11 Winter Coding Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Nov 21
- 6 min read
If you’re a middle school student interested in technology, winter coding programs can be a good way to learn new programming skills during your school break. These programs are short and focused, usually lasting one to three weeks, and are designed to help you understand the basics of coding and computer science in a structured setting.
You’ll get to work on beginner-friendly projects such as building small games, creating websites, or experimenting with simple AI models. Most programs use languages like Python, Java, or Scratch and combine lessons with hands-on exercises that make learning more practical and interactive.
Many universities, coding academies, and tech organizations host these winter programs each year, both online and on campus. Since they take place during the winter months (December through February), you can join without affecting your regular school schedule.
With that, here is a list of 11 winter coding programs for middle school students!
11 Winter Coding Programs for Middle School Students
Location: Virtual
Cost: Financial aid is available
Dates: Varies by cohort
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Middle school students
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is an online research experience for middle school students who want to explore academic interests through a guided project. You’ll be matched with a mentor, often affiliated with top universities like MIT, Harvard, or Stanford, who helps you choose a topic, learn research methods, and develop your project step by step. As you work through the program, you’ll practice independent investigation, critical thinking, and experimentation. It all leads to a final project that reflects your learning and growth
Location: Virtual
Cost: $99 per week-long course (discounts may apply)
Program Dates: Flexible start dates; each course includes 6 sessions of 45 minutes
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Students ages 7–17 worldwide
Codingal Winter Coding Camp offers six days of personalized 1:1 coding instruction with hands-on projects in Python, Scratch, web and app development, and data science. You’ll learn coding through interactive lessons and complete projects in areas like Python programming, Scratch animation, front-end web development, app creation, and data science. You can choose a project that interests you from the list provided on the Codingal website. The curriculum is built by former Amazon and Google employees and is accredited by STEM.org.Â
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; need-based financial aid available
Program Dates: Varies by the cohort
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Middle school 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. You will 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
Cost: Free intro classes available; paid camps typically $60–$120
Program Dates: Flexible winter break sessions; each camp runs for 4 consecutive days
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students ages 5–18 (grades K–12)
Create & Learn offers small-group winter coding classes for students in grades 2–12, with flexible scheduling and a certificate upon completion. You can choose from live online classes in Scratch, Roblox game development, Python, AI, mobile coding, and Arduino. Some classes are free. Each class has no more than five students, so you’ll get personalized guidance and feedback from instructors. You’ll build small projects and learn by doing. Classes are scheduled to fit your availability, including after school or during winter break. At the end, you’ll receive a certificate to recognize your progress.
Location: Virtual (live or self-paced formats)
Cost: $750–$950 depending on course level; early registration discounts available
Program Dates: December 26–31
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students in grades 5–12 who’ve completed pre-algebra
AlphaStar Academy’s Winter Computer Science Camp offers intensive online and in-person training in Python programming and USACO competition prep for students in grades 4–12. You can choose between Python programming or USACO-focused courses. In Python classes, you’ll learn core programming concepts like variables, loops, conditionals, and arrays. In USACO classes, you’ll study more advanced topics such as search and sorting algorithms, 2D grids, and indexing, and solve problems based on recent USACO contests. You’ll get hands-on experience through guided code writing and problem-solving, supported by expert instructors.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by class; most are paid per session, with some offering free trials
Program Dates: Available throughout winter; dates vary by course
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students ages 3–18 (grades K–12)
Outschool offers live, small-group winter coding classes in Python, Minecraft, Java, Arduino, and more, with certificates available for many courses. During winter break, you can join interactive online classes in topics like web development, game design, robotics, and general programming. Most classes have fewer than 10 students, so you’ll get personalized attention and guidance from instructors. Popular options include Minecraft coding, Scratch, Python, and Arduino hardware programming. Some classes are free to start, and you only pay if you choose to continue. Many courses offer a certificate of completion, which can strengthen your academic profile and show your interest in tech.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Starting at $289 for a 5-day camp
Program Dates: Offered during winter break; dates vary by course
Application Deadline: Rolling until full; early registration encouraged
Eligibility: Students ages 5–18
Coding with Kids offers a 5-day online program for school students. The topics of the program depend on your age. As a middle school student, you can choose from mobile apps, web development, 3d game development, and core programming. The class size is kept to a maximum of 8 students, and the sessions are live. The program ensures that the teaching for each student suits their pace. You will be mentored by camp leaders who help you with project design and finding and solving bugs. This program is a helpful addition to your school curriculum.
Location:Â Virtual
Cost:Â Each class costs $180
Program Dates: In the winter; exact dates vary
Application Deadline: Till the camp fills up
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
In CodeAdvantage online coding camps, you’ll join live classes during a school break and work on topics such as web & app development, Python programming, AI gaming & machine learning, or Minecraft/Roblox modding. The classes follow CodeAdvantage’s project-based curriculum, so you’ll build real coding projects and earn badges/certificates along the way in the topic of your selection. If you want a more limited class or a private class, you can create your own camp with 5 of your friends, or you can also get 1:1 coaching (the rates may vary). At the end of the camp, you’ll have hands-on experience, a certificate of completion, and stronger familiarity with coding concepts which you can reference in school or future applications.
Location:Â Robolabs locations in Dublin, CA (6500 Dublin Blvd Suite C), Fremont, CA (37120 Fremont Blvd Suite Q), and San Jose, CA (4140 Stevens Creek Blvd)
Cost:Â Varies as per course
Program Dates: November 23 to 26 (Thanksgiving cohort); December 22 to January 09 (Christmas cohort)
Application Deadline: Registration opens ahead of each break session; deadline is when spots fill up
Eligibility: Students in grades 1-12
In these intensive robotics camps from Robolabs, you’ll spend a full week during a school break building, coding, and testing real robots using platforms like VEX IQ and FLL tailored to your level. You’ll learn hands-on STEM skills including mechanical design, programming, and problem-solving as you work individually and in small groups. The small instructor ratio (8 students to 1 instructor) ensures you get personalized help whenever you run into challenges or have questions. Even if you’ve never done robotics before, the program welcomes beginners and gradually guides you into building functioning robots that can navigate competition-style tasks.Â
Location: Multiple in-person centers in the U.S. & online (you can find the entire list here)
Cost/Stipend: Paid; depends on the course and branch
Dates: Offers year-round after-school classes / seasonal coding camps
Application Deadline: Depends on the session or class; registration in advance
Eligibility: Students of various ages, including middle school students
The Coder School runs coding classes and camps through the year for students of all ages, including middle schoolers. You can join online or at one of their 50 centers across the U.S. The program includes weekly after-school sessions for ongoing learning and short seasonal camps for intensive practice. As a middle school student, you can learn Python, web development, mobile app design, robotics, or Java through themed courses. Each student is paired with a Code Coach who guides their progress and helps them build a portfolio of projects. The Coder Tree model structures the curriculum from beginner to advanced levels through hands-on work, games, and real-world applications.
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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