Miss Porter’s School, Farmington, CT
Cost/Stipend: $1,750 per week for residential students. $1,350 per week for day campers. Partial financial aid available
Dates:Week 1: July 5 to July 11Week 2: July 12 to July 18Week 3: July 19 to July 25
Application Deadline: Programs fill on a first come, first served basis. Financial aid applications due by March 1
Eligibility: Female students entering grades 6 to 9
Miss Porter’s School runs the Summer in Farmington program, which includes the Sarah Porter Leadership Institute (SPLI), a signature leadership development camp for girls. SPLI is offered in three one-week modules, each focusing on themes such as principles of leadership, risk-taking & resilience, and “leading well”. Through interactive workshops, team projects, and mentorship, you will build skills in public speaking, collaborative problem-solving, community action, and global citizenship. The environment is supportive and empowering, where you will learn from Porter’s faculty and older student interns, practice new skills, and gain confidence to lead.
Location: Mystic Aquarium, Mystic, CT
Cost/Stipend: Varies by session, check here
Dates: Week-long sessions run from mid-June through late August. Check here to know the dates for specific sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions; Early bird pricing till February 28
Eligibility: Camps are divided by entering grade bands. Middle schoolers (approx. ages 10-14) fall into the “Grades 4-6” group for junior camps and “Grades 7-10” for teen camps
Mystic Aquarium offers weekly summer camps that let middle school students become marine scientists for a week. Camps are themed around marine biology, ocean conservation, and animal care. You will meet animal care staff, learn how to start a career in marine science, and study local marine life and ecosystems. Camps blend hands-on activities, animal encounters, science experiments, games, and field trips. Younger middle-schoolers (grades 4–6) can join programs such as Mystic River Adventure (which includes learning to sail a small boat on the river) or Fishy Science & Art (combining marine science with creative art projects). Each session is in-person, led by aquarium educators with a low student-to-staff ratio for plenty of interaction.
Location: TMSC Mountaintop Campus, Avon, CT
Cost/Stipend: Weekly tuition ranges from $300 to $600 per course, depending on program. Early bird discounts available
Dates: Weekly programs run from June 22 to August 10
Application Deadline: To be announced
Eligibility: Students entering grades K to 8
Talcott Mountain Science Center (TMSC) runs the Summer of STEM Adventures, a series of week-long STEM courses on a mountaintop campus for students entering grades K–8. These programs let you pursue specialized interests in science and technology with practical learning every day. Each week, Talcott offers about 8 different themed classes for grades 5–8, such as Palaeontology (dinosaur discoveries), Electromagnetism, App Design Lab, LEGO Engineering, Rocketry, Robotics, Forensics, Video Game Development, and Astronomy, among others. Classes are kept small and are taught by expert instructors (often TMSC staff or visiting STEM professionals) who guide students through experiments, projects, and even field trips (for example, a class might hike to a geological site for rock collection or visit a local lab).
Location: Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CT
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program. Financial aid available
Dates: June 28 to July 31. Two, four, and five week programs available
Application Deadline: Rolling from mid November through early June while space remains
Eligibility: Rising students in grades 7 to 9 who are at least 11 years old by the program start
Choate Rosemary Hall offers intensive summer academic programs open to middle school students. The Middle School Academic Enrichment program allows rising 7th–9th graders to fast-forward their learning in a variety of subjects. You will choose courses from a wide range of topics, including Puzzles & Logic (problem-solving), Model United Nations (global affairs), Creative Writing, Digital Photography, The Teen Brain (neuroscience for youth), and many more. The approach combines rigorous learning with creative exploration, so classes often involve projects, debates, experiments, and collaborative work. Outside of class, you’ll get a taste of campus life with structured afternoon activities, workshops, and field trips, all within a supportive residential community. (There is also a parallel Young Artists program if you’re interested in visual or performing arts.)
Location: UConn’s Avery Point, Groton, CT; residential and day options available
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program, check here
Dates: One-week overnight camps starting from June 21 to August 17
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Middle school students interested in marine science (Programs for students ranging from age 9-17)
Project Oceanology (Project O) offers immersive marine science camps where middle schoolers become field scientists on the sea. Their flagship Ocean Camp is a one-week overnight camp where you will spend each day out on the water: trawling for fish and crabs aboard a research vessel, exploring salt marshes and tidal pools, testing water quality, and more. Under the guidance of professional marine scientists, you will learn to use oceanographic equipment (such as plankton nets, sediment corers, water test kits, etc.) and conduct your own mini-research projects. Evenings are filled with team-building activities and classic camp fun, forging lifelong friendships. For those who prefer day programs, Project O runs an Undersea Technology Camp where you will build underwater ROV robots, map the ocean floor, and tackle marine engineering challenges using drones and sensors. There are also specialized sessions, such as a Marine Science Research Experience for older students, and joint camps with Mystic Aquarium (mixing aquarium-based learning with boat-based exploration).
Location: Stanford University (Online)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Dates: Summer program runs July 6 to July 24. Fall semester runs August 26 to December 9
Application Deadline: March 25
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 or 7 who live in and attend school in the U.S. Household income typically below $90,000
The Stanford Middle School Scholars Program (SMSSP) is a tuition-free online opportunity designed to prepare you for the challenges of rigorous high school academics. It kicks off with an intensive three-week summer course, where you’ll explore subjects such as academic writing, math, and interdisciplinary thinking. After the summer, you’ll continue meeting weekly through the fall semester to sharpen your study habits, prepare for high school, and explore advanced topics. You’ll learn from expert instructors, many with PhDs, who provide live mentorship and help you build critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Along the way, you’ll connect with a national cohort of driven peers, giving you a strong academic network.
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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