15 STEM Summer Programs in South Dakota for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 2 hours ago
- 10 min read
Middle school is actually a great time to start exploring academic interests beyond the classroom. Programs and camps give you a chance to try advanced topics, meet students with similar interests, and see how subjects connect to real-world careers. Many of these experiences are short, affordable, and hands-on, which makes them a practical option for those who want meaningful learning without committing to something long or expensive. If you are interested in science, engineering, programming, or healthcare, enrolling in a STEM summer program is worth considering. Instead of just reading about scientific concepts in textbooks, STEM programs allow you to experiment in labs, work with real tech and tools, solve challenges, and study ecosystems in the field.
Why should I join a STEM summer program in middle school?
Middle school may seem early to start thinking about STEM careers, but summer programs can play an important role in shaping your interests before high school. These programs expose you to subjects that are often not covered in depth during regular school classes. For example, you might build cybersecurity skills, analyze environmental data, develop robotics systems, or experiment with chemical reactions in a university lab. These programs also let you work with mentors such as university faculty, researchers, or professionals who can help you see how scientific concepts are applied in real-world situations. STEM programs also help you build practical skills in coding, teamwork, data analysis, research methods, and problem-solving, which make high school STEM courses feel more manageable and interesting.
South Dakota has a number of summer opportunities that combine hands-on learning with mentorship from educators, researchers, and industry professionals. These opportunities are offered by universities, state organizations, or research-focused institutions that bring real-world expertise into the classroom.
To help you find the right option, here we have put together a list of 15 STEM summer programs in South Dakota for middle school students. These programs stand out for their hands-on learning experiences, strong mentorship opportunities, and connections to real scientific fields.
Location: South Dakota Mines, Rapid City, SD
Cost/Stipend: $350 (lunch included)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 15–18
Application Deadline: Rolling until spots are filled
Eligibility: Students entering grades 8–12
This four-day camp at South Dakota Mines introduces middle and high schoolers to color chemistry and how color connects to biology, forensic science, and everyday technology. As a participant, you will work on lab projects, including running enzyme reaction experiments to track color changes based on temperature and pH, and performing flame tests to see how different metals create vibrant colors used in fireworks. You will also learn how to use thin-layer chromatography to analyze mystery ink samples just like a forensic investigator. At the end of camp, you will leave with a Color Chemistry Demonstration Kit along with the materials and skills to show what you learned.
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: Dakota State University, Madison, SD
Cost: $250
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Up to ~100 students
Dates: June 15–18
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Middle school girls
The DSU Cyber Camp for Middle School Girls is a four-day residential program focused on cybersecurity and digital literacy. You will study preventing, identifying, and tackling cybersecurity issues through Python programming sessions, cryptography puzzles, digital forensics labs, and cybersecurity simulations. These experiences will help you see how professionals investigate cyber threats and protect digital systems. The program includes team competitions where you will solve technical challenges alongside peers. Additionally, you will learn about future pathways in cyber and tech through an introduction to DSU programs and interactions with near-peer mentors. Staying in university residence halls will offer you a glimpse into campus life and collaborative learning.
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: Dakota State University, Madison, SD
Cost: $250
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Up to ~100 students
Dates: June 15–18
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Middle school girls
The DSU Cyber Camp for Middle School Boys focuses on foundational technology and cybersecurity concepts. You will participate in programming exercises, networking activities, electronics projects, and cybersecurity challenges. Faculty mentors will guide campers through practical exercises using real tools and equipment. You will also work in small teams to solve technical problems and develop digital skills. The camp ends with a showcase where you will demonstrate what they built or learned. You will stay in DSU residence halls and get an introduction to college life while connecting with students who share your interests.
Location: Augustana University, Sioux Falls, SD
Cost: $300; scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: Summer camp; dates TBA
Application Deadline: TBA
Eligibility: 6th–8th graders
Explore STEM Camp at Augustana University provides middle schoolers with a broad introduction to scientific research and engineering concepts. You will participate in STEM activities like laboratory experiments, coding activities, environmental science projects, genetics experiments, robotics demonstrations, and 3-D printing challenges. You will also work in teams to investigate a research question and present your findings in a poster session. Outdoor activities and field trips will help you connect scientific concepts with real-world environments.
Location: Sanford Research Center, Sioux Falls, SD
Cost: No cost; $100 refundable deposit required
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Limited to 24 students; first-come, first-served
Dates: July 21–24
Application Deadline: Not specified; registration is first-come, first-served
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6–8; parental/guardian permission required for DNA sample submission in April
Finding Your Roots is a free, four-day science camp held at the Sanford Research Center in Sioux Falls, SD, where you will use genetics to explore the question "Who am I?" Before camp begins, you will use a DNA collection kit offered by Living DNA in the spring and submit a cheek swab to allow Living DNA to analyze your sample and create an ancestry report for you. During the four-day camp, you will extract and analyze your own DNA in the lab, learn about human evolution, explore how genetic technology works, and hear from genetic counselors about their careers. The curriculum is modeled after a similar camp at Penn State and draws inspiration from the PBS series hosted by Henry Louis Gates Jr., connecting science to your personal family history in a hands-on way. The camp is an opportunity to explore genetics while working in a real research lab setting.
Location: Virtual
Cost: 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 web development, data science, or artificial intelligence and machine learning to learn how to work with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, tools like SQL and Python, or study algorithms and natural language processing. Beyond the coursework, each camp includes a speaker series where you will hear from women working in tech, giving you a sense of what careers in the field can look like. Each session is co-taught 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.
Location: Sanford PROMISE Community Lab, Sioux Falls, SD
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Minimum 10 registrants required; maximum not specified
Dates: Multiple one-day events in the summer
Application Deadline: Not specified; registration is first-come, first-served
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6–8
Inside Out is a free, one-day program held at the Sanford PROMISE lab, where you get to study a real health challenge the way engineers and doctors actually do. You will be given a case study with a health problem and asked to design a solution for it, which will help you explore how creativity and scientific thinking are used together in healthcare. The program focuses on the cardiovascular system, offering you a closer look at how the heart works and why solving health problems is often more complex than it seems. This can be an opportunity to explore lab environments and the interdisciplinary nature of healthcare.
Location: Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD, and Rapid City, SD
Cost: $50 registration fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 8–11 (Spearfish) and June 22–25 (Rapid City)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Middle school students entering grades 6–8 and high school students entering grades 9–12
Offered in collaboration with South Dakota State University, AHEC, and Black Hills State University, this day camp gives you the opportunity to explore nursing as a career through hands-on experiences. You will attend sessions focused on nursing care and the science behind healthcare activities conducted by university nursing faculty and medical professionals from the area. The schedule includes tours of local healthcare facilities where you can see nursing in action. You will also hear directly from professionals working in the field and explore what a career in nursing involves.
Location: Camp Poinsett, Arlington, SD (East River) | Storm Mountain Center, Rapid City, SD (West River)
Cost: $185–$250 depending on camp length and facility; financial assistance available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Varies by year
Dates: Early to mid-June; sessions last 3–4 days
Application Deadline: Mid-May; registration opens mid-April
Eligibility: Youth ages 8–12 or 12–14, depending on session
The South Dakota 4-H Summer Camps combine STEM learning with outdoor education. You spend three to four days in the summer participating in workshops covering environmental science, agriculture technology, engineering challenges, and conservation science. Activities are designed around inquiry-based learning, where you will learn how to investigate scientific questions through experiments and field observations. You will also engage in outdoor recreation and group problem-solving exercises. The program emphasizes teamwork, leadership development, and scientific curiosity.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 18–19
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until sessions fill
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
This virtual program introduces students to the emerging field of space resource exploration over the course of two days. You will explore how engineers plan mining missions on celestial bodies like the Moon and asteroids. You may explore how mining systems can be designed to operate in space environments. You may also explore concepts in geology, robotics, and planetary science while working on engineering challenges. Faculty mentors will guide you through discussions about the future of space exploration and resource development.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 15–17
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until camp begins
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
The Virtual Mining & Explosives Engineering Camp explores how mining engineers locate and process mineral resources. You will attend sessions led by faculty and industry professionals who explain topics like drilling, blasting, and mineral processing techniques. Demonstration videos and interactive quizzes will help explain how mining operations work in real environments. You will also learn how mining contributes to infrastructure, energy production, and technology manufacturing. You will learn through three online sessions, each lasting two hours.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,200; financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 16 students per class
Dates: Session One: June 15–26 | Session Two: July 6–17
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–11; course-specific prerequisites may apply
Stanford’s Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offer middle and high school students virtual college-level courses across disciplines. You can choose from 75+ courses, with options also spanning STEM disciplines from biosciences to game design and C++. You will study core and advanced STEM concepts through virtual lectures, class discussions, homework, and project work. Some courses also let you work on problem sets and engage in case study analysis. The program allows you to join a cohort of peers from around the world, offering an opportunity for cross-cultural collaboration.
Location: Augustana University Welcome Center, Sioux Falls, SD
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Dates: June 11 (one-day event)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6–8
Your Future STEM Summer Day Camp is a free, one-day event hosted by the Sioux Falls Development Foundation at Augustana University for middle schoolers. As an attendee, you will spend the day exploring different areas of STEM through a mix of instruction and hands-on activities. The academic portion of the day is led by Augustana University faculty covering topics in biology, chemistry, physics, and education, while local STEM-focused businesses and organizations lead additional activities. During registration, you will choose from tracks like Construction, Engineering, Healthcare, Energy, or Cyber, which will determine your group and shape the focus of your final activity of the day.
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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