14 Programs for Middle School Students in Oregon
- Stephen Turban
- 21 minutes ago
- 9 min read
If you’re in middle school and starting to explore what makes a subject interesting to you, a program outside your regular classes can help you follow that curiosity. These programs give you time to explore one subject more deeply, work on small projects, and learn through activities that may not fit into a typical school day. These experiences help you build skills that can prepare you for high school, like problem-solving and time management.
What programs are available for middle school students in Oregon?
Oregon has a wide range of options for middle school students who want academic and extracurricular experiences. You’ll find programs connected to science, art, engineering, environmental studies, writing, and cultural exploration. Some take place in university labs or community workshops, and others bring you into parks, museums, or local organizations. You will gain experience that can later help you explore high school opportunities, summer programs, or even early internships.
With that, here are 14 programs for middle school students in Oregon!
14 Programs for Middle School Students in Oregon
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective based on school chapter capacity. Information on the exact cohort size is not available.
Location: Portland State University, Portland, OR (with regional school-based chapters statewide)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Weekly sessions throughout the school year; schedule varies by chapter
Application Deadline: Varies by school chapter; typically aligned with school-year enrollment
Eligibility: Students in Grades 5–12; participants must attend a partnering MESA chapter school
The Oregon MESA Schools Program offers a structured, NGSS-aligned invention and engineering curriculum delivered through weekly one-hour sessions at participating middle schools. You learn core skills such as problem identification, idea generation, iterative prototyping, and cooperative teamwork through invention projects. The program also integrates public speaking and presentation practice as you prepare to share your prototypes at local events and competitions. Industry mentors, volunteers, and educators support the learning process, giving you exposure to STEM professionals and real-world engineering problem-solving.
Location: Online
Cost: Varies; need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: 8 weeks (rolling cohorts throughout the year)
Application Deadline: Varies across different cohorts
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8; open to motivated students globally interested in exploring academic research or writing.
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program pairs middle school students with Ph.D. mentors from universities such as Harvard, Oxford, MIT, and Princeton to explore academic subjects and develop a written project. Across eight weeks, you’ll learn to read and interpret academic literature, build research questions, and create outputs such as a high school-level research paper or case study. You’ll receive individualized feedback through eight mentor sessions and two writing-coach sessions, ensuring you master both analytical and writing fundamentals. Research topics range from gene editing to behavioral economics. Lumiere also offers a Junior Research and Publication Program for students who wish to publish their research in academic journals.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information on the exact cohort size is not available
Location: Multiple locations across Oregon (Corvallis, Grants Pass, Independence, St. Helens, Woodburn, Klamath Falls, Lebanon)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: June 23–27; July 7–11; July 14–18; July 21–25; July 28–August 1; August 4–7; August 11–15; August 18–22
Application Deadline: Rolling until spots fill
Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th graders
Oregon State University’s iINVENT Summer Camp gives you a week to build something from the ground up, starting with a rough idea and taking it through design, testing, and revision. OSU student mentors walk you through each stage of the invention process while you tackle hands-on STEM challenges and create a product for a real user you choose. You also take part in activities developed with the US Patent and Trademark Office, which introduce you to how inventors document and protect their ideas. The camp runs in multiple rural and suburban communities across Oregon and is completely free, which makes it easy for students to join.
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Rolling deadlines. You can apply to the program here.
Program dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring cohort and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
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.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; participation limited to partner schools and available slots
Location: Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR (with partner middle schools across Oregon)
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Ongoing during the school year, with activities, mentoring, and events scheduled across fall–spring (timeline varies by school site)
Application Deadline: Varies by partner school; typically aligned with school enrollment and program outreach cycles
Eligibility: Middle school students at Harriet Tubman, Ockley Green, Faubion K–8, Vernon K–8, Parkrose, French Prairie, Valor, Warm Springs K–8, Brixner Jr. High, Chiloquin Jr. High, and Chiloquin Elementary (plus linked high school and post-secondary pathways)
On Track OHSU! is a long-term pathway where you start exploring STEM and health careers in middle school and continue building skills through high school and into college. At partner schools, you take part in workshops, hands-on science activities, and career sessions that introduce you to biomedical and health topics in a way that feels accessible, not overwhelming. Each school has a dedicated Community Manager or Student Success Facilitator who helps run the programming, stays in touch with families, and provides one-on-one guidance when you need it. As the years progress, you return to STEM and health themes in deeper, more structured ways, which helps you grow your confidence in scientific settings and understand what different careers actually look like day to day.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment (public charter)
Location: Online; based in Prairie City, OR
Cost: Tuition-free public school
Program Dates: Follows the standard Oregon academic calendar
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Oregon residents entering grades 6–8
The Virtual Preparatory Academy of Oregon gives you a full middle-school experience online, built around a mix of live classes and self-paced work so you can move through your day with a rhythm that fits you. Certified Oregon teachers lead the lessons, check in with you regularly, and help you stay on track through small-group sessions and one-on-one support. The coursework follows state standards and covers all the usual subjects, with electives in areas like art, PE, and early career exploration. You also have access to digital tools, counselors, and optional clubs or field trips that add a bit of community to an online setting.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment with limited seats
Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Cost: Paid programs; needs-based scholarships are available
Program Dates: June–August; varies by program
Application Deadline: Registration opens March 2; closes when full
Eligibility: Students entering Grades 6–8
The OSU STEM Academy runs a mix of middle school camps where you spend a week exploring subjects like wildlife biology, engineering, physical computing, 3D printing, coding, and game design. Each session is built around hands-on work with OSU faculty, so you’re wiring microcontrollers, designing simple arcade games, testing chemistry or engineering concepts, or modeling objects for 3D printing. Many camps also bring you into real labs or out on short field explorations around campus, giving you a close look at how scientists and engineers work.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited capacity; Information on the exact cohort size is not available
Location: University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Cost: $800 tuition; needs-based scholarships available
Program Dates: Session 1: July 7–18; Session 2: July 28–August 8
Application Deadline: Priority deadline March 15 for returning campers; general applications open January 10 and are accepted until full
Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th graders (exceptions for returning rising 9th graders)
SPICE Camp runs as a two-week science intensive where you move through hands-on labs, campus challenges, and guided experiments alongside a small cohort of rising 6th, 7th, or 8th graders. Each track focuses on a different aspect of science, so you might work through a mock forensics case, sort through geological or chemical evidence, or build maker projects like BEAM bots and simple e-textile circuits. Most days blend data collection, trial-and-error problem-solving, and short discussions on how scientists communicate their findings. You also take on group investigations and prototypes with support from University of Oregon instructors and research staff, giving you steady practice in thinking like a scientist while working with a team.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not published; registration is first-come, first-served with waitlists once full
Location: University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
Cost: Approximately $250–$350 per week; discounted rates for UO affiliates; eligible for UO Childcare Subsidy
Program Dates: Week-long sessions across June–August (dates vary by camp)
Application Deadline: Registration for middle school camps opens March 21; applications accepted until sessions are full
Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th graders
Duck Trails offers a set of themed day camps for middle schoolers, including options such as Cooking Academy, Esports Arena, Imagination Academy, Sports Academy, Climbing and Outdoor Adventure, and EmpowerU. Each camp runs for a week and combines structured activities with time for peer interaction, giving you practice in teamwork, leadership, and decision-making. Depending on the track, you might work on cooking techniques, problem-solving in games and esports settings, creative projects, sport-specific skills, or outdoor and climbing challenges. The program is designed around age-appropriate physical and instructional activities.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information on the exact cohort size is not available.
Location: Oregon Outdoor Education Center, Salem, OR (OSU Extension)
Cost: Most week-long camps cost $625 (includes meals, lodging, activities)
Program Dates: Varies by camp (Wild Rivers Camp, Wildlife Stewards Camp, Mini Camps)
Application Deadline: Rolling (registration opens early in the year)
Eligibility: Ages 8–13 for most middle-school-level camps; open to all students (not limited to 4-H members)
Oregon 4-H Summer Camps give you a mix of outdoor adventure and structured STEM learning in a setting built for upper elementary and middle school students. You spend your days moving between canoeing, archery, nature science lessons, leadership games, and hands-on workshop sessions, all led by trained instructors within an ACA-accredited program. Longer options like Wild Rivers Camp and Wildlife Stewards Camp follow a classic overnight schedule with cabin groups and guided activities, while the shorter three-day sessions offer a tighter, themed introduction to outdoor skills. Throughout the week, you practice making decisions, solving problems with your group, and navigating new situations with a bit more independence.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information on the exact cohort size is not available
Location: Portland Community College, Portland, OR
Cost: Varies by workshop
Program Dates: Summer, varies by program (exact dates released each spring)
Application Deadline: Opens May; rolling until classes fill
Eligibility: Ages 12–17
The PCC Summer Teen Program offers a wide range of short workshops designed to help you explore new interests across technology, arts, engineering, cooking, design, and more. You learn in small groups, which means instructors can give you close guidance as you experiment, build, create, and try out new skills. The program is ideal if you want a flexible summer option where you can choose specific subjects rather than enroll in a single long camp. Classes blend structured instruction with fun, project-based activities, letting you sample career areas while building confidence in a college setting. With topics changing each year, you get exposure to new tools and techniques, making the experience fresh even if you return for multiple summers.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information on the exact cohort size is not available.
Location: Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum, McMinnville, OR
Cost: $299–$399 (tiered pricing)
Program Dates: March 23–27
Application Deadline: Not stated; pricing tiers close Dec 31 / Feb 14 / Mar 21
Eligibility: Grades 6–8
The Aviation and Space Museum’s Spring STEAM Camp gives you a week of aerospace-focused engineering and problem-solving built around the museum’s aircraft collection. You move through daily STEAM labs, guided tours, and NASA-style challenges, with educators leading you through four engineering or tech blocks each day. Between activities, you spend time in the galleries studying aircraft like the SR-71, F-117, and the Spruce Goose, using the exhibits as part of the learning process.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information on the exact cohort size is not available.
Location: Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR
Cost: $195
Program Dates: July 20–23 (Camp 1); August 3–6 (Camp 2)
Application Deadline: Registration opens early January; rolling until full
Eligibility: Ages 11–12
These four-day marine science camps introduce you to Oregon’s coastal ecosystems through hands-on exploration, field work, and lab-based investigations. You spend each day studying tidepools, estuaries, coastal habitats, and marine organisms alongside educators and scientists at Oregon State University. The camp includes field trips, wet-lab experiments, species identification, and exposure to real scientific tools and research techniques. You also learn about marine biodiversity, ocean processes, and human impact through guided activities and direct interaction with researchers.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Information on the exact cohort size is not available.
Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Cost: $475 (day), $1050 (residential)
Program Dates: July 7–11 (Beginner), July 14–18 (Intermediate/Advanced)
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Ages 13–18
The OSU Music Technology & Production Camp introduces you to music production, audio design, and digital composition using studio-level tools. You work on multiple individual and collaborative audio projects, learning skills like recording, beat creation, mixing, effects processing, and sound design. You can choose between beginner and advanced tracks and receive daily guided instruction from OSU’s music technology faculty. Throughout the week, you explore professional workflows, refine creative production techniques, and learn how digital music is constructed from idea to polished output. The camp concludes with a showcase concert.
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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