10 Writing Summer Programs for Gifted Middle School Students

If you’re a gifted middle school student who enjoys writing, summer can be more than just a break from school. The right program gives you structured time to develop your voice, experiment with different genres, and receive detailed feedback from experienced instructors. Writing summer programs for gifted middle school students often emphasize both analytical and creative writing so you’re learning how to craft compelling stories while also sharpening argumentation and critical thinking skills.

Another key advantage is mentorship. In selective programs, you’re typically working in small cohorts, which means your writing gets close attention. Instructors provide individualized feedback, workshops push you to revise thoughtfully, and peer discussions challenge you to see your work from new perspectives. These environments are designed for motivated students, and admission can be competitive.

10 Writing Summer Programs for Gifted Middle School Students

1. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program (JEP)

Location: Remote

Cost/Stipend: Varies; Full financial aid is available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective

Dates: 8-week program; multiple cohorts throughout the year

Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort

Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8

Lumiere’s Junior Explorers Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students, designed to build advanced academic writing and research skills. You begin by selecting a subject area, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and are matched with a PhD-level mentor from a top university. Over the course of the program, you receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and carry out an independent research project focused on a real-world question. To strengthen your writing and analytical abilities, you conclude the program by producing a formal research paper that presents your findings. 

2. Yale Ulysses S. Grant Foundation

Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT

Cost/Stipend: $75 (full and partial scholarships available)

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Selective; open to New Haven students only

Dates: June 29 – July 30

Application Deadline: Late March

Eligibility: Rising 6th–9th graders enrolled in New Haven public or parochial schools

This long-running academic enrichment program offers creative writing and humanities-focused classes for motivated middle school students in New Haven. You’ll study fiction, poetry, and drama in small workshops designed by Yale undergraduate instructors, who bring a lot of energy and creativity to the classroom. The program also includes electives like pop songwriting and language invention, allowing you to explore new forms of self-expression. With an emphasis on building confidence, community, and skills, U.S. Grant supports you as a writer and learner. Admission is competitive and includes an application, student responses, and a teacher recommendation.

3. Veritas AI - AI Trailblazers

Location: Remote

Cost: Varies; Full financial aid is available

Acceptance rate or Cohort size: Highly selective

Dates: Various cohorts throughout the year

Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort

Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8; no coding or technical background required

Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program introduces you to key concepts in artificial intelligence and machine learning through live instruction and collaborative learning. Over 25 hours, you learn Python programming, explore data analysis, and build models using regression and classification techniques. You receive personalized guidance through small-group mentoring, with a five-to-one student-to-mentor ratio. As the program progresses, you explore more advanced topics such as neural networks and AI ethics. A central part of the experience is the team-based capstone project, where you and a few peers apply your new skills to solve a real-world challenge and present your findings at the end. 

4. Summer@Taft Young Writer’s Enrichment Institute

Location: The Taft School, Watertown, CT

Cost/Stipend: $5,500 (financial aid not available)

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Limited enrollment; 12 students per section

Dates: July 13 – July 24

Application Deadline: Rolling until full (deposit required within 2 weeks of acceptance)

Eligibility: U.S. residents entering middle school

This two-week residential program is designed to strengthen your core writing, reading, and organizational skills. You'll participate in small classes that focus on expository writing, grammar, and analytical reading while also learning effective study habits. Instructors use seminar-style discussions and guided composition practice to help you write clearly and think critically. Daily life includes athletics, study hall, and group activities on campus, along with a weekend excursion. With only 12 students per section, the program emphasizes personalized instruction and academic discipline.

5. Interlochen Center for the Arts Creative Writing Summer Program 

Location: Interlochen, MI

Cost/Stipend: $7,265

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Selective; small class sizes

Dates: Session 1: June 28 – July 18; Session 2: July 19 – August 9

Application Deadline: Rolling until full

Eligibility: Students entering grades 6–8

This three-week residential camp immerses you in fiction, poetry, and stage writing workshops alongside peers who share your passion for storytelling. Guided by professional writers, you’ll learn how to give and receive feedback, build a writing portfolio, and perform your work at a showcase. Outside the classroom, environmental exploration and literary forums with visiting authors help fuel your creativity. You’ll also contribute to a published anthology and work in The Writing House, a dedicated space for young writers. With a focus on mentorship and self-expression, Interlochen offers an intensive but supportive summer experience.

6. Advanced Writing Exploration Program (AWE)

Location: Select in-person sites (e.g. NYC, DC) and online

Cost/Stipend: $645 (limited financial aid available)

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Application-only; selective

Dates: Multiple options, including Summer 2026: June 29 – July 8, July 27 – August 5, or August 10 – August 19

Application Deadline: Rolling until full

Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th graders

AWE is designed for middle schoolers who want to take their writing seriously and grow within a tight-knit, feedback-focused community. You’ll take part in multi-genre workshops and master classes led by professional authors, with an emphasis on peer review and deep revision. One private session is also included, giving you personalized support on any genre, either academic or creative. Whether you’re new to Writopia or a returning writer, this program helps you sharpen your craft and prepare for more advanced writing opportunities. Sessions are available both in-person and online.

7. Stevenson Summer Writers’ Workshop

Location: Stevenson University, Owings Mills, MD

Cost/Stipend: $400 early registration; $475 after May 15 (scholarships and discounts available)

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: First-come, first-served

Dates: July 13 – July 17

Application Deadline: Rolling until full

Eligibility: Rising 6th–8th graders

This week-long creative writing program invites middle school students to explore fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction through small-group workshops led by Stevenson University’s writing faculty. You’ll participate in writing prompts, genre studies, and campus hikes, with journal in hand and designed to spark creativity. Students also select pieces to publish in the program’s literary magazine and share their work at a showcase event. The environment is both structured and supportive, giving you space to experiment and grow. Scholarships and sibling discounts are available, making the program more accessible.

8. Sarah Lawrence College Writers Week for Teens

Location: Bronxville, NY (on-campus day program) or online

Cost/Stipend: $1,950 on campus / $1,195 virtual (limited financial aid)

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Selective; 18 students per workshop

Dates: Virtual: July 6 – July 10; On Campus: July 20 – July 24 or August 3 – August 7

Application Deadline: Rolling until full

Eligibility: Students entering grades 9–12; must be at least 14 at start of program

Writers Week at Sarah Lawrence College offers a week-long deep dive into both creative writing and theatre arts. You’ll take part in daily workshops led by MFA candidates and guest artists, exploring genres like poetry, flash fiction, screenwriting, and more. The program emphasizes personal voice, creative risk-taking, and collaborative expression in a small-group format. You’ll also join end-of-week readings and performances to share your work. Whether in-person or virtual, Writers Week is designed to help you grow as a writer and connect with peers who share your interests.

9. Alpha Workshop for Young Writers

Location: University of Pittsburgh, Greensburg, PA

Cost/Stipend: $1,950 (need-based financial aid and BIPOC scholarship available)

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: 20 students; highly selective

Dates: July 15 – July 26

Application Deadline: March 1

Eligibility: Ages 14–19; submit original speculative fiction story (2,000–6,000 words)

Alpha is a focused, genre-specific workshop for teen writers passionate about science fiction, fantasy, and horror. You’ll spend nearly two weeks workshopping original stories with peers and receiving feedback from professional authors and staff mentors. The program is centered on intensive writing sessions, speculative world-building, and a supportive, inclusive community, especially welcoming to neurodiverse and LGBTQ+ students. Admission is based solely on the strength of your submitted short story. If accepted, you’ll join a tight-knit group of writers who share your love for imaginative storytelling.

10. BYU Young Authors Academy

Location: Brigham Young University, Provo, UT

Cost/Stipend: $509 tuition; $289 optional food and housing

Acceptance Rate or Cohort Size: Limited capacity; early registration encouraged

Dates: July 6 – July 11

Application Deadline: Rolling until full

Eligibility: Ages 14–18

This week-long writing camp offers a blend of creative development and community-building for teens passionate about young adult literature. You'll take workshops with BYU faculty and visiting authors, explore electives like world-building, fairytale writing, and revision techniques, and get feedback in small groups. The program includes author meet-and-greets and signing events, and if you opt for the housing package, you’ll stay in BYU dorms with peers and camp counselors. It’s designed to give you a focused, fun environment to grow as a writer and connect with others who share your enthusiasm for storytelling.

Lydia is an alumna from Harvard University and studied Molecular and Cellular Biology & Economics. In high school, she was the captain of her high school’s Academic Decathlon team and attended the Governor's School of Engineering and Technology. She is working as a life sciences consultant after graduation. 

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