15 Summer Programs for Junior High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 6 hours ago
- 11 min read
If you’re a high school student in your junior year, the summer break is an ideal time for you to learn something new and prepare for college admissions early! Summer programs offered by leading universities and organizations are worth exploring, and can give you a leg up when planning for your college essays and interviews. Summer programs typically offer you opportunities to pick up new skills and explore one or more fields beyond the school curriculum. As a participant, you will learn from university faculty or professionals and interact with peers from diverse backgrounds. Summer programs are also accessible opportunities to explore career paths in a field of choice, work on collaborative projects, and receive feedback from experts. Whether you are curious about the visual arts, music, entrepreneurship, biomedicine, or engineering, you can find an option that aligns with your interests.
To help you with your search for summer opportunities, we have compiled a list of 15 summer programs for junior high school students.Â
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Selective
Location:Â Virtual
Cost:Â Varies; financial assistance offered
Dates:Â Multiple sessions, including summer cohorts, are scheduled each year
Application deadline:Â Multiple cohorts run each year, including in the summer
Eligibility:Â High school students with an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale
Junior high school students interested in pursuing university-level research during their summer break can consider the Lumiere Research Scholar Program. As a participant, you can choose a research area and topic within various disciplines, from STEM to finance, international relations, linguistics, and philosophy. Then, you will be paired with a Ph.D. mentor to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project in your chosen track for 12 weeks to a year, depending on the program format you choose. At the end of the program, you will have developed an independent research paper. You can find more details about the formats, research areas, and the application here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Information not available
Location:Â El Camino College, Torrance, CA (virtual winter session also offered)
Cost:Â Free
Dates: Cohort 1: June 16 – July 3 | Cohort 2: July 7 - July 25
Application deadline:Â Rolling till spots fill
Eligibility: Students ages 13 – 18
The Los Angeles Urban League Biz Institute’s free summer youth entrepreneurship camp is an opportunity to take your business idea from the drawing board to reality. You will learn and get guidance on key aspects of the planning and analytical stages, and apply the business knowledge you acquire to your entrepreneurship project. You will attend lectures by guest speakers, interact with business mentors, and go on field trips. The camp wraps up with a Business Plan Competition, where you will get the opportunity to win cash prizes.
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Selective
Location:Â Online
Cost:Â Varies by program; financial aid available for certain programs
Dates:Â Multiple sessions, including summer, lasting 10 to 15 weeks depending on the program
Application deadline:Â May/June deadlines for summer cohorts
Eligibility: High school students (advanced middle school students can also apply); to apply to the AI Scholars program, you must demonstrate an interest in artificial intelligence. For the AI Fellowship program, you need to have been an AI Scholar participant or have some experience working with AI or Python.
Veritas AI offers multiple learning opportunities focused on artificial intelligence exploration. These programs have been developed and executed by Harvard graduate students and alumni. If applying to the beginner-friendly AI Scholars program, you will work with Ph.D. students from leading institutions and learn about the applications of AI. Here, you will also learn how to work with Python and explore key machine learning, AI, and data science concepts. You can also consider the AI Fellowship program, which offers mentorship to help you develop your own project. In the past, program participants have worked on interdisciplinary AI projects that utilize concepts from medicine, sports, finance, environmental science, and mental health. You can check out past projects here.​​
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Not specified
Location:Â Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus, Mesa, AZ
Cost:Â $300; partial and full scholarships available
Dates: May 27 – 30
Application deadline:Â Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12
ASU’s School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence SUCCESS (A Survey of Computing, Coding, and Engineering Software Systems) camp is a four-day summer program for students interested in learning about computing. During the program, you will explore different computing fields, including AI, augmented/virtual reality, mobile/web development, cybersecurity, game development, and embedded systems. This beginner-friendly camp also offers various activities to help you become familiar with coding and programming. For instance, you will develop an AI-based app, build a game, use a virtual reality headset, and even build an LED message wall at camp.
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Information not available
Location:Â University of Tampa, Tampa, FL
Cost:Â $400
Dates: June – July; weeklong camps with varying dates
Application deadline:Â Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 12; grade-level requirements and prerequisites vary by camp
The University of Tampa offers music camps for students interested in refining piano, choir, and instrumental music skills during the summer break. You can register for the program without auditioning for it. In the week-long piano program, you will attend a lecture series to learn about music history, piano technique, and piano literature, engage in piano lessons and master classes, and learn how to perform under the UTampa piano faculty. The Instrumental Music Camp can help you explore orchestral music and choose from electives like music composition, technology, and conducting. Another option is the choir camp, which includes choral and Broadway repertoire, movement, and electives in music theory, guitar, and more. Evening concerts and a finale concert may also be a part of the program.Â
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Information not available
Location:Â SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, FL
Cost:Â $449
Dates:Â Vary by camp
Application deadline:Â TBA; registrations typically open in late fall or early winter
Eligibility:Â Age-based camps for children in pre-school through grade 12
SeaWorld Orlando offers children of all ages opportunities to gain insights into marine biology and marine zoology. You will participate in theme-based activities, including crafts, songs, and games at camp. You will also benefit from animal encounters, including touching a shark! Students in grades 6–8 can gain insights into marine biology as a career path, while students in grades 9–12 can enroll in the marine zoological career program to explore fields like animal care, rescue, and conservation. You can explore available activities for 6th–8th graders here and 9th–12th graders here. Older students also get the opportunity to test their swimming skills in a swim at the Dolphin Theatre!Â
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Not specified
Location:Â University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
Cost: TBD (previous year’s fee: $650); need-based financial aid is available
Dates: June 22 – 26
Application deadline:Â March 1; application typically opens in January
Eligibility: Rising 7th, 8th, and 9th graders in the fall with at least a B average who live and attend school within 60 miles of Penn’s campus at the time of application; previous participants are not eligible.
The Penn GEMS program, offered by the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, provides junior high school students with an opportunity to explore engineering, science, and math under the guidance of doctoral and undergraduate counselors. During the one-week summer day camp, you will work in a group on a diverse range of activities in bioengineering, nanotechnology, and computer programming. Earlier participants engaged in activities like creating a catapult, designing a wooden tower to withstand an earthquake, extracting DNA from fruit, and examining body cell movement. You may also get to explore concepts in animation, robotics, and bioengineering during the program.
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Information not available
Location:Â Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost:Â Varies; typically $340 for members and $365 for non-members
Dates:Â Five-day camps available from June 9 to August 22
Application deadline:Â Varies as per camp session
Eligibility: Students, ages 4 – 14
The Carnegie Science Center offers themed half- and full-day summer camps in various disciplines, from space, science, and robotics to the arts. Each camp offers opportunities to engage in individual hands-on activities as well as teamwork and develop leadership skills and problem-solving abilities in the process. You will also explore museum exhibits and attend shows in the demonstration theaters. Camps for junior high school students typically focus on video game design, design software for 2D and 3D machines, and digital fabrication, among other creative topics.Â
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Information not known
Location:Â International Peace Garden, Dunseith, ND
Cost:Â Varies as per type of camp; starts at $675 ($660 for early registrations)
Dates: June 15 – July 26
Application deadline:Â Till spots fill (registrations typically open in October)
Eligibility: Students in grades 5–12
The International Music Camp offers students opportunities to explore a wide range of activities in music and dance, as well as visual arts (basic art, sculpture, cartooning) and creative arts (creative writing, music composition, and songwriting). At camp, you will learn from professional artist-teachers and participate in sports activities, watch movies, and attend faculty recitals and concerts. You can choose from various sessions based on your interests. If you are interested in singing, you could consider a choir camp, and if you want to learn instrumental music, you can choose from options in guitar, harp, handbells, or drums! You can check out the camp types and schedules here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Not specified; class size: 6
Location:Â Pathways to Stem Cell Science, Torrance, CA
Cost: $895; need-based subsidies and scholarships offered to high-achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds (check details here)
Dates: July 7 – 11 | July 28 – August 1
Application deadline:Â Rolling admissions up to one week before program start
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–9, ages 11–15
The Pathways to Stem Cell Science, a non-profit training institute, offers junior high school students an opportunity to explore cell biology through its Intro to Cell Biology program. The program allows you to learn about mammalian (breast cancer) cells through BioArt experiments, like detecting cell communication during neural development and measuring cell attachment. You will work in a biotech research lab under the mentorship of professional scientists. You will develop lab skills such as pipetting, microscopy, and bioassays, and learn techniques for isolating, culturing, and researching human cells. You will also participate in theoretical discussions to develop science literacy and build a foundation for high school biology and future research. You will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the session.
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Not specified; average class size of 6 is maintained
Location:Â Pathways to Stem Cell Science, Torrance, CA
Cost: $895; need-based subsidies and scholarships offered to high-achieving students from disadvantaged backgrounds (check details here)
Dates: July 21 – 25 | August 11 – 15
Application deadline:Â Rolling basis up to one week before program start
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–9, ages 12–15
Designed for junior high school students with a strong foundation in biological science, the Stem Cell Research Program is an opportunity to explore stem cell research and gain experience in molecular biology-based lab work. You will work in a biotech lab mentored by professional scientists to dive into an inquiry-based topic. In the past, the program focused on the theme of super speed, allowing participants to analyze whether super speed is biologically feasible by using muscle stem cells to study the mechanisms of cellular regeneration. You will also learn about research ethics and how to prepare and present a professional scientific research poster and create a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. You will get a completion certificate at the end of the program.
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Not specified
Location:Â MassArt, Boston, MA
Cost:Â $820/class
Dates: July 28 – August 8
Application deadline:Â June 22; registration typically opens at the end of January
Eligibility: Students entering grades 7–9
Creative Studios at MassArt is an immersive visual art program for junior high school students. You can choose from morning, afternoon, or full-day sessions covering various creative art forms, including drawing, fashion design, and animation. Depending on the track you choose, you will build a narrative sequence and integrate text and image to create an artist book, explore hand sewing techniques and basic pattern making to re-construct a garment into a fashion piece, or learn the basics of linear and aerial perspective in drawing. You can also find studio classes covering sustainable art methods such as papermaking and the basic principles of stop motion animation. You can explore the available programs here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Information not available
Location:Â Lawrence Hall of Science at UC Berkeley, Berkeley, CA (residential option available for some programs)
Cost: Varies as per program, typically $1,200+; need-based financial aid offered on a rolling basis (check details under registration FAQs here)
Dates:Â Multiple sessions for a program; June through July
Application deadline: Varies by session and program; typically in June
Eligibility: Students in grades 7 – 12; grade-level requirements vary by program
UC Berkeley's Lawrence Hall of Science offers middle school and high school students interested in STEM opportunities to engage in research-based programs and explore diverse fields such as medicine, engineering, biology, and psychology. Each program offers the chance to work in university labs and engage in project work. For instance, you can learn coding and use it to build a model satellite in the Coding and Engineering Nano-Satellites for Space Exploration program or explore the techniques used to diagnose and treat chronic diseases through the Body Systems and Biomedical Innovations program. If you are interested in animal behavior, you can choose the Animal Behavior and Investigations program to learn about field techniques and use them to investigate animal psychology.Â
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Varies as per type of camp, typically 40+
Location:Â Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO
Cost: Varies; typically registration fee starts at $450; scholarships available (check details here)
Dates: Varies; June – July
Application deadline:Â Till spots fill; registrations typically open in December
Eligibility: Students, ages 6–18
Missouri University of Science and Technology Summer Camps offers various STEM learning experiences through its summer camps. As a participant, you will collaborate with your peers on creative STEM projects and scientific demonstrations. The exact activities vary by camp. For example, if you choose the Robotics Camp, you will design and build a robot, whereas during the Discovering Chemistry Camp, you will explore chemistry concepts and synthesize pleasant-smelling molecules from simple materials. You can also choose to explore aviation and space exploration through the Aerospace Camp. You can learn about the available camps here.
Acceptance rate/cohort size:Â Not specified; average class size is 16
Location:Â Virtual
Cost:Â $3,080 + some courses require additional study material up to $100; need-based financial aid offered
Dates: June 16 – 27 (session 1) | July 7 – 18 (session 2)
Application deadline: March 20
Eligibility: Students in grades 8 – 11
Stanford University Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes offers a variety of two-week online non-credit courses to high school students. You can choose from a wide range of academic and creative fields across 70 courses, including STEM, humanities, business, and creative writing. As a participant, you will attend classes, engage in individual and team-based projects, and participate in discussions. You may also learn through case studies, challenges, and presentations. You will study alongside peers from around the world, gaining skills in cross-cultural collaboration as well as college-level coursework.
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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