14 STEM Summer Camps in New Jersey for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 3 hours ago
- 9 min read
Camps are a strong option for middle school students seeking early exposure to advanced academics and practical skills. Additionally, camps are typically age-appropriate, project-oriented, and accessible learning experiences that can help you dive into your interests and connect with like-minded peers. If you are interested in STEM, summer camps can help you build skills in coding, design, lab-based investigations, and experimentation.
What to expect from STEM summer camps in New Jersey?
New Jersey is home to universities, independent organizations, and museums that offer summer camps for high school students interested in STEM. As a participant, you will spend a few days to a few weeks in the summer gaining exposure to STEM workplaces, university campuses, engineering design labs, and museum floors, working on projects and connecting with professors, professionals, and peers who share your interests.
To help you get started, we have narrowed down 14 STEM summer camps in New Jersey for middle school students.
If you’re looking for online summer programs, check out our blog here.
Location: DNA Learning Center at Passaic County Biotechnology Innovation Center, Wayne, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $600 per camp
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple one-week camps, June–August
Application Deadline: Varies by camp
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12; specific grade range varies by camp
The DNA Learning Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New Jersey runs various summer camps focused on molecular biology. At camp, you will take part in lab-based activities led by trained instructors who will guide you through current laboratory methods. Camp activities may include building physical models of cells and DNA, extracting DNA from plant or animal samples, and modifying bacteria to produce specific enzymes. Through these experiences, you will gain exposure to topics in biotechnology, genetics, and cell biology. You will also practice core laboratory skills, including microscopy, data observation, and scientific modeling.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year; you can apply here.
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an eight-week, virtual, research-focused experience in which you will work one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor. In the first part of the program, you will explore multiple subject areas to understand different academic approaches and research styles. Weekly meetings will help you build skills in formulating research questions, evaluating sources, and organizing findings. After choosing a focus area, you will develop a structured research plan under the guidance of your mentor. You will finish by completing a research paper, case study, or presentation that reflects the full research process. analytical, and writing skills that support academic growth as you prepare for high school and future coursework.
Location: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $1,000/week for members; $1,050/week for non-members
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: 20 campers per class
Dates: July–August; multiple weekly sessions
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 1–8; weekly courses grouped by grade level
Liberty Science Center's Science Camp offers week-long programs that introduce STEM through activities and museum exploration. You will gain exposure to fields like engineering, space, chemistry, forensics, and game design while working on experiments and group projects. You may get to work with tools like Tinkercad to create a 3D model, work on a simulated criminal case, and solve puzzles at camp. You will also participate in field trips and outdoor activities during the program. The experience can help you build teamwork, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills as you tackle various challenges and apply classroom STEM concepts.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Application deadline: Rolling; you can view details and apply to the program here.
Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring | 25 hours over two weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort.
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
AI Trailblazers is a 25-hour program that introduces you to artificial intelligence through structured instruction and hands-on coding exercises. The curriculum first focused on Python programming fundamentals, then moved on to concepts such as data analysis, regression, classification, and neural networks. Instruction takes place in small groups, allowing you to receive personalized feedback and ask questions during live sessions. You will work with real datasets to understand how machine learning models are trained and evaluated. Topics on ethical considerations in AI use are integrated throughout the curriculum. The program ends with a guided project that demonstrates your understanding of AI and data science concepts.
Location: Middlesex College main campus, Edison, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Varies by course
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – August 14; multiple weekly sessions
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students ages 5–13; age requirements vary by camp
Camp Middlesex offers one- to eight-week summer sessions across areas, including STEM-focused courses and options in arts, crafts, and sports. Based on the sessions you select, you may work on activities like programming AI-based robots, designing video games, participating in mock trial exercises, or completing medical simulations related to the heart and brain. Each course involves structured challenges, design tasks, and laboratory-style activities connected to the subject area. The courses focus on technical skill development and on building collaboration and communication skills through guided instruction and group work. You can enroll in multiple weekly sessions to explore a range of topics.
Location: Online and in-person camps (sites vary by year)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple two-week camps in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Women and gender-expansive teens ages 13–18
Kode With Klossy’s Summer Camps are free, two-week programs designed for middle and high school students from underrepresented genders in STEM. Here, you will learn through one of four tracks: data science, web development, mobile app development, or machine learning. The curriculum covers programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, and Swift, as well as HTML/CSS and track-specific core concepts. You will apply what you learn to build projects focused on website development, mobile app development, chatbot programming, or data-driven tool use. You will also engage with broader topics like algorithmic bias and digital accessibility. At the end of camp, you will have a project that demonstrates your coding and teamwork skills.
Location: Rutgers University Busch Campus, Piscataway, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $500; scholarships available
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: One-week sessions in June–July (vary by grade)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–11
TARGET is a week-long experience designed to help middle and high school students explore the branches of engineering through lab experiments, faculty-led workshops, and team-based design challenges. Here, you will learn about the engineering design process and prototyping through activities that develop problem-solving and collaboration skills. Rutgers School of Engineering students and faculty members will offer mentorship and guidance throughout the program. The experience can provide insights into university-level engineering academics and career paths in the field.
Location: Northfield Community Middle School, Northfield, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $310 (Camp Invention) | $210 (Leaders-in-Training)
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 22–26
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility:
Camp Invention: Students entering grades K–6
Leaders-in-Training: Students in grades 7–9
Camp Invention is designed for middle schoolers interested in investigating mysteries using forensic science with a robotic capybara, collecting fingerprints, DNA evidence, and suspicious splatters while building detective gadgets. Here, you will experiment with physics and entrepreneurship to design billboard boats that float on water waves. You will also construct DIY rockets, launch planetary missions, record space lab observations, and hatch mysterious animal eggs while discovering crystal formations. You will collaborate with National Inventors Hall of Fame inductees to invent community solutions, creating wearable cryptography devices to protect ideas from intellectual property thieves. If you are in grade 7, 8, or 9, you can join the Leader-in-Training track, where you will serve as a Camp Invention counselor offering support to young campers as they dive into challenges created by education experts and National Inventors Hall of Fame® Inductees.
Location: The College of New Jersey, Ewing, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $625/week (lunch included)
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates:
Week 1: July 6–10
Week 2: July 13–17
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12
At the iSTEM Summer Academy, you will spend a week or two exploring engineering, robotics, and product design through various activities. At the iSTEM MakerCraft Summer Camp, you will learn to use CAD software to design a wearable product and tools such as MATLAB and Simulink to program it. This track offers exposure to coding, electronics, 3D printing, and laser cutting. The iSTEM Automation and Robotics Camp allows you to program microcontroller devices that allow a robot carry out various tasks. You will learn how to create real-world prototypes using rapid prototyping technology, design automated circuits, and work with MathWorks Simulink to control your robot.
Location: Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $2,100
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: ~30 students/year
Dates: July 6–16
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7–9 with a GPA of 2.5 or higher
Rowan University’s STEAM Academy is a two-week, camp-style program that combines STEM and the arts to help you explore your academic and career interests. The Voyagers track is designed for middle school students interested in experiencing university-level instruction and learning about various STEAM fields. You will spend two weeks diving into science, technology, and the arts through project work under the guidance of university faculty. Field trips and extracurricular activities are part of the program. You will also have access to a scholar-leader session to receive guidance on personal development.
Location: Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering at Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $200
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: 25 students per year
Dates: July 14–17
Application Deadline: June (exact date not specified)
Eligibility: Middle school girls
This four-day program at Rowan University is designed for middle school girls who want to explore various engineering fields. You will explore electrical, computer, civil, environmental, chemical, and mechanical engineering while building miniature structures or prototypes. Lab tours and live demonstrations will help you connect these projects to real challenges engineers tackle. You will also participate in mini competitions to test your prototypes. During the program, you will connect with university faculty, staff, and Rowan engineering students, who will offer mentorship and feedback.
Location: Essex County College, Newark, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $490 + $35 registration fee, discounts and financial assistance available
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates:
Session 1: July 7 – 18
Session 2: July 21 – August 1
Session 3: August 4 – 15
Application Deadline: Thursday before each session starts; check full camp details here.
Eligibility: Students in grades 1 – 8, ages 6 – 13
The Essex County College Summer Youth Program offers a series of camps for students in grades 1 to 8, allowing them to explore STEM, the fine arts, and coding. You can choose from a variety of camps, including virtual reality, coding, and fashion. Activities will vary by camp, but each option includes project work, recreational activities, field trips, and academic preparation. For instance, if you choose the coding camp, you will dive into Python, HTML/CSS, and app/web development. In the STEAM camp, you will explore engineering basics and forensic science, including how biology, physics, and chemistry help investigators solve crimes.
Location:
Acton Academy, Morristown, NJ
Community Church, Mountain Lakes, NJ
Amazing Grace Lutheran Church, Florham Park, NJ
Cost/Stipend: Typically $525/week, discounts and scholarships available
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Weekly summer sessions in June – August, vary by location and camp type
Application Deadline: Friday at midnight prior to each camp week
Eligibility: Students ages 11 – 15, camps for younger students also available
Club SciKidz runs a variety of themed STEM camps in New Jersey. Based on the camp you choose, you can explore robotics, astronomy, health sciences, or chemistry. Each day, you will learn through science demonstrations, lessons, and outdoor activities. You may diagnose virtual patients and perform mock surgeries in Junior Physician camps. Alternatively, you will create 3D models and print functional prototypes from your designs in tech- and engineering-focused camps. You may also experiment with chemical reactions, electricity circuits, and forensic analysis daily. Each camp integrates observation, hypothesis testing, measurement, and data collection through collaborative projects.
Location: Stevens Cooperative School, Jersey City, NJ
Cost/Stipend: $795/week, +$100 aftercare option
Acceptance Rate / Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: August 3 – 7
Application Deadline: Not specified, registration opens February 4
Eligibility: Students in grades 5 – 6
Stevens Cooperative School runs various summer camps for middle school students. In the CSI Forensics camp, you will investigate forensic science by securing crime scenes, collecting clues like fingerprints and footprints, and analyzing evidence using real investigative techniques. The camp offers traditional activities, including art and outdoor recreation, across locations in Jersey City. You will join sessions in an 8:1 ratio, with each class led by a school teacher.
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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