15 STEM Summer Programs in Missouri for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Mar 16
- 11 min read
Summer enrichment programs can be a valuable option if you want to explore academic interests beyond your school curriculum. As a middle school student interested in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, you can gain early exposure to advanced topics and develop STEM skills. and learn alongside peers with similar interests while receiving guidance from instructors or university faculty.
Missouri offers a range of academic summer opportunities through universities, community organizations, and research initiatives. In these programs, you might study topics such as robotics, coding, medicine, or engineering through structured lessons, group activities, and short research-based assignments. These experiences can help you identify the subjects you may want to study more seriously when you enter high school.
Why should I do a STEM summer program in middle school?
Middle school is an important stage for exploring academic interests before you begin more specialized coursework in high school. Since many schools offer only introductory science and math classes at this level, enrichment programs can give you exposure to additional STEM subjects such as robotics, computer science, biotechnology, and environmental engineering. Participating in these programs can help you strengthen problem-solving skills, collaborate with peers, and build a stronger academic foundation for future STEM learning.
Below is a curated list of 15 STEM summer programs in Missouri for middle school.
If you’re looking for online programs, check out our blog here.
Location: Harris-Stowe State University, St. Louis, MO
Cost: Free
Dates: Two 3-week sessions over the summer (June 9-27)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising 6th-8th graders local to the St. Louis area | Camp One is open to rising and current 6th graders | Camp Two is open to current and rising 7th and 8th grade students
Harris-Stowe’s Verizon Innovative Learning STEM Achievers Program is a free, three-week STEM program for middle schoolers from under-resourced communities in St. Louis, Missouri. A branch of the nationwide Verizon-sponsored program, it provides opportunities for you to study innovative technologies such as 3D printing, augmented reality, coding, and app development. You’ll also develop skills in social entrepreneurship and design thinking through mentorship from professional STEM instructors. You’ll complete hands-on work with technology, including robots, augmented reality headsets, engineering software, and more.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type | Full financial aid offered
Dates: 8 weeks, with multiple cohorts yearly
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines for each cohort. You can find more details about the application here.
Eligibility: Students across grades 6-8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorers program provides a research-focused experience class for middle schoolers interested in hands-on applications of complex STEM topics. You’ll be paired with a PhD-level mentor in a STEM discipline of your choice; options include chemistry, physics, computer science, mathematics, and more. You’ll begin the program with one-on-one classes covering foundational concepts in the field. You will then design an independent research project, which you’ll complete under the guidance of your mentor, and finish the program with a formal research paper that you can submit for publication in student journals.
Location: WeCode KC, Kansas City, MO
Cost: Free
Dates: June 28-September 20 (Saturdays only)
Application Deadline: Rolling registration ending June 28
Eligibility: Varies by program | Offerings are available for students aged 7-17
WeCode KC’s Saturday Coding Program is a fully-funded 10-week program that offers hands-on computer science experience to middle school students in Missouri. You’ll enrol in the Scratch, Roblox Studio, Web Development, or Game Development program, attending weekly sessions led by coding and web development industry professionals. You’ll learn skills such as block-based coding, game development, Raspberry Pi programming, and more. Each program option culminates in a final project, where you’ll take on challenges such as designing a Roblox game, programming a Python-based robot controller, or developing your own website.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type | Financial aid offered
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: Rolling deadlines | You can apply to the program here
Eligibility: Students across 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. Students 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 developing a machine-learning algorithm to generate a custom list of educational resources based on specified criteria.
Location: University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Cost: Free
Dates: One-day sessions are offered in the fall, spring, and summer
Application Deadline: Varies depending on session
Eligibility: Programs are offered for grades K-5 and middle school students
University of Missouri’s STEM Cubs Middle Connection initiative offers a one-day summer program for middle schoolers with limited access to STEM enrichment opportunities. You’ll participate in experiential learning activities through hands-on projects such as building energy-efficient structures and creating experimental models to represent the spread of viruses. You’ll learn about advanced coursework opportunities, college majors, and careers in STEM, and be motivated to pursue your passions in STEM. You’ll be taught by University of Missouri undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty who will develop lessons and activities based on their areas of specialization.
Location: University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, MO | Kansas City University Medical School, Kansas City, MO | Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO | Program also offered in other states and online
Cost: Commuter: $1,148 (1 Week) or $2,296 (2 Week) | Residential: $1,620 (1 Week) or $3,510 (2 Week) | Free for students from families with a household income of up to $85,000 annually
Dates: One or two weeks over the summer in June-August | Exact dates vary by campus | Check here
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Current 6th-8th grade students | Rising 6th graders also considered | Admitted students typically have a GPA of 3.0+ | International students must have strong English proficiency
MPP’s Pre-Med Readiness Summer Intensive brings middle school students from Missouri to college campuses in St. Louis or Kansas City for an advanced introduction to medicine. You’ll study core medical topics, including the American healthcare system, anatomy and physiology, and an overview of the first-year curriculum at US medical schools. To shape your future academic plans, you’ll learn about strategies for success in college admissions, features of competitive medical school applicants, and balancing strong academic performance with high-impact extracurriculars. You’ll gain professional exposure through exploring career paths in medicine, visiting local hospitals and clinics, and touring the medical school of your host campus. You’ll also build practical experience through completing First Aid and CPR training, practising effective communication and public speaking, and learning research skills. MPP Academy also offers school-year programs, online opportunities, and more advanced training for high school students, so you can use this summer experience to prepare for further pre-med and STEM programs.
Location: Lee’s Summit (Greater Kansas City) and Chesterfield (Greater St. Louis), MO | Also offered in Richardson, TX, Westminster, CO, and Columbus, OH
Cost: $425 (early bird) | $495 (regular)
Dates: June 1-3 (Kansas City) or June 8-10 (St. Louis) | Check other specific dates here
Application Deadline: Rolling registration (Apply before March 15 to avail the early bird fee)
Eligibility: Students across grades 7-12
MedEx Summer Camp is an intensive three-day program for middle and high school students who want to explore advanced medical concepts. You’ll take part in interactive workshops across 30 specialized fields, including Wilderness Medicine, Seizures, Stroke Basics, and more. In each workshop, you’ll learn essential concepts and terminology in the target field, complete hands-on activities, and discuss key takeaways from the lesson. Under the instruction of practising physicians, you’ll also participate in medical simulations and case studies, including brain mapping, identifying residual stroke effects, and practising surgical suturing on mannequins. If you perform particularly well in the program, you’ll be invited to return in the following year to join the team of instructors, building leadership experience through coaching younger students.
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $785 | Need-based scholarships available
Dates: Session I: June 29-July 3 | Session II: July 6-10
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Rising 7th-8th-grade students from the St. Louis area
WUSTL’s Middle School Summer Challenge is a week-long program for students in the St. Louis area interested in merging STEM with personal and cross-disciplinary learning. You’ll begin the camp in a Leading With Purpose Workshop, where you’ll reflect on your abilities through discussing effective leadership traits, brainstorming ways to inspire others, and developing strategies to strengthen your role in your community. In the Bear Challenge Workshop and Cultivating Creative Activities sessions, you’ll participate in fun interactive activities, explore WUSTL’s museums and special connections, and receive mentorship on personal growth. You’ll also take on the STEM Challenge Course, where you’ll conduct STEM research, analyze connections between STEM disciplines, and develop STEM-driven strategies to solve community and academic challenges.
Location: ASTEAM Village, Kansas City, MO
Cost: $375 (early bird until March 15) | $425 (regular)
Dates: June 8-August 4 (2-week in-person and 6-week virtual)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students aged 9-15
The STEaM Investigations Summer Camp is a three-week STEM program for Missouri students to explore hands-on learning in fields across the STEM spectrum and their applications to creative arts. You’ll learn new topics each day, such as robotics, coding, AI, and physics, while applying them to interactive challenges. You’ll take on projects like applying chemistry and physics to launch a bottle rocket, create objects using 2D design software and 3D printers, collaboratively build a computer, and more. You’ll discuss your achievements through the lens of entrepreneurship, critical thinking, and innovations, and be encouraged to apply your skills to future projects of your own. Outside of academics and experiments, you’ll participate in friendly STEM competitions, discuss careers and academic pathways in STEM with industry professionals and college students, and go on field trips across the Kansas City area.
Location: Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Cost: $500
Dates: June 2-4
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled | Registration on a first-come, first-served basis | Limited to 54 students
Eligibility: Students aged 11-14
Missouri S&T’s Robotics Camp is a STEM program for middle school students interested in hands-on robotics and technology. You’ll study introductory skills in computer programming, applying each concept you study to developing robotics hardware and software. You’ll work through the full life cycle of robot development from design concepts to inventing engineering strategies to building and programming your robot. You’ll work with LEGO SPIKE Prime microcomputers alongside a small group of peers as you design your robot, programming features such as light sensing, obstacle avoidance, and more. You’ll finish the program with a friendly competition with other teams modeled after FIRST Lego League, preparing you for real competitions in the FLL middle school circuit.
Location: Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Cost: May vary by year
Dates: June 1-3
Application Deadline: Enrollment opens early in the calendar year
Eligibility: Students across grades 6-9
Saint Louis University’s School of Medicine offers a middle school level of its AIM Summer Workshops, providing an introduction to medicine and anatomical sciences. You’ll attend presentations from SLU medical faculty at campus auditoriums, learning about the science of health and medicine. You’ll meet with healthcare providers, anatomists, physicians, and researchers, gaining networking experience while learning about life as a medical professional and the variety of healthcare career paths. You’ll engage in hands-on learning through interactive activities, including comparative animal dissections, lab experiments, and more.
Location: Truman State University, Kirksville, MO
Cost: $2,500 | Financial aid and scholarships offered
Dates: Session I: June 6-26 | Session II: July 5-25
Application Deadline: January 7
Eligibility: Current 7th-9th grade students | Must be nominated by school principal, guidance counselor, gifted program teacher | Home-schooled students may be nominated by a parent | Students must be identified as a “high achiever” based on GPA, IQ, enrollment in gifted courses, high standardized test scores, or an equivalent measurement
The Joseph Baldwin Academy hosts an intensive three-week program for advanced middle school and early high school students, offering specialized coursework and on-campus residential experience. You’ll enrol in one course from 13 options in each session; offerings span STEM, social sciences, humanities, and arts. You can choose from STEM courses in specialized fields, including Animal, Plant, and Fungal Diversity, Computer Graphics, Genetics, Neurobiology, and more. While your experience will vary based on your course selection, all courses are taught by Truman professors and incorporate projects, hands-on activities, and advanced academics. Your work might include collecting and researching flora and fauna specimens, conducting biotechnology experiments, or using statistical programming to analyze real-world data. You’ll also study cross-disciplinary connections, such as ethics in medical research, the application of data science to economics and sports, and artistic applications of computer science. Outside of class, you’ll participate in extracurricular offerings such as chess, athletics, hiking, and quiz bowl tournaments.
Location: Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Cost: $425
Dates: July 20-24
Application Deadline: Rolling until filled | Registration on a first-come, first-served basis | Limited to 30 students
Eligibility: Students aged 8-11
Energy Explorers at the Missouri University of Science and Technology is a summer program introducing younger students to engineering, sustainability, and energy systems. You learn how energy is generated and used in modern industry through experiments, demonstrations, and local field visits. You explore engineering principles through hands-on activities such as designing vehicles to test motion and collision concepts. The program also introduces renewable energy technologies through campus tours and engineering design challenges. Participants apply the engineering design process to create small projects such as windmill prototypes or other sustainable energy models.
Location: Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
Cost: $885 | Financial aid available
Dates: Session I: June 29-July 3 | Session II: July 6-10
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Current 8th-grade students from the St. Louis area
WashU’s High School Summer Kickstart brings St. Louis middle school students entering high school to campus for multidisciplinary academic and personal learning. You’ll learn about how scientific concepts are present in features of everyday life, discuss the connections between STEM and non-scientific disciplines, complete hands-on academic activities, and explore careers in science. You’ll also study literature, art, and history, learning analytical approaches beyond those taught in middle school. To prepare for the transition to high school, you’ll receive guidance in setting goals, managing your time, and improving skills in teamwork and collaboration to support your success in a more challenging academic environment.
Location: American Royal, Kansas City, MO
Cost: $5
Dates: One day in June
Application Deadline: Rolling registration ending in early May | Limited to 25 students
Eligibility: Students from the Kansas City region across grades 6-8
The American Royal STEM Summer Camp hosts a one-day STEM summer program for middle schoolers interested in the agricultural sciences. You’ll learn about STEM-focused careers in agriculture, such as botany, animal sciences, biology, and agricultural technology. You’ll participate in hands-on STEM activities, engaging with American Royal’s livestock, plants, and industrial technology. You’ll network with professionals across the agricultural industry, learning about careers in the field and academic opportunities to prepare you for higher-level study and professional work.
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 in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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