15 Winter Leadership Programs for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 8 hours ago
- 9 min read
If you’re a middle school student looking for a way to explore leadership, a winter leadership program can be a good option. These programs let you see how teams operate, take on responsibilities, and understand how projects come together, all while building your experience in a structured environment.
Why should I do a leadership program in middle school?
Leadership programs are a practical option for middle school students because they provide exposure to advanced ideas, practical ways of working with others, and opportunities to meet mentors or peers with similar interests. They aren’t as intense or long as full academic programs, but they still let you see what being part of a team, organizing a project, or exploring leadership responsibilities looks like.
To make it easier to find a program that fits your schedule and interests, we’ve put together a list of 15 winter leadership programs for middle school students.
15 Winter Leadership Programs for Middle School Students
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by the program; Need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohort size with one-on-one mentorship
Dates: December–February sessions available (multiple cohorts year-round)
Application Deadline: Rolling; deadlines vary by cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8; no prior experience required
Lumiere’s Junior Explorer Program is an online research experience for middle school students in grades 6 to 8. You work on one with a PhD mentor from a top university like Harvard, MIT, Oxford, or Stanford. You start by exploring subjects like STEM, humanities, or social sciences, then choose one for your own independent project. You meet regularly with your mentor, learn how to ask strong research questions, find reliable sources, and organize your ideas. At the end, you present your work or submit a research paper, and some students get the chance to publish in youth journals. You also join a global group of students and take part in sessions that build research and communication skills.
Location: Virtual
Cost: $700; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; selective admissions process
Dates: January 15–March 19
Application Deadline: Rolling until the start date; early bird tuition available 10 days prior
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–11; admission based on test scores, past CTD course completion, or portfolio
Northwestern University’s Online Leadership Intensive is a winter program for students in grades 7 to 11. You learn about leadership theory and how it works in real life. Each week, you join live classes and complete assignments that help you reflect on your own style and apply leadership ideas. You work in small groups to solve problems and practice communication. Guest speakers from different fields show how leadership looks in real settings. You also get support from instructors and peers throughout the course. At the end, you receive personalized feedback about your leadership strengths and future goals.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost/Stipend: $4,250 (early) / $4,650 (regular)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 10–15% acceptance rate
Dates: January 4–11 or January 11–18
Application Deadline: November 15
Eligibility: Grades 8–12 (ages 13–18)
The Harvard College Union Society Young Global Leaders Program is a weeklong academic leadership camp held at Harvard University for middle school students. You take part in seminars led by Harvard undergraduates, covering topics like global citizenship, debate, public policy, and international cooperation. The program is structured like a college seminar, with collaborative projects, research presentations, and daily discussions that build your communication and critical thinking skills. You also go on field trips to places like MIT and local museums, adding cultural and academic depth to the experience.
Location: Online
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Application Deadline: Varies according to cohort.
Program Dates: Varies by the 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. By the end of the program, you will have worked on a hands-on project in a subject of your choice! Previous projects done by students 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/Stipend: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; nationwide participation
Dates: Flexible; typically 6–10 weeks during the school year
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12; requires an adult sponsor or educator
Lead4Change is a free leadership program for students in grades 6 to 12. You take part in a project-based experience where you identify a challenge in your school or neighborhood and design a solution with your team. You follow a step-by-step curriculum that teaches goal setting, team roles, and communication skills, and apply what you learn directly to your project. You can create anything from food drives to mental health campaigns or school awareness events. Once your project is complete, you can submit it to the Lead4Change Challenge and compete for grants to support your work.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,895
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive admissions; small cohorts
Dates: February 1–April 15
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
Berkeley Business Academy for Youth’s Middle School After School (MSAS) program is a virtual experience for students in grades 6 to 8. You explore entrepreneurship and innovation while building leadership and teamwork skills. Each year, the program focuses on a specific theme. The latest theme is artificial intelligence. You learn how AI affects business and how to use it in creative ways. You meet online with mentors from UC Berkeley who help you plan, solve problems, and pitch your ideas. You work in small teams to design solutions and present your projects.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $425/month for 2 months or $2,975 for 8 months
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate selectivity
Dates: October–May (weekly 90-minute sessions)
Application Deadline: Rolling; sessions begin in October
Eligibility: Students ages 9–13
Prequel Explore – Launchpad is an eight-month online program for students ages 9 to 13. You start by creating a small business to earn your first 100 dollars in profit. You learn how to take initiative, solve problems, and make decisions as you move through project milestones, and each step is guided by mentors who help you stay on track and grow your ideas. You also take part in missions like interviewing someone you admire, building a no-code app or game, and joining a Harvard Business School simulation. These experiences help you build confidence, communication, and resilience. You work with peers from around the world and get personalized feedback along the way.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $2,995
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Very small (6 students per class)
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Students ages 12–14
Discover Business Academy is a two-week online course for students ages 12 to 14, offered by World Scholars Academy. You learn the basics of business, economics, finance, and leadership in a small class with no more than six students. You take part in startup challenges, group discussions, and problem-solving tasks, and explore topics like branding, investing, macroeconomics, and business law. You also learn how businesses compete and how leaders make decisions. The course ends with a final challenge where you apply what you’ve learned to a real-world business idea.
Location: Montgomery Center, Starke, FL
Cost/Stipend: $350; scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate; small group size for individual focus
Dates: December 30–January 2
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Elementary and middle school students (CIT/LIT options for high schoolers)
Camp Montgomery’s Winter Leadership Camp is a four-day program that combines outdoor adventure with faith-based leadership training for middle school students. You’ll take part in activities like archery, hiking, and group games while learning about integrity, service, and responsibility. The camp offers tiered leadership tracks like AIT, LIT, and CIT, so returning campers can grow into more active roles. You’ll be guided by older mentors and take part in community worship sessions that deepen the experience.
Location: NH Teen Institute, New Hampshire
Cost: $2700 per team. Scholarships are available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: January 23-25; February 13-15; March 27-29
Application Deadline: Applications for the upcoming school year are now open
Eligibility: Ages 12–17; must live in or attend school in Temple City Unified School District
The NHTI Leaders in Prevention (LIP) Program is a year-round leadership initiative for middle and high school students, with winter sessions included. Through the LEAD framework, you take part in workshops, mentorship, and field trips that focus on teamwork, civic engagement, and real-world service. You earn volunteer hours while working on local projects that help your community, and you learn how small actions can lead to meaningful change. Guided by mentors and city leaders, you build skills in communication, problem-solving, and project planning.
Location: University of Wisconsin–Madison, WI
Cost: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment, limited spots
Dates: March 24–25
Application Deadline: February 20
Eligibility: Current 6th–8th graders
The Latino Youth Leadership Summit is a free two-day program at the University of Wisconsin–Madison for Latinx middle school students. You learn leadership skills by exploring your identity, setting goals, and preparing for college. You take part in workshops, meet mentors, and learn about different careers. You also help plan community service activities and practice teamwork and communication. The program includes a Family Wellness Night where your family can join to connect with resources and support. The summit helps you build confidence, leadership, and a sense of belonging.
Location: Virtual (Global Program)
Cost/Stipend: Tiered equity model ($1–$2,750; need-based aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small groups
Dates:
Application Deadline: Rolling, before each new term
Eligibility: Grades 6–8
The Global Youth Education Lab (GYEL) program brings students together from all over the world to study leadership through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. You’ll learn how to think like a problem-solver, from understanding emotional intelligence to designing solutions for your community. You’ll create a Capstone Project with a video and infographic that tackles a real issue connected to the SDGs. It’s intense but in a good way. You’ll get mentorship from instructors with experience at Harvard, Oxford, and Stanford, and even earn a certification when you finish.
Location: Virtual (Northwestern University – Civic Education Project)
Cost/Stipend: $700; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small groups
Dates: October 1–December 3
Application Deadline: September 20
Eligibility: Grades 7–11
The Northwestern CTD Online Leadership Intensive is a flexible, college-style program that helps you grow as a leader. Each week, you join live online sessions, talk with other students, and reflect on what leadership means in your life. You hear from guest speakers who lead in schools, communities, and global nonprofits, giving you different perspectives on how leadership works in the real world. The program gives you time to think, write, and grow between sessions. You focus on your strengths, learn how to use them in real situations, and build the confidence to lead with purpose.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $700; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; CTD admission required
Dates: January 21–March 18
Application Deadline: January 5
Eligibility: Grades 7–10; 90th percentile test score, teacher recommendation, or prior CTD course
The Northwestern CTD United Nations: Negotiating Justice in a Diverse World program is an online winter course for middle school students who want to build leadership skills through global issues. You take on the role of a UN delegate and practice real negotiation exercises, learning how to listen, speak up, and find common ground. Each week includes live sessions where you debate with other students, plus time for independent study to learn about international relations, ethics, and diplomacy. You build skills in communication, empathy, and decision-making while exploring how global leaders work through complex problems.
Location: RISE UP Leadership Program (Virtual, based in Michigan)
Cost/Stipend: $5 per camper
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open to all; group size capped for interactivity
Dates: March 20, 24, and 27
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Grades 6–12
RISE UP Virtual Winter Camp is a three-day online leadership experience for middle school students, built around FranklinCovey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens.” It combines interactive learning, small group work, and personal reflection to help students grow as leaders. You’ll join students from across the state in activities that include keynote speakers, digital team challenges, and leadership lessons. One of the core features is the “Council Rooms,” where you meet in small groups to share experiences, reflect on daily lessons, and set personal goals.
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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