10 Summer Political Science Programs for Middle School Students in Boston
- Stephen Turban
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
Summer political science programs for middle school students in Boston can be a solid way to explore government, law, public policy, international relations, debate, and civic leadership before high school. You can use these programs to build practical skills such as research, public speaking, argumentation, writing, collaboration, and policy analysis while gaining early exposure to college-style academics and professional fields. Many options are online, commuter-based, or short-term, making them more accessible than longer residential programs.
For Boston students, summer political science programs for middle school students in Boston are especially useful because the area is close to universities, civic institutions, debate networks, and public-interest organizations. If you are interested in political science but do not want to limit yourself to only local programs, an online summer program can help you work with mentors, join national cohorts, and explore political topics from home. The programs below include virtual research, civics, debate, Model UN, leadership, and government-focused options that middle school students in Boston can consider.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies, financial aid available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective
Program Dates: Eight weeks; timing varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students who want to build academic writing and independent research skills. You begin by choosing a broad subject area, including social sciences, humanities, or another field that matches your interests. You are then matched with a PhD-level mentor from a top university and work one-on-one to explore your topic in a structured way. If you are interested in political science, you can use the program to investigate questions related to government, public policy, history, civic participation, or international affairs. Over eight weeks, you will learn how to shape a research question, analyze sources, organize evidence, and develop a formal research paper. The main value of the program is its one-on-one mentorship model, which gives you individual guidance as you move from an idea to a completed academic project.
Location: Boston University, Boston, MA
Cost: Not specified on the accessible quick-facts section; tuition includes lunch for day campers and meals/housing for overnight campers
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective by space availability; 1:12 staff-to-student ratio
Program Dates: Overnight camp: August 2-August 8; day camp: August 3-August 7
Application Deadline: Rolling until seats fill
Eligibility: Ages 11-13 for the middle school program; no prior Model UN experience required
The Model United Nations Institute at Boston University is one of the most direct summer political science programs for middle school students in Boston because it focuses on diplomacy, global issues, debate, and international problem-solving. You will step into the role of a country delegate, research global topics, deliver speeches, negotiate with peers, and draft resolutions. The program includes interactive Model UN simulations, public speaking labs, trivia and improv games, and daily feedback from trained MUN mentors. You also get a campus-based experience at Boston University, with day and overnight formats available. A key feature is the final simulation, where you represent a new country, debate a current global issue, and collaborate on a resolution.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies, financial aid available.
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Highly selective; 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio in group sessions
Program Dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks on weekends during the spring cohort; 25 hours over 2 weeks on weekdays during the summer cohort
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8; no prior coding experience required
Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers is a virtual program that teaches you the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. You will learn introductory Python, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. While this is not a traditional political science program, it can be useful if you are interested in how technology affects public policy, elections, civic data, governance, misinformation, or social decision-making. You learn through lectures and small-group mentor sessions, then work with peers on a group project. Previous student projects have included machine-learning models for music classification and customized educational resource recommendations.
Location: Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Cost: $825; limited partial and full scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective by registration and scholarship availability
Program Dates: July 20-July 24
Application Deadline: Scholarship applications open; registration deadline not specified
Eligibility: Grades 7-10
The United Nations Association of Greater Boston’s International Security institute is a week-long Model UN and global leadership program focused on major security issues. You will learn about a thematic global topic, participate in public speaking and negotiation activities, and work with peers on complex international problems. The program includes Model UN simulations, which require you to represent perspectives beyond your own and think carefully about policy tradeoffs. You may also learn from guest speakers and UNAGB staff or interns who help connect the topic to real-world global affairs. This is one of the stronger local options if you are specifically interested in political science, international relations, diplomacy, or security policy. It is also a day program, which can make it more accessible for Boston-area families than a residential camp.
Location: Hult International Business School, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $660; limited partial and full scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective by registration and scholarship availability; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: June 15-June 18
Application Deadline: Scholarship applications open; registration deadline not specified
Eligibility: Grades 7-12; separate classrooms for middle and high school students
The Human Rights institute is a four-day UNAGB program where you explore global human rights issues through discussion, public speaking, negotiation, and Model UN-style activities. As one of the more focused summer political science programs for middle school students in Boston, it can help you understand how international institutions, governments, and advocates respond to rights-based challenges. You will work with peers from different backgrounds and practice approaching complex issues from multiple perspectives. The program also emphasizes collaboration, which is important if you want to learn how policy solutions are built through negotiation rather than individual work alone. Because middle and high school students are placed in separate classrooms, you can participate at a level that is more appropriate for your age group. This is a useful option if you are interested in law, advocacy, international affairs, or civic responsibility.
Location: Hult International Business School, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $825; limited partial and full scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective; intended for students with prior Model UN or Summer Institute experience
Program Dates: August 10-August 14
Application Deadline: Scholarship applications open; registration deadline not specified
Eligibility: Recommended for grades 8-11; prior Model UN experience or previous Summer Institute participation expected
The Advanced Institute in Negotiation is a strong fit if you already have some Model UN experience and want to develop more specialized political science skills. You will focus on negotiation, diplomacy, collaboration, and problem-solving in situations where different stakeholders have competing priorities. The program is not designed as an introductory camp, so it is best for students who are ready for a more challenging environment. You can expect to work through simulations and activities that ask you to listen carefully, persuade respectfully, and respond to changing circumstances. If you are entering 8th grade and have prior Model UN experience, this can be a useful next step after a beginner diplomacy or debate program.
Location: Hult International Business School, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $825; limited partial and full scholarships available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Selective by registration and scholarship availability; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: June 22-June 26
Application Deadline: Scholarship applications open; registration deadline not specified
Eligibility: Grades 7-12; separate classrooms for middle and high school students
The Global Health institute connects political science with public health, international cooperation, and global decision-making. You will explore how countries, international organizations, and communities respond to health challenges that cross borders. Through Model UN activities, negotiation exercises, and collaborative work, you can practice building policy responses while considering the needs of different groups. The program also includes public speaking and leadership skill-building, which can help you become more comfortable presenting ideas in class or club settings. This program is a good fit if you are interested in the intersection of public policy, health equity, and international relations.
Location: Lesley Ellis School, Arlington, MA
Cost: $600; late afternoon care available for an additional $40
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: 15 participants
Program Dates: July 13-July 17
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6-8
Lesley Ellis School’s Model UN Camp is a one-week program where you take on the role of an international delegate and debate real-world issues. You will research an assigned country, craft persuasive speeches, practice public speaking, and work with others to negotiate solutions to global challenges. The program includes simulations, workshops, team-building activities, and a final Model UN-style conference. Because the cohort is capped at 15 participants, you may have more opportunities to speak, receive feedback, and take an active role.
Location: Boston, MA
Cost: Free for Boston Public Schools students and Boston Debate League partner-school students; other costs not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: First-come, first-served; cohort size not specified
Program Dates: Summer; exact dates not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students entering grades 6-9; no prior debate experience required
Boston Debate League Debate Camp is a local option for students who want to build the communication and reasoning skills behind civic debate. You do not need prior debate experience, which makes it accessible if you are new to structured argumentation. You will practice forming claims, using evidence, responding to opposing viewpoints, and speaking clearly in front of others. These skills connect directly to political science because public policy, law, elections, and civic advocacy all depend on clear reasoning and persuasive communication. The free option for eligible BPS and Boston Debate League partner-school students makes this one of the more accessible summer political science programs for middle school students in Boston.
Location: Lesley University, Cambridge, MA; virtual version also noted
Cost: $150 for one week, $275 for two weeks, $400 for three weeks, $500 for four weeks, $625 for five weeks, or $750 for six weeks; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 6-July 10, July 13-July 17, July 20-July 24, July 27-July 31, August 3-August 8, or August 10-August 14
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Middle school students; listed age range 10-14, with a virtual version for grades 5-9
Leaders 4SC is a civic leadership workshop focused on communication, decision-making, advocacy, writing, and speaking. You will practice public speaking, develop stronger rhetorical habits, and work on persuasive writing through op-ed-style assignments. The program also includes current events discussions and exposure to topics in philosophy, economics, sociology, history, civics, statistics, and related fields. This makes it broader than a traditional political science class, but still relevant if you want to understand how civic leaders communicate ideas and respond to public issues. The program’s focus on advocacy and civic leadership makes it a useful option if you want to connect political science interests with writing and public speaking. It may be especially helpful if you are looking for a lower-cost Boston-area program with multiple week options.
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.