15 Summer STEM Programs for Middle School Students
If you are in middle school and interested in STEM, it can be hard to figure out what steps you should take to build foundational skills. Taking part in STEM programs is a great starting point because it allows you to explore these subjects in depth, with guidance from professionals. An added bonus is that a lot of these programs will help you when you later take high school courses in these subjects.
To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 15 STEM summer programs open to middle school students and detailed them!
1. Veritas AI
Location: Virtual
Cost:
AI Trailblazers - $1,790
Introduction to Python - $1790
AI Junior Fellowship - $2,900
Note. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline:
Spring Cohort - February 10, 2024 (AI Trailblazers) & February 25, 2024 (Introduction to Python & AI Junior Fellowship).
Summer Cohort - March 24, 2024 (early admission)
You can apply here!
Program Dates:
AI Trailblazers - Runs for a total of 25 hours over 10 weekends
Introduction to Python - Runs for a total of 25 hours over 10 weekends
AI Junior Fellowship - 12 weeks. The upcoming cohort for all starts on March 10, 2024.
Veritas AI is a virtual AI program for middle school and high school students founded and run by Harvard graduate students. Middle school students can pick from three options - the first is the AI Trailblazers bootcamp. Through this program, you will learn the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning, along with the basics of Python. You'll work on hands-on, real-world AI projects in areas like medicine, finance, autonomous vehicles, and more under the guidance of mentors from top universities. This is best suited for students who are beginners!
The second option - Introduction to Python - is a program designed specifically for middle school students interested in learning Python and applying it to projects. Students will learn fundamental concepts like data types and structures, control flow, scripting, and more!
If you have already gone through the bootcamp or have some experience with Python, the AI Junior Fellowship is a good option for you. You get to work 1-1 with a mentor to build out your own project or research paper over 12 weeks. This is a great way to work with AI at the intersection of various topics and showcase your passion.
You can take a look at the program brochure here.
2. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
Location: Virtual
Cost: $1990 Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: You can find the application link here!
Spring Cohort 2024: February 18, 2024
Summer 2024 Priority Deadline: March 17, 2024
Summer 2024 Regular Admission I: April 14, 2024
Summer 2024 Regular Admission II: May 12, 2024Sumer II Cohort 2024: June 26, 2024
Program Dates: Spans for 8 weeks starting from these dates -
Spring Cohort 2024: February 18, 2024
Summer Cohort 2024: June 3, 2024
Summer II Cohort 2024: July 15, 2023
Eligibility: Open to any student from grades 6 to 8.
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. In this program, you work one-on-one with a mentor from a top research university to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. You can choose to either create a research report, a presentation or any final output that showcases your research!
You can cover research in subjects ranging from AI & data science, and biology, medicine and public health to business, entrepreneurship and sociology or anthropology. You can view the full list of exploration tracks here!
3. MIT’s Beaver Works Middle School Program
Location: Both in-person and virtual options are available.
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: You can expect applications for the 2024 batch to open in May (tentative).
Program Dates: 4 weeks starting the Monday after the July 4 weekend, Monday-Friday.
The Beaver Works Middle School Program, an extension of MIT's Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI), offers an exciting gateway to the realms of AI and engineering for middle school students.
This immersive program places a strong emphasis on teamwork, encouraging you to engage in collaborative projects and tackle genuine real-world challenges by applying AI and engineering concepts. Additionally, you'll delve into the intricacies of crafting and programming intelligent systems, explore exciting domains like robotics and autonomous vehicles, and gain invaluable hands-on exposure to state-of-the-art technologies thoughtfully provided as part of the program.
In essence, it's a great opportunity to dive into AI and engineering, discover their real-world applications, and cultivate your skills alongside peers who share your passion for innovative problem-solving.
4. Philosophy of AI at Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,050. Need-based financial aid is available.
Application Deadline: March 15, 2024 (based on previous year’s deadlines)
Program Dates: Typically conducted in June and July
Note. This is only open to students from grade 8.
This program encourages students to ask the fundamental questions of what AI means. This initial question leads to some interesting philosophical issues at the intersection of artificial intelligence and raises social and ethical questions about today’s existing technology.
Some of the things you will question and discuss are whether reliance on algorithms and ML (for instance, when banks make lending decisions or courts impose criminal sentences) improve fairness or make things worse, and who do we hold accountable if things go wrong? You will explore these wide-ranging issues through readings, discussions, and a variety of activities and projects.
On successfully completing the program, you will receive a certificate of completion.
5. UC Berkeley Coding Academy’s Data Science to AI
Location: Virtual
Cost: $2,495. Limited scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: To be announced.
Program Dates: Held in the summer. Dates to be announced.
Berkeley’s summer course on data science to AI is focused on introducing students to the fundamentals of AI, ML, and big data science. The academy offers 1-1 classes for students aged 12-18 and a junior Python coders program for ages 7-11.
Through the programs, you will learn how to write and evaluate Python code behind AI and build ML models from real data. This course is a good choice for you if you are looking to take part in a technical skill-building course. The course has different levels for students based on their coding background. You will work in small groups to create your own projects and models.
If you’re looking to hone your technical and programming skills while gaining access to long-term valuable resources like Berkeley Coding Academy lecture videos, slides, and portfolio projects, consider applying to this program!
6. MIT RAISE - Creativity and AI Workshop
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Varies.
Program Dates: Varies.
Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (RAISE) at MIT offers a variety of valuable tutorials for students starting their AI journey. One of these offerings is the Creativity and AI Workshop for middle school students.
The goal of the program and its curriculum is to teach students about creative machine-learning techniques and how they can partner with AI to create art. You will participate in several hands-on activities, both plugged (using digital devices and hardware) and unplugged (activities that don’t directly use digital devices). This course encourages the explorative creation of art with and without AI tools. A strong focus will be given to GANs, which is an AI platform that can generate art and music, among many other forms of media.
RAISE is a curriculum, as opposed to the other programs that are mentioned in this blog, so you might have to reach out to your teacher/instructor for more information regarding some of the curricula offered.
If you are looking to engage in self-paced learning, RAISE is a pretty good option for you. You can also choose to learn from other workshops and curricula available on the RAISE website, such as Conversational AI Tools and .
If you’re interested in going through the detailed curriculum, check this out!
7. UCSD’s Introduction to Python Programming and Machine Learning
Location: UCSD Campus
Cost: Not specified
Application Deadline: Rolling Admission
Program Dates: Held in the summer. Dates to be announced.
Note. You can reach out to the Pre-College Program department to get the specific dates for the program!
This summer course by UCSD introduces students to programming in Python and one of the most common applications in machine learning - the image classifier. Throughout the program, you will create a basic image classifier (using Google Teachable Machine tool) and will integrate it into an application framework - both in a web page and a Raspberry Pi platform.
By the end of the program, you will be expected to:
Write Python scripts executing basic math operations, conditional statements, and loops
Write Python functions and call them from a main program
Create an image classification model using Google Teachable Machine with at least 3 classes
Integrate and test an image classifier model with a Python (or equivalent) script
Integrate and test an image classifier model on the Raspberry Pi platform
8. Introduction to Computer Science at Harvard University (Online)
Location: Virtual. The course can be accessed on the edX platform.
Fee: Free. To obtain a verified certificate on completion, you’ll need to pay $219.
Application Deadline: The course is open till December 31, 2024, accessible to anyone!
Program Dates: Self-paced, students can begin the course at their convenience. It’s available till December 31, 2024.
Eligibility: This is an introductory course open to anyone.
Harvard University offers several programs taught online via edX.This introductory course, taught by some of Harvard’s senior faculty members, is a strong step for students starting out in computer science.
In the course, you will gain a comprehensive grasp of computer science and programming concepts. This self-paced course covers algorithmic thinking, problem-solving, and diverse languages like Python, C SQL, JavaScript, CSS, and HTML. You will explore abstraction, algorithms, data structures, security, software engineering, and web development. The course also offers engaging problem sets inspired by real-world domains such as biology, finance, cryptography, forensics and gaming!
The course caters to everyone, regardless of previous programming experience. You can also opt for earning a certificate at an additional cost of $219, which will be given after successful completion of assignments and the final projects.
9. Science of Smart Cities (SoSC) at New York University (NYU)
Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY.
Cost: Free.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close mid-April.
Program Dates: July - August (tentatively, based on previous years)
Eligibility: Students who live in New York City and will be 12 years old by the start of the program but not older than 14, can apply. Students should have a strong academic record and demonstrated interest in STEM.
Science of Smart Cities (SoSC) is a three-week program designed for middle school students to explore computer science, python, engineering and technology that enhance city sustainability and safety. Through hands-on activities, demonstrations and experiments, you will dive into topics like coding, physical sciences, and urban science. You will also learn how scientists and engineers apply fundamental knowledge, STEM-based skills and innovative solutions to the real-world, and how microcontrollers, sensors and other hardware work.
Your final project involves creating a smart city, where you will integrate the STEM concepts that you learnt during the program. The program culminates with presentations to experts and the public, where you will demonstrate how your project addresses a real world challenge.
10. AI for Oceans
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: None; only registration is required when you start a course.
Program Dates: The courses are available all year round.
AI for Oceans, a collaboration between Code.org and Microsoft, merges marine biology and AI in an accessible format. This unique initiative goes beyond coding, delving into artificial intelligence, machine learning, and ethical considerations. You won’t just be learning in this program but will be training actual machine learning models.
During the program, you will explore the intricacies of marine life using technology. You will enhance and customize a pre-trained model provided by the TensorFlow MobileNet project. You will also use a Support-Vector Machine.
As a participant, you will learn about the challenges faced by ocean ecosystems and learn how to harness AI to solve them. Whether you're passionate about computer science, marine biology, or environmental conservation, this program equips you with essential skills. You will learn to analyze oceanic data, develop AI models to study marine life, and design AI-based solutions to address issues such as pollution and climate change.
11. MehtA + Machine Learning Bootcamp
Location: Virtual
Cost: Not Specified
Application Deadline: June 7, 2024 (tentatively, based on previous year’s timelines)
Program Dates: June 19 - July 28, 2024 (tentatively, based on previous year’s timelines)
The MehtA+ Machine Learning Bootcamp is a virtual camp conducted every summer that teaches university-level computer science concepts like programming, AI/ML, and data visualization.
In the 6-week program, you will first start by learning the mathematics behind AI, machine learning, deep learning models and data preprocessing techniques (to name a few - you can view the exhaustive list here!). The program culminates with you working in small groups to develop real-world projects.
12. Girls Who Code - Code at Home
Location: Virtual
Cost: No Cost
Application Deadline: Rolling Admissions
Program Dates: Self-Paced
Eligibility: Open to any individual who identifies as female/non-binary.
Girls Who Code is an online platform that offers coding and career preparation classes for girls and non-binary individuals to reduce the gender gap in technology. While they don’t have traditional classes, they have a series of ‘Code At Home’ Activities that you can use to practice coding!
They offer different activities to help you practice Python, web development through HTML, CSS and JavaScript, and Scratch. Some examples of activities in the web development module are debugging the code, practicing website accessibility and creating a digital memory book.
13. AI For Good
Location: Virtual
Cost: No cost
Application Deadline: None
Program Dates: All year round. You can view the session timings here.
Eligibility: Open to everyone.
AI for Good is a year-round digital platform of the United Nations' International Telecommunication Union. It is a platform where AI innovators and problem owners learn, discuss and connect to identify practical AI solutions to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The platform offers several programs – programs that cover topics such as using AI to build healthy, inclusive communities, AI for healthcare, AI for climate change solutions, cybersecurity and AI, and much more. You can pick the programs that match your interests – most of these are 1-day sessions, and can be attended virtually. In these sessions, you will get to learn from and interact with science, technology and AI experts from around the world.
14. Harvard CS5Ox - Introduction to Computer Science
Location: Virtual
Cost: No Cost (Note. If you wish to buy a certificate, it will cost $219)
Application Deadline: Rolling Admissions
Program Dates: Self-Paced
Eligibility: Open to everyone
Harvard offers an introductory computer science course to edX which teaches the fundamentals of programming for anyone without prior experience. The online course mirrors the on-campus course CS50, which is one of Harvard’s largest courses!
In this course, you will cover topics such as abstraction, algorithms, data structures, encapsulation, web development and more! You will also use languages such as C, Python, SQL, JavaScript, CSS and HTML.
Do note that this course doesn’t cater to only middle school students but it is a solid option as an introductory programming course! An added bonus is the verified certificate (if you do choose to purchase it).
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: None; only registration is required at the time of starting a course.
Program Dates: The courses are available all year round.
A self-paced learning program offered by Google AI, these courses focus on generative AI and machine learning. They help you build a solid foundation for future research or study in the field of computer science and AI. As a middle school student, these courses are pretty well-paced and cover complex topics in AI in a simple manner. Some of the topics covered include linear algebra for AI and ML, machine learning problem framing, and the basics of machine learning.
These courses are purely self-paced, so it is up to you to set aside learning time during your summer break or even during your school year! You can view a complete list of courses offered by Google AI that can be accessed from anywhere in the world here.
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