14 STEM Programs for Middle School Students in Durham, NC
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 9 min read
If you’re a middle school student, you can find a range of STEM programs that help you explore science and technology outside the school classroom. These programs give you the chance to build new skills, take part in projects, and experience practical applications of STEM. You work with professors and experts in the field, learning directly from them, and also meet like-minded students to share your academic interests. If you’re based in Durham, NC, there’s multiple options for you to explore.
There’s multiple STEM programs in Durham, hosted by various universities and organizations, covering subjects like coding, robotics, engineering, and lab-based science. As a participant, you may get to work on group projects, solve design challenges, or take part in experiments that mirror what professionals do in labs and tech spaces. Along the way, you’ll also build practical skills such as teamwork, communication, and problem-solving that will support your academic growth.
To help you find the right fit, we’ve compiled a list of 14 STEM programs for middle school students in Durham, NC!
14 STEM Programs for Middle School Students in Durham, NC
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies, financial aid available
Program dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an online mentorship-based research experience tailored for middle school students who want to create an academic project in a field they’re passionate about. You’ll work closely with a mentor (often affiliated with prestigious institutions like MIT, Harvard, or Stanford) who supports you throughout the research and project development process. Throughout the program, you learn to conduct independent investigations, think critically, and complete a final project that reflects your area of interest. The program balances academic challenge with scheduling flexibility, featuring multiple application rounds during the year.
Location: Offered at participating schools and partner organizations in North Carolina, including Durham
Cost: Free for participating students
Program dates: Varies; typically runs during the academic year, with project completion timelines set by participating schools or organizations
Application deadline: Rolling, depending on local implementation
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students through participating schools or organizations
NIIMBL bioLOGIC is a flexible, project-based learning program designed for high school classrooms that blends STEM, entrepreneurship, and real-world problem-solving. Developed by the National Institute for Innovation in Manufacturing Biopharmaceuticals (NIIMBL), the curriculum centers on three pillars: engagement with advanced technologies, exposure to career pathways in life sciences and advanced manufacturing, and development of entrepreneurial thinking. You will work in teams of 4–6 to identify a real-world problem, conceptualize a product-based solution, build a business model, and pitch their ideas to industry professionals.
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies, financial aid available
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
Application deadline: Varies by the cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual course for middle school students in grades 6 through 8 who want to learn the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you’ll study Python programming and explore topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. The program includes live lectures and small-group mentoring sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio.
You’ll work on a group project with three to five peers, applying what you’ve learned to build real AI models. Past student projects have included classifying music genres and creating algorithms that recommend educational resources based on user input. You can choose between two formats: 25 hours over 10 weekends or 25 hours over two weeks during summer break.
Location: Statewide North Carolina, with programs available in Durham and surrounding areas
Cost: Free
Dates: Varies; events and outreach occur throughout the year
Application deadline: Rolling; opportunities are available year-round
Eligibility: Open to K–12 students and community college participants; middle school students are welcome.
BioNetwork STEM Outreach helps middle and high school students in North Carolina learn about bioscience and biotech careers through fun, hands-on activities. You can take part in classroom workshops, career fairs, and big community STEM events. One example is EASE, where hundreds of students visit a college campus to solve science challenges and explore real-world problems. The program shows you how science connects to jobs in biotech and life sciences. You’ll learn about career paths, meet professionals, and try activities that build skills for the future.
Location: North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, Durham, NC
Cost: Free
Dates: June 15–20 (Cohort 2); July 13–18 (Cohort 1)
Application Deadline: February 4
Eligibility: Current eighth-grade students residing in specific North Carolina counties (including Durham); priority given to students from groups underrepresented in STEM and college attendance.
Step Up to STEM is a free, one-week residential summer program for rising ninth graders in North Carolina. Hosted at NCSSM-Durham, it introduces students to advanced science, math, and technology through lab experiments, data analysis, and collaborative projects. You’ll work with NCSSM faculty and STEM professionals while building communication and teamwork skills. If you complete the program after eighth grade, you’ll be invited back for a second summer of advanced STEM programming before tenth grade.
Location: Triangle region of North Carolina, including Durham
Cost: Free
Dates: Varies; programming and events occur throughout the year
Application deadline: Rolling; opportunities are available year-round
Eligibility: Open to K–12 students, with a focus on engaging and supporting girls in STEM education and career pathways.
The Triangle Women in STEM K–12 STEM Pipeline Action Team helps students explore science, technology, engineering, and math through workshops, mentoring, and fun STEM activities. The program focuses on encouraging girls to try STEM and meet women who work in high-tech jobs. You’ll learn by doing, asking questions, and building confidence while working with others. Events include STEM days, after-school clubs, and special programs like Girls Who Code and STEM Power Hour. You’ll get to meet role models, try new things, and discover what STEM careers are really like.
Location: Durham, NC
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Limited; capacity for BRITE Visits is limited to 24 students per visit.
Program dates: BRITE Visits are typically hosted on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the fall and spring semesters
Application Deadline: No fixed deadline; school groups must schedule in advance until capacity is filled
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students in North Carolina; BRITE Visits are available to middle school groups through their teachers
BRITE Futures is a STEM program at North Carolina Central University that helps middle and high school students explore careers in biotechnology and drug discovery. For middle schoolers, the main entry point is BRITE Visits, where small groups come to campus to do lab experiments using real scientific equipment, tour the BRITE research labs, and meet scientists working on medicine and biotech projects. These visits are designed to build confidence and spark interest in science by showing students what it’s like to work in a lab and solve real-world problems.
Location: Duke University, Durham, NC
Cost: Paid; tuition varies by course and format. Need-based financial aid and scholarships are available.
Dates: Multiple summer sessions, typically June - August
Application Deadline: January 23 (priority consideration for financial aid); applications remain open until courses are full.
Eligibility: Open to students in grades 6–8 for commuter or residential programs; some courses may have GPA recommendations (3.5+) or prerequisites.
Duke Pre-College Summer STEM Programs offer middle school students in grades 6 through 8 the chance to explore STEM subjects at one of the nation’s top research universities. You can choose from one- or two-week residential courses in areas like engineering, biomedical sciences, environmental research, coding, and data analytics. Courses are taught by Duke faculty, PhD students, and industry professionals, and include lab work, field experiences, and collaborative projects that mirror real-world problem-solving. You’ll live in Duke’s residence halls, participate in extracurricular activities, and get early exposure to college-level expectations.
Location: Various schools and community centers in Durham, NC (check local site for exact address)
Cost: Starting at $275; payment plans are available
Dates: Vary by location, typically one week in June - August
Application Deadline: Registration remains open until sessions are full; early registration recommended
Eligibility: Open to students entering grades K–6; Durham middle schoolers in grade 6 are eligible.
Camp Invention is a nationally acclaimed, weeklong STEM day camp for students entering grades K–6. Developed by the National Inventors Hall of Fame, it offers challenges that blend science, engineering, creativity, and real-world problem-solving. Each summer features a brand-new curriculum with four themed modules, like building claw machines to explore physics and entrepreneurship, designing optical illusion devices inspired by special effects technology, and creating eco-friendly rovers to study Antarctic penguin habitats.
Led by local educators and hosted in schools, libraries, or community centers across the U.S., Camp Invention fosters teamwork, adaptability, and innovation. The latest theme, Discover, includes modules like Penguin Launch, Illusion Workshop, Claw Arcade, and In Control, each designed to spark curiosity and build STEM skills.
Location: North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics – Durham, NC (also offered at NCSSM-Morganton, Hickory, and online).
Cost: $495–$1,495
Dates: Various weeklong sessions, June–July
Application Deadline: Applications accepted until sessions are full; early application recommended.
Eligibility: Rising 7th–12th graders from anywhere in the world; Durham middle schoolers in grades 7–8 are eligible.
NCSSM Summer Accelerator is a weeklong STEM program for rising 7th–12th graders, hosted by the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) at its Durham and Morganton campuses, with additional day and online options. You’ll explore topics like robotics, biomedical engineering, environmental science, and coding, taught by scientists, university professors, engineers, and other industry professionals. Beyond the classroom, the program includes enrichment workshops in mindfulness, college admissions, and resume writing, plus cultural, recreational, and social activities.
Location: North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics – Durham, NC (also offered at NCSSM-Morganton)
Cost: $350
Dates: Various weeklong sessions, June–July
Application Deadline: Applications accepted until sessions are full; early application recommended
Eligibility: Rising 5th–6th graders from anywhere in the world; Durham middle schoolers in grade 6 are eligible.
NCSSM Early Accelerator is a non-residential day program for rising 5th and 6th graders that introduces younger students to STEM through hands-on, themed “STEM adventures.” Hosted at NCSSM’s Durham, Morganton, and Hickory campuses, the program runs Monday through Friday and includes structured instruction, independent discovery, and all necessary materials. You’ll work with expert instructors on interactive projects in engineering, science, and technology, using real-world problem-solving approaches that encourage creativity, collaboration, and intellectual risk-taking.
Location: Raleigh, Durham & Research Triangle, NC (in-school programs)
Cost: $8 per student (plus $20 travel fee); minimums apply
Program dates: Year-round, scheduled on request
Application Deadline: No fixed deadline; booking subject to availability
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6–8; programs booked by schools, PTAs/PTOs, or parents.
Science Made Fun – High Touch High Tech Middle School Programs bring hands-on science directly into your classroom. These in-school field trips are designed for grades 6–8 and include fun experiments that match your science curriculum. You’ll explore topics like biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, and space science through activities such as DNA Detectives, Aviation Antics, Climate Commandos, and Journey to Galapagos. Each session is led by trained science educators and includes all materials. You’ll get to do real experiments, ask questions, and take home a science project and certificate. The goal is to make science exciting and help you learn by doing.
Location: United Skates of America, 715 N. Hoover Road, Durham, NC
Cost: Packages start at $15–$20 per student, depending on inclusions (STEM lesson, skate rental, admission, optional food)
Dates: Year-round availability; scheduling based on group bookings
Application Deadline: No fixed deadline; booking required to secure preferred dates
Eligibility: Open to elementary and middle school students; bookings typically made by schools, youth groups, or organizations
STEM Field Trips at United Skates – Durham, NC, combine science learning with roller skating fun. During a three-hour visit, you’ll spend one hour in a hands-on STEM lesson led by trained educators, followed by two hours of skating to help reinforce what you learned. Lessons match classroom standards and cover topics like motion, friction, sound, light, health, probability, engineering, and cell biology. There are 12 different STEM modules to choose from, including middle school–specific options like Physics of Artistic Roller Skating. Each lesson uses creative examples to make science exciting and easy to understand. Teachers can pick the module that best fits their class.
Cost: Varies by workshop; some free options
Location: Durham, North Carolina
Dates: Varies by workshop; typically offered in week-long sessions during summer (June–August) and spring break
Application Deadline: Varies by workshop; admissions usually open in April and close in early to mid-June
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students (separate sessions for each group); past workshops have been for rising 6th–9th graders in math, science, and computing.
Shodor’s STEM Workshops in downtown Durham help middle school students explore science, math, and computer programming through activities. You’ll use modeling, simulation, and coding tools to solve real problems and learn how science connects to everyday life. Workshops are held in small groups, with support from STEM educators and high school peer mentors. You can try projects like environmental modeling or engineering simulations, using state-of-the-art computers and software. Sessions are offered as half-day or full-day workshops, and they focus on teamwork, creativity, and learning by doing.
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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