13 STEM Summer Programs in Illinois for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 56 minutes ago
- 8 min read
If you’re in middle school and curious about STEM, summer is a great time to try new subjects outside your regular classes. Structured programs can introduce you to areas like robotics, coding, science experiments, and engineering while giving you guidance from instructors. They also help you build problem-solving and creative thinking skills in a way that’s fun and easy to follow.
In Illinois, STEM programs are offered through universities, science centers, summer camps, and academic organizations. These programs come in different formats, including day camps, week-long sessions, and multi-week experiences, with some focused on exploring new topics and others on building specific skills.
Why should I do a STEM program in middle school?
Joining a STEM program in middle school can help you explore your interests and try out different subjects before high school. You’ll learn how to think through problems, work on projects, and understand how STEM is used in everyday life. You’ll also get to meet other students and learn from instructors who can guide you as you build new skills.
Below, we’ve curated 13 STEM summer programs in Illinois for middle school students.
If you’re looking for online programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Chicago Botanic Garden, Glencoe, IL
Cost / Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not publicly available
Program dates: Science First I: June 24 - July 12; Science First II: July 15 - August 9
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Current 6th-10th-grade Chicago Public School students with a strong interest in science and nature
This program introduces you to hands-on scientific exploration in a world-class living laboratory. You’ll participate in a three-week immersive experience featuring nature walks, experiments, field trips, and interactive lessons focused on plants, animals, and the environment. You’ll advance into a four-week paid internship, where you’ll conduct mentored research projects alongside scientists and educators. You’ll learn core research skills, including data collection, microscopy, field methods, and scientific communication. The program culminates in a poster presentation, helping you build confidence, teamwork skills, and early exposure to STEM careers while preparing for future college pathways.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; Need-based financial aid available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Varies, depending on the cohort
Application Deadline: Varies, depending on the cohort
Eligibility: Middle school students
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a fully virtual academic enrichment program designed for those seeking individualised exploration of their academic interests. You are paired one-on-one with mentors from top universities, including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, and the London School of Economics. Through personalised mentorship, you’ll develop critical thinking, research, and academic communication skills. You’ll design and complete an independent project aligned with their personal interests. Mentors provide structured guidance, feedback, and academic support throughout the research and project-development process. The program offers a rigorous yet accessible introduction to independent inquiry and scholarly work at an early stage.
Location: University of Illinois Chicago College of Engineering, Chicago, IL
Cost / Stipend: $500 for one week; 10% discount for children of University of Illinois system employees
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Maximum of 30 students per group
Program dates: Track 1 (Rising 6th-7th): July 13 - July 17; Track 2 (Rising 8th-9th): July 20 - July 24
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 6th-12th-grade students interested in engineering and STEM
This program will let you rotate through five engineering topics over five days, completing challenges designed by UIC engineering faculty and graduate students in real research lab settings. The projects include coding, robotics, biomechanics, and materials science, and the program develops new assignments each year to ensure a unique experience. You’ll work in small teams to design, build, test, and refine engineering solutions while developing collaboration and problem-solving skills. The camp is aligned with ABET educational goals, providing an age-appropriate introduction to college-level engineering thinking and practice.
Location: Online
Cost: Varies; Need-based financial aid is available
Acceptance Rate: Selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts in a year, including summer
Application Deadline: Rolling (based on cohort)
Eligibility: Middle school students
The Veritas AI Trailblazers program is a virtual introductory program designed to expose you to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. You’ll learn Python programming while exploring core AI topics, including data analysis, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. The curriculum balances technical rigour with accessibility, making complex concepts approachable for you. You’ll learn through a combination of interactive lectures and collaborative sessions. With a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio, the program emphasizes personalized guidance and meaningful engagement. Trailblazers provides a strong foundation for those interested in pursuing further study in computer science and AI.
Location: Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, Aurora, IL
Cost / Stipend: $200 early-bird registration; $240 standard registration
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not publicly available
Program dates: Multiple camps during the period of June 8 - July 24
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering grades 1-8; placement based on grade band
Summer@IMSA is a weeklong, in-person STEM day camp program offered by the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy as part of its Youth Outreach initiatives. The program features hands-on, inquiry-based curricula designed by IMSA Curriculum Specialists and aligned with NGSS science and engineering standards. You’ll explore STEM concepts through age-appropriate projects led by trained SITE interns and supported by IMSA STEMbassador students, who provide a near-peer mentoring model. Camps are organised by grade bands and offered in half-day morning or afternoon sessions, with identical curricula across time slots.
Location: Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
Cost / Stipend: Varies by camp
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not publicly available
Program dates: During Summer (Exact dates TBA)
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Elementary, middle, and high school students; open to all students regardless of prior academic performance
NIU STEAM Camps are in-person, weeklong summer programs designed to introduce you to science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics through hands-on, interest-driven exploration. The camps provide you with an immersive college-campus experience that fosters intellectual curiosity, confidence, and social connection. You’ll work alongside peers who share similar interests while learning from university faculty and staff who support creativity and experimentation. Camp activities may include building robots, designing video games, producing films, or conducting original experiments. NIU STEAM Camps are well-suited for those seeking a supportive, engaging introduction to STEAM fields in a collegiate environment.
Location: School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost / Stipend: Tuition-based; financial assistance available (Exact cost not publicly specified)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not publicly available
Program dates: July 7-18
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school students ages 10-13
The Video Game Design Camp at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago is a two-week, on-campus summer course designed for those interested in creating interactive digital games. You’ll explore the fundamentals of video game production by combining coding, illustration, storytelling, and sound design to build playable computer games. The curriculum emphasises both technical and creative skill development, allowing you to experiment with traditional and digital media, including sketching, storyboarding, digital drawing, and audio editing. You’ll learn how characters, narratives, and visual design contribute to immersive gameplay experiences. The program offers a unique opportunity to engage with game design within a leading art and design school environment.
Location: Northwestern University, Chicago, IL & Online
Cost / Stipend: Tuition-based; financial aid and scholarships available
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not publicly available
Program dates: Varies by program type
Application deadline: Varies by program type
Eligibility: Academically advanced students in grades 3-8; eligibility requirements vary by course and may include above-grade-level assessment or placement criteria
Designed to support talent development during the critical middle-grade years, CTD programs provide rigorous, honours-level instruction across a wide range of subjects through online courses, weekend enrichment programs, and summer day and residential camps. You’ll learn from expert educators in small, supportive learning environments that emphasise inquiry, critical thinking, and collaboration. Many courses are credit-bearing and allow you to engage with advanced material at an accelerated pace. In addition to coursework, CTD supports you through talent identification tools, academic advising, and pathways planning.
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Cost / Stipend: $650
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not publicly available
Program dates: July 20 - July 24
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school students interested in engineering, robotics, and technology
This course introduces you to the core robotics and engineering concepts through practical, project-based learning. You'll work with robotic kits and the Arduino platform to design, build, and program automated systems. You’ll collaborate in teams to tackle real-world design challenges, developing problem-solving, coding, and mechanical skills along the way. You’ll gain a strong foundational understanding of robotics and insight into engineering pathways at the collegiate level.
Location: University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, Chicago, IL
Cost / Stipend: $570
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not publicly available
Program dates: Session III: July 20 - July 31
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6-8
In this program, using the Scratch programming platform, you are introduced to foundational concepts in AI and machine learning in an age-appropriate and engaging way. You’ll explore topics such as simulated learning, functions, AI behaviours, and augmented reality while building interactive projects. Through hands-on activities, you’ll create fast-paced games and applications such as Fruit Ninja-style games, chatbots, and AI-powered virtual pets. The course emphasises creativity, computational thinking, and problem-solving rather than prior coding experience. This program is well-suited for those curious about how AI powers everyday technologies such as voice assistants, search engines, and video games.
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Cost / Stipend: $550
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not publicly available
Program dates: June 22 - June 26
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school and high school students interested in computer science
The program introduces core computer science concepts using Python, a widely used and accessible programming language. You’ll learn fundamentals such as variables, data types, control structures, functions, and basic algorithms through hands-on coding activities. Instruction emphasises interactive projects that help you apply concepts in real time while building confidence in computational thinking. You’ll also experience a college campus learning environment and collaborative problem-solving with peers. The program serves as a strong entry point for those curious about coding and future STEM pathways.
Location: Loyola University Chicago - Water Tower Campus, Chicago, IL
Cost / Stipend: $2,450 (with housing) or $2,150 (without housing)
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Selective
Program dates: June 23 - June 27
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Students in grades 7-12 who have registered for the MathCON Online Round
MathCON Summer Camp is an intensive, one-week academic program designed for mathematically talented middle and high school students like you. The camp immerses you in advanced mathematical topics, including number theory, algebraic expressions, geometry, combinatorics, and high-level problem-solving. The instruction is delivered by experienced educators and emphasises elegant reasoning, creative thinking, and rigorous exploration of mathematical ideas. In addition to coursework, you’ll participate in community-building activities and enrichment experiences in Chicago. The program also supports preparation for the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12), helping you strengthen skills relevant to competitive mathematics pathways.
Location: Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Cost / Stipend: $650
Acceptance rate / Cohort size: Not publicly available
Program dates: July 27 - July 31
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school and high school students interested in aerospace, physics, and engineering
Rocket Engineering 101: Design, Build, Launch is a hands-on summer engineering program offered through Illinois Tech’s Elevate College Prep that introduces you to the fundamentals of aerospace engineering. You’ll explore core concepts such as forces, motion, propulsion, and structural design through guided experiments and engineering challenges. You’ll design, build, and test rockets while learning how engineering decisions affect performance and safety. Collaborative projects encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and iterative design thinking. The program provides an engaging introduction to aerospace engineering while immersing you in a college-campus STEM learning environment.
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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