10 Free Engineering Programs for Middle School Students
If you’re a middle schooler discovering your passion for STEM, consider taking a free engineering program for middle school students. These programs provide an accessible entry point into the field of engineering and allow you to learn foundational engineering concepts and experiment with hands-on projects.
Free engineering programs ensure that middle school students from diverse backgrounds can access high-quality STEM education and opportunities. They focus on interactive activities like building prototypes, programming robots, and designing systems. These practical experiences make complex concepts more understandable and relatable. You’ll also get to work on projects that mimic real-world challenges and receive mentorship from professionals or college students.
Free engineering programs are designed to inspire curiosity and provide exposure to exciting fields like robotics, structural engineering, and electrical systems. Here’s a list of 8 free engineering programs for middle school students that you can join to kickstart your STEM journey! The programs mentioned in this blog are either free of cost or offer financial aid.
1. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,400 (financial aid available)
Program Dates: 8 weeks. Winter Cohort II starts from January 20, 2025
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts are available throughout the year. December 29, 2024, for Winter Cohort II
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6 – 8
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program offers middle school students an opportunity to work one-on-one with a mentor to delve into their academic interests and create a personalized project. Mentors are top scholars from prestigious universities like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke, and LSE who provide world-class guidance and support. Founded by a Harvard and Oxford PhD, this rigorous program is fully virtual, allowing students from across the globe to participate.
Through this program, you will get to engage with topics that spark your interest, develop critical thinking skills, and create a project that showcases your creativity and problem-solving abilities. The program also emphasizes accessibility by offering need-based financial aid for families who qualify.
2. Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1,990 (need-based financial aid available)
Program Dates: March 9, 2025 – May 11, 2025 (Sundays)
Application Deadline: Multiple cohorts are available throughout the year. February 23, 2025, for the Spring 2025 cohort
Eligibility: Middle school students in grades 6 – 8
The AI Trailblazers Program by Veritas AI introduces middle school students to artificial intelligence and machine learning through an engaging, hands-on virtual experience. During the program, you will learn essential concepts, including Python programming, data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics.
The program also offers a personalized learning environment with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio, ensuring individualized guidance. You will get to apply your skills to a real-world project of your choice, such as building machine learning models for music genre classification or developing algorithms for personalized educational resources.
3. NYU Science of Smart Cities
Location: New York University (NYU), New York City
Cost: Free
Program Dates: 4 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April (tentatively)
Eligibility: Middle school students who are NYC residents aged 12 – 14 as of the program's start date
The NYU Science of Smart Cities program introduces middle school students to the rapidly evolving field of urban innovation. Hosted by New York University, this program ensures you gain a comprehensive understanding of the technologies and concepts driving smart cities. You will get to explore core topics like sustainability, infrastructure, and transportation through a blend of interactive coursework, hands-on projects, and site visits. You will be actively engaged in collaborative group projects to devise creative solutions for real-world urban challenges.
The program offers additional enrichment through guest lectures, workshops, and the chance to work together with peers and industry experts. Designed to be intellectually stimulating, the Science of Smart Cities program demands commitment and effective time management from its students.
Location: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Mid to late August 2025 (1 week for rising 6-7th graders; 1 week for rising 8-9th graders)
Application Deadline: March (tentatively); fill out this form to receive updates on the 2025 session
Eligibility: Rising 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th graders who are residents of Massachusetts
Hosted by MIT, the DynaMIT Program provides middle school students with an engaging and immersive experience in the fields of engineering and transportation. As a participant, you will explore the inner workings of various modes of transportation, from public transit to autonomous vehicles, through a dynamic curriculum that features hands-on projects, interactive coursework, and site visits. You will be actively involved in group projects, where you will apply your knowledge to propose innovative solutions to real-world transportation challenges. The program then culminates in a final presentation, where you will showcase your ideas and designs.
While the DynaMIT Program offers an exciting and educational experience, you should be prepared to commit time and effort to successfully balance coursework and project work. If you’re passionate about engineering and transportation, this program provides an opportunity to develop design skills and gain insights into the fields of STEM.
5. University of Michigan Thinkabit Lab Summer Program
Location: The Mez, 3663 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48201
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Two one-week sessions in the summer
Application Deadline: April (tentatively)
Eligibility: Middle school students currently in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade
The University of Michigan Thinkabit Lab Summer Program aims to introduce middle school students to engineering, technology, and innovation. Hosted by the University of Michigan, this program provides an interactive curriculum designed to inspire creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
As a participant, you will participate in hands-on engineering projects, collaborative activities, and interactive workshops that explore fundamental engineering concepts, digital technology, and design principles. You will also actively develop creative solutions to real-world challenges, such as designing and building prototypes. The program culminates in the completion of a final project that demonstrates your understanding and application of engineering and technology concepts.
Location: Stanford University, CA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: May (tentatively; based on 2024 dates)
Application Deadline: To be declared for 2025
Eligibility: Middle school students with little background in engineering
Stanford seeME is an outreach program designed to introduce middle school students to the exciting world of engineering and innovation. Hosted by Stanford University, this program provides a hands-on educational experience as participants explore the core principles of engineering and engage in the design process. Under the guidance of graduate student mentors, you will learn to brainstorm, prototype, and refine creative solutions to real-world challenges, developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills along the way.
The program culminates in the creation of engineering projects that showcase your innovative ideas and newly acquired skills. It is ideal for middle school students eager to explore the possibilities of engineering and gain a strong foundation in technological design.
See here for more information.
7. National Grid Young Innovators Engineering Camp
Location: UB North Campus, Buffalo, NY
Cost: Free
Program Dates: 5 days in the summer
Application Deadline: June (tentatively)
Eligibility: Western New York middle school students entering grades 6 – 7. Minority and underrepresented students are encouraged to apply. Max enrollment is 20 students.
The National Grid Young Innovators Engineering Camp at the University at Buffalo is a dynamic five-day program designed to spark creativity and encourage an interest in engineering among middle school students. This camp provides participants with the chance to explore engineering concepts and practices in collaboration with university students and staff, offering an immersive introduction to the field.
During the program, you will tackle a variety of hands-on engineering challenges that highlight the practical applications of science and technology in everyday life. Activities might include building bridges, designing simple machines, or experimenting with electrical circuits. Emphasizing problem-solving, critical thinking, and teamwork, the camp aims to demonstrate how engineering can be used to address real-world issues.
8. Summer Engineering Experience (SEE)
Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: A week in the summer
Application Deadline: April (tentatively)
Eligibility: Rising 8th graders
The Summer Engineering Experience (SEE) at Carnegie Mellon University is a week-long program designed to introduce rising 8th graders with a passion for math, science, and engineering to various engineering disciplines through hands-on activities and collaborative projects.
As a participant, you will engage in two primary engineering projects. The first is a week-long group project where you will collaborate with peers to address a complex challenge, learning the importance of teamwork in engineering. The second involves smaller groups and allows you to take a leadership role while delving into specific areas of engineering that align with your interests. In addition to these projects, the program includes educational presentations and workshops led by university faculty, showcasing the diverse roles and contributions of engineers in society.
9. NYU’s Sounds of New York City (SONYC)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY
Cost: Free
Program Dates: 3 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: April (tentatively)
Eligibility: Students who live in New York City and are aged 12 – 14 by the start of the program
The Sounds of New York City (SONYC) program at NYU is designed to inspire middle school students to explore STEM. It introduces participants to the principles of sound, waves, and urban technology through the lens of New York City's unique environment. During the program, you will engage in interactive research projects that explore the use of microcontrollers, sensors, and other hardware components. The program covers the fundamentals of coding, circuitry, and electronics, providing you with a deeper understanding of how engineers and scientists solve real-world challenges.
A highlight of SONYC is the opportunity to design and develop innovative smart city technologies. Using the knowledge and skills gained throughout the program, you will collaborate with peers to create solutions that address urban issues. The program concludes with a final presentation at an end-of-program expo, where you will showcase your project to experts, peers, and the public, demonstrating your creativity and technical expertise.
10. Rice University R-STEM Student Summer Programs
Location: Rice University, Houston, TX
Cost: Limited 100% scholarships available ($499 per week)
Program Dates: 1 week in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling. Keep an eye on the website for updates on the 2025 session
Eligibility: Middle school students currently in 6th and 7th grade
Rice University’s R-STEM Student Summer Programs offer an array of STEM-focused opportunities for middle school students. These immersive programs are designed to introduce you to the vast possibilities within STEM fields through hands-on activities, real-world problem-solving, and cutting-edge technology. Each program provides a unique experience aimed at fostering creativity, critical thinking, and a deeper understanding of STEM concepts.
The iRIDE (Introduction to Research and Innovative Design in Engineering) program is a week-long experience where you will collaborate with peers and mentors to tackle real-world challenges. It culminates in a capstone project designed to address community-based problems. During this program, you will get to develop research, design, and presentation skills.
The Computer Engineering Design (CED) Academy offers an introduction to computer-aided design and modern manufacturing techniques. During this program, you will gain practical experience using 3D printers, Micro-Bits, and Rovers, while learning CAD programming and rapid prototyping techniques. The program emphasizes the connection between STEM disciplines and real-world applications, and at the end of the week, you’ll take home your 3D-printed creations as a reminder of your achievements.
The Forensics Investigators Program explores the intersection of science and real-world detective work, providing a unique opportunity to experience crime scene investigation and scientific inquiry. As a participant, you will gain hands-on experience in cutting-edge forensic techniques. Topics covered include evidence collection, identification, classification, and analysis of various types of evidence, such as fingerprints, DNA, and blood.
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