15 STEM Summer Programs in Rhode Island for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 1 hour ago
- 10 min read
Middle school is a great time to start exploring subjects beyond the classroom, and summer programs make that possible in an engaging way without committing to long-term or expensive academic pathways. Instead of just reading about subjects, these programs allow you to experiment, build, investigate, and solve real problems with guidance from instructors and mentors. Here, you will also meet like-minded peers and form early academic networks.
If you are interested in STEM, summer programs can be one of the easiest ways to try out fields like robotics, biomedicine, engineering, or AI before high school. STEM programs emphasize hands-on experimentation, exposure to research, and project work that mirrors real scientific work. Many programs also introduce you to university classrooms, labs, and emerging technologies that aren’t usually part of middle school curricula.
Why should I join a STEM summer program in middle school?
STEM summer programs give you early exposure to topics you may not encounter in school for several more years. Through experiments, design challenges, and collaborative projects, you will start developing skills such as analytical thinking, teamwork, and scientific communication. This early exposure can make high school science and technology courses feel much more approachable. These experiences also help you discover which areas of STEM genuinely interest you before you begin choosing advanced classes or future academic paths.
If you live in Rhode Island or are interested in exploring its academic environment, the state has a lot to offer when it comes to STEM opportunities, from short camps to rigorous programs.
To help you with your search, we have curated a list of 15 STEM summer programs in Rhode Island for middle school students. For this list, we have selected programs that offer strong networking opportunities, meaningful STEM exposure, and the chance to learn from professionals and experienced instructors.
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost/Stipend: $6,052; need-based scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 12 – 24
Application Deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Students completing grades 8–9, ages 13–15
This is a 12-day residential summer program at Brown University where you will dive into science, technology, engineering, and math. You will choose from courses in STEM to explore advanced academic content through instruction, lab or field exercises, and a research project/design challenge. You may also have the opportunity to meet with Brown graduate students and learn about their research. At the end of the program, you will deliver a final presentation sharing your project experience with peers, families, and instructors. You will learn without the pressure of formal grades, and receive a Digital Certificate of Completion and a Course Performance Report. You will live in Brown's residence halls, dine on campus, and engage in co-curricular and evening activities throughout the week.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies | Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Highly selective
Application deadline: Varies based on cohort
Program dates: Eight weeks | Timing varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorers Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students, designed to build advanced academic writing and research skills. You begin by selecting a subject area, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and are matched with a PhD-level mentor from a top university. Over the course of the program, you receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and carry out an independent research project focused on a real-world question. To strengthen your writing and analytical abilities, you conclude the program by producing a formal research paper that presents your findings.
Location: University of Rhode Island, Kingston campus, Kingston, RI
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified; enrollment by lottery after interest form closes
Dates: July 6–10 | August 3–7 | August 11–14
Application Deadline: March 15 (interest form closes)
Eligibility: Elementary and middle school students; grade requirements vary by camp
The Navy STEM Crew Summer Camp introduces you to engineering and marine technology through active, hands-on challenges in a university setting. Camp activities span areas such as underwater robotics, drone operation, 3D printing, and ocean science, giving you a broad look at how different STEM fields connect. Rather than focusing on one narrow topic, the program is built around trying, testing, and refining ideas through practical work. The camp places emphasis on naval and ocean-related technology, which gives the engineering projects a real-world context. You may spend the week exploring how underwater systems function, how drones are controlled, or how fabrication tools support problem-solving.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies | Financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Highly selective
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. 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 creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
Location: Virtual and in-person camps (locations vary)
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 1–12 | July 6–17 | July 20–31 | August 3–14
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Women and gender-expansive teens, ages 13–18
Kode With Klossy offers free, two-week coding camps for young women and gender expansive teens who want to learn how to code. You will join tracks like data science, web development, or artificial intelligence/machine learning to learn how to work with tools like SQL and Python, use languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, or study algorithms and natural language processing. Beyond track-specific learning, each camp includes a speaker series featuring women working in tech, giving you insights into what careers in the field look like. Each session is led by two licensed educators and supported by at least two instructor assistants. You will also gain access to the broader Kode With Klossy alumni community upon completing the program.
6. 4-H Programs
Location: Nationwide via local county extension offices, including University of Rhode Island
Cost/Stipend: Typically free or low-cost; some events may have fees
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Open enrollment; club sizes vary by county
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling; register through local 4-H office or extension website
Eligibility: Youth ages 5–18
This nationwide program allows school students to explore STEM through project-based learning that is shaped by their own interests and supported by adult mentors. Depending on the local club and project area, you may explore robotics, environmental science, agriculture, engineering, or other subjects through experimentation and problem-solving. The structure encourages active participation, so you will learn by doing rather than only observing. 4-H combines STEM learning with communication, leadership, and community involvement. Many projects are designed for demonstrations, fairs, or presentations where students explain what they created or discovered.
Location: University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI, plus sites around Narragansett Bay
Cost/Stipend: $550
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 13–17 (middle school) | July 20–24
Application Deadline: First-come, first-served; registration opens February 5
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
Oceanography Explorers Camp introduces students to the study of the ocean through fieldwork, experiments, and conversations with scientists working in the discipline. The program focuses on chemical oceanography, helping you investigate how ocean chemistry relates to marine health and larger environmental changes. Over a week, you will explore biological, chemical, geological, and physical oceanography, exploring how different branches of marine science connect. You will move between field sites and classroom investigation, learning how to collect information, study patterns, and interpret environmental change.
Location: Providence Country Day School, East Providence, RI
Cost/Stipend: $375 per session
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 6–10 | July 13–17
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students ages 9–14
Providence Country Day runs various summer camps each year. The Lego Engineering Camp uses structured building projects to introduce students to principles from physics, engineering, and architecture. Instead of treating Lego construction as open-ended play, the program frames each activity around a specific design challenge designed to help you think about stability, motion, or mechanism. Projects may involve themed builds, but the larger goal is to help you understand how structures work and why certain design choices matter. You will work with familiar building materials to explore real engineering concepts. While you work through each task, you will be encouraged to evaluate your design, make adjustments, and improve performance.
Location: Providence Country Day School, East Providence, RI
Cost/Stipend: $375
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 29–July 2 | July 6–10
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students ages 9–14
This STEM summer program in Rhode Island for middle school students introduces you to design and fabrication by combining 3D modeling, 3D printing, and engineering challenges into one creative program. You will begin by learning how to turn an idea into a digital design, then move toward producing physical objects that reflect your planning and problem-solving. Alongside the design work, you will take part in collaborative challenges that require creativity, experimentation, and persistence. A key feature of the camp is that you will bring home the objects you create, making the design process feel more tangible. The program also encourages you to think about how designs are constructed and how digital tools can be used to solve practical problems.
Location: Multiple locations in the U.S., including Providence, RI
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 6 – August 7
Application Deadline: Not specified; sign up through your school or district
Eligibility: Students in grades 1–7 at participating partner schools or districts
GT STEAM Academy is a free, multi-week summer learning program. Each day, you will attend academic classes in engineering, law, math, and reading, and engage in enrichment activities in arts, sports, games, and movement. Classes are taught by college and high school student teachers who are supported by professional teachers. The program also includes field trips, competitions, and other activities throughout the summer. You will spend the summer connecting with other middle schoolers and building core academic habits.
Location: St. Andrew’s School, Barrington, RI
Cost/Stipend: $275 per week
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 13–17
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students ages 10–13
St. Andrews School runs a variety of summer camps in arts, adventure, and STEM for its own students and students from the community. Its Minecraft Level Design and Engineering Camp allows middle schoolers to design adventures and gadgets focused on the game Minecraft. You will spend the week building design skills, engaging in teamwork, and exploring engineering and coding using Minecraft’s command block and Redstone interface. You will build and design complex structures, puzzles, mazes, and droppers, explore game design concepts, play in other campers’ worlds, and build an understanding of logic and circuitry. Advanced students get to learn how to build more advanced contraptions.
Location: St. Andrew’s School, Barrington, RI
Cost/Stipend: Session 1: $275 | Session 2: $475
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: July 6–10 | Session 2: July 27–31
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Session 1: Students ages 10–13 | Session 2: Students ages 11–14
This St. Andrews camp introduces middle school students to artificial intelligence by helping them explore how machines learn, recognize patterns, and generate outputs. You will engage with a range of activities that may include training models, analyzing data, building chatbot-style tools, and discussing how AI systems are used in everyday life. The curriculum is designed to make technical ideas accessible. A key aspect of the program is its emphasis on ethics, which will help you consider the human and social dimensions of emerging technology. Rather than treating AI as a trend alone, the camp encourages you to consider how these systems are built and what their limitations might be.
Location: St. Andrew’s School, Barrington, RI
Cost/Stipend: $250 per week
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: July 6–10 | Session 2: July 13–17
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students ages 10–16
This camp introduces you to forensic science through a mix of laboratory techniques, evidence analysis, and collaborative mystery-solving. You will work with tools and methods used in forensic investigations, such as fingerprint analysis, microscopy, chemical testing, and other forms of evidence examination. This STEM summer program in Rhode Island for middle school students is centered on applying science to a broader case, which gives each activity a focused purpose and keeps the work connected. You will also hear from guest speakers in related fields, which adds a professional perspective to the hands-on work.
Location: St. Andrew’s School, Barrington, RI
Cost/Stipend: $275
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: July 6–10
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students ages 11–16
Science Explorations gives you the chance to investigate questions across biology, chemistry, and physics through experiments and guided discussion. The course is designed to be student-centered, so curiosity plays an important role in shaping the topics explored during the week. Rather than focusing on one branch of science alone, the camp encourages you to notice connections across disciplines and think through how scientific explanations are built. Activities take place indoors and outdoors, helping you see science in different settings.
Location: Multiple locations in RI: Providence, Wickford, Newport, and Bristol
Cost/Stipend: $375 for Save The Bay members | $400 for non-members; limited full scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 22 – August 21 (multiple one-week sessions)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students who have completed grades 5–7
Shipboard Camp is a week-long, full-day camp conducted entirely aboard one of Save The Bay's research and educational vessels on Narragansett Bay. During the week, you will head out on the Bay to explore Rhode Island's shoreline, use scientific tools, gather and study live animals, and swim and snorkel in the calmer waters of the Bay. Many locations require the vessel to anchor, but you will get to wade to shore and explore remote spots around the Bay. Staff includes both full-time and seasonal marine educators with backgrounds in marine sciences and degrees in their fields, along with captains holding at least a 100 Gross Ton License from the U.S. Coast Guard.
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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