9 Summer Programs for Middle School Students in Massachusetts
- Stephen Turban
- Jul 7
- 6 min read
If you are a middle schooler in Massachusetts looking for an engaging way to spend your school break, a summer program is worth considering!
Summer programs for middle schoolers can be great opportunities to explore advanced academics, develop practical skills, gain industry exposure, and build meaningful connections . These structured programs are typically held during the summer months (May–August), allowing you to learn beyond the classroom without disrupting your school work.
To help you find the right fit, we have come up with a list of 9 summer programs for middle school students in Massachusetts. We have focused on factors like academic rigor, networking opportunities, funding options, selectivity, and the prestige of the hosting institution.
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Varies according to cohort; the upcoming summer cohort’s applications close on June 23
Program dates: Multiple cohorts scheduled throughout the year, including summer cohorts.
Eligibility: Middle school students (grades 6–8) with strong academic backgrounds
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program provides middle school students with the opportunity to learn how to conduct research through one-on-one mentorship. In this program, you will work with a PhD mentor and choose a topic that interests you and develop a research project on it. Your mentor will support you through each stage of the process, including forming a research question, gathering and organizing information, and presenting your findings. Mentors come from a range of academic backgrounds and institutions, including Harvard, MIT, Stanford, and Yale.
As you move through the program, you will find opportunities to strengthen skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and working independently. By the end, you will have a finished research project that reflects the time and effort you have put into exploring your topic.
Location: Virtual
Application deadline: Varies based on the chosen cohort
Program dates: Vary; the summer session runs for 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays)
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
The AI Trailblazers is a 25-hour online course designed to introduce middle school students to the basics of artificial intelligence and machine learning. In this program, you will learn how to code in Python and work with datasets while also exploring image classification, the basics of neural networks, and ethical questions surrounding AI. Instruction is offered in small groups, with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio, allowing you to access personalized support as you go through the material. You will also work on an individual project that applies the concepts you’ve learned. For instance, your project could be coming up with a simple model that categorizes music, developing a tool that recommends study resources based on user input, or even creating a responsive game experience.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) campus, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Application deadline: February 10
Program dates: Mid to late August (1 week for rising 6th and 7th graders, 1 week for rising 8th and 9th graders); exact dates TBA
Eligibility: Rising 6th to 9th grade students
Offered by MIT, dynaMIT is a free, week-long summer program for middle school students. In this program, you will work on hands-on activities in subjects like physics, robotics, chemistry, and computer science. You will be guided by MIT undergraduate and graduate students who will help you work through experiments and activities. Throughout the program, you will develop skills such as coding, building simple models, and approaching problems from different angles. You will also have the chance to meet other students interested in STEM and get first-hand insights into what learning in a university setting might be like.
Location: Crimson Kids Hoops: Lavietes Pavilion, Allston, MA | Island Hopping: Evolutionary Game Design: Harvard Museum of Natural History, Cambridge, MA
Cost: None
Application deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Program dates: July 7 – 9 | August 4 – 8
Eligibility: Current 6th to 8th grade Harvard Ed Portal members or those eligible to be members | Ed Portal eligible students will need to sign up for a free Harvard Ed Portal membership
Summer Explorations at Harvard University is a program for middle school students interested in engaging in hands-on academic and creative learning experiences during the school break. This year’s Harvard Summer Explorations for middle schoolers includes “Crimson Kids Hoops,” a basketball fundamentals program for rising 6th graders, and “Island Hopping: Evolutionary Game Design,” a science and game-based course on island biodiversity.
During the program, you will participate in activities on Harvard’s campus, work with experienced educators, and go on field trips that connect classroom learning to real-world examples. Whether you are exploring topics in environmental science, visual arts, or materials chemistry, the program can help you explore the fields as well as think critically and work collaboratively with peers in a university setting.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Fully funded
Application deadline: March 20
Program dates: July 7 – 25
Eligibility: Low-income students in grades 6 and 7 who live in and attend school in the U.S.
The SMSSP offers advanced middle school students the chance to engage in challenging courses. You will explore topics such as “Democracy & Dissent,” “U.S. Social Movements through Graphic Novel,” and “Real-Life Applications to Mathematics.” These courses are taught by instructors affiliated with Stanford, providing a collaborative learning environment. During the program, you will engage in class discussions, analyze texts, and work on assignments to explore a given topic. A key aspect of the program is its focus on building a supportive community, allowing you to connect with peers from different backgrounds and collaborate with them on academic projects.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $500
Application deadline: February 28 (early decision deadline) | July 10 (regular decision deadline)
Program dates: July 27 – August 1
Eligibility: Middle school students who identify as girls and gender–nonconforming individuals, as well as students who were assigned female at birth between 11 and 14 years of age
The Wolfram Middle School Summer Camp is a one-week program designed for middle school girls interested in sharpening skills in programming, computational thinking, and technology. The camp, led by instructors from Wolfram, focuses on hands-on learning through workshops and guided activities. Throughout the week, you will work on exercises that introduce you to coding, design, and problem-solving using computational tools. You will also attend lectures on topics like natural language processing, computational farming, computational poetry, and machine learning with finance data. Virtual activities like video game tournaments, trivia hours, special interest discussions, and livecoding challenges are also part of the experience.
Location: Dana Mohler-Faria Science & Mathematics Center, Bridgewater State University, MA
Cost: $300; need-based scholarships are available
Application deadline: Rolling applications accepted on a first-come, first-served basis; registrations close 1 month before the program begins
Program dates: July 14 – 18
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
The Science Academy at Bridgewater State University offers week-long, in-person science courses to middle school students. As a participant, you will get to explore science-based topics by taking on the role of a scientist through structured, hands-on learning. You will take part in experiments, discussions, and activities that help you better understand scientific methods and how they apply to real-world questions. Each course focuses on developing basic scientific skills while encouraging curiosity and interest in different areas of science.
Location: Stonehill College, Easton, MA
Cost: $1,100 for the day program | $1,400 for the day and extended program
Application deadline: Rolling applications accepted on a first-come, first-served basis
Program dates: Session 1: July 7 – 25 | Session 2: July 28 – August 15
Eligibility: Current 4th- to 8th-grade students
College Academy® is a summer program designed for middle school students who are looking for academically challenging coursework in a structured setting. The curriculum is based on research and group projects, with a focus on collaboration and hands-on learning. Courses cover a range of STEM and creative topics, including marine biology, robotics, science exploration, rocketry, and graphic design. Each class maintains a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio, allowing access to interaction and personalized support during activities and projects. The program is structured to help you build practical skills through research and teamwork —skills that can be useful both in future academic work and in professional settings.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $420/camp
Application deadline: None
Program dates: Camps are available on-demand, all year round
Eligibility: Middle and high school students | Each camp comes with specific grade level requirements
The DNA Learning Center at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory offers various on-demand virtual camps to middle and high school students. Each camp covers key topics in genetics and biology. Here, you will get to access pre-recorded video sessions and a lab kit (delivered to you) containing lab materials, camp workbooks, and protocols. You will also engage in hands-on activities like constructing cell and DNA models, extracting plant and animal DNA, and genetically engineering bacteria to make new enzymes. These camps can offer you some solid insights into cell biology, biotechnology, genetics, and molecular biology. You will also engage in video chats to discuss your assignments and class topics with instructors.
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 where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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