Summer camps offer an enriching alternative to traditional summer programs, focusing on academic and experiential learning while fostering a sense of community among participants. Unlike more generalized summer activities, academic camps are structured around specific subjects, often incorporating hands-on projects, workshops, and expert-led sessions that enhance students' understanding and skills in various disciplines. These camps provide a unique opportunity for middle school students to delve deeper into topics of interest, build critical thinking skills, and engage with like-minded peers in a supportive environment.

Participating in an academic summer camp not only cultivates knowledge in specialized areas but also fosters essential life skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and time management. Here are 8 academic summer camps designed specifically for middle school students, offering diverse opportunities to explore, learn, and grow.

1. UC San Diego’s Sally Ride Science Academy

The Sally Ride Science Academy offers a dynamic STEAM summer program for students from grades 3 through 12, providing immersive workshops that cover science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics. You can explore diverse fields, such as space exploration, marine biology, and computer programming, through hands-on projects designed to engage and inspire. 

The week-long courses run with both morning and afternoon sessions, so you can enroll in up to two courses per week. For those seeking flexibility, the Academy also offers asynchronous courses that span four weeks, enabling students to complete coursework at their own pace!

A unique feature of the Sally Ride Science Academy is its emphasis on connecting students with real-life stories of women excelling in STEAM careers, making these fields more accessible and relatable. Moreover, an added bonus is that you can earn academic credits (1.50 for week-long courses and 4.0 for asynchronous ones)! 

Location: UC San Diego or virtual

Cost: $175-$450; financial aid is available.

Program dates: July 7- July 25, 2025

Application deadline: Applications typically close in April/May..

Eligibility: Middle school students from across the world can apply (international students can apply for the virtual courses).

2. MIT DynaMIT

DynaMIT is an enriching week-long science camp hosted at MIT, designed specifically for economically disadvantaged middle school students. This fully funded program aims to spark interest in STEM fields through engaging activities, challenges, and interactive projects. 

You can expect to participate in ice-breaking activities, presentations that introduce key topics, and collaborations with mentors through short experiments and teamwork challenges! Some previous topics covered in this program include electricity and magnetism, polymers and materials, and forensics, allowing students to explore a wide range of scientific principles. 

A hallmark of dynaMIT are the weekly capstone projects, which you undertake throughout the week, incorporating basic coding and programming skills learned during the camp. Each day, you dedicate time to developing your projects, culminating in a presentation for family members at the end of the week! 

We’ve covered this blog in detail so if you are interested in participating, you can check out our blog here! 

Location: MIT campus, Cambridge, MA

Cost: Free

Program dates: Typically in August

Application deadline: Applications typically close in March.

Eligibility: Low-income students in rising 6th and 7th grades, and rising 8th and 9th grades can apply.

3. Oregon State University’s Middle School Summer Camps

Oregon State University hosts a diverse selection of summer camps tailored for middle school students, offering engaging experiences in areas such as wildlife, engineering, robotics, and gaming. Each camp is designed to provide experiential learning through structured activities, practical projects, and field trips. 

One such summer camp is the "Wild About Wildlife Camp" which invites students to explore local ecosystems and biodiversity while conducting activities like owl pellet dissections and strawberry DNA extraction. In this camp, you will interact with professionals from the Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Sciences department, learning essential concepts in biology, conservation, and natural resource management!

Location: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

Cost: $60-$320, depending on the program

Program dates: Varies

Application deadline: Applications typically open in February..

Eligibility: Rising 6th-8th graders can apply.

4. University of North Texas’s Tech Explorer Camp

The University of North Texas’s Tech Explorer Camp provides middle and high school students with an immersive experience in learning and applying various technologies. Over five days, you will get to explore key topics like human-computer interaction, informatics, and the spread of misinformation, with each day progressively increasing in complexity. 

You will also be introduced to potential careers in information science, including roles like user experience researcher, IT specialist, and library and information professional. The camp emphasizes practical, hands-on learning, with students required to bring their own laptops for projects and interactive exercises.

Location: University of North Texas, Frisco, TX

Cost: $350 (excluding meals)

Program dates: July 8 - July 12, 2025 (tentatively, based on previous years) 

Application deadline: To be announced

Eligibility: Middle school or high school students

5. Cornell University’s NYS 4-H Animal Science Programs

Cornell University’s NYS 4-H Animal Science Programs engage middle school students in practical learning experiences centered on animal care and agricultural science. As a participant, you will have the opportunity to work with various livestock, including cattle, goats, horses, poultry, and swine, as well as companion animals like dogs and rabbits. 

Although not strictly “camps”, in these short-term programs, you will learn essential skills such as feeding, training, and exhibiting animals, all while expanding your knowledge in biology, physiology, veterinary medicine, and nutrition! 

Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

Cost: Free

Program dates: Typically in June

Application deadline: Rolling

Eligibility: Middle school students

6. The University of Texas’s Dallas Coding Camps

The University of Texas at Dallas Coding Camps offer middle school students the opportunity to explore the world of programming and mathematics through a variety of engaging courses. Both virtual and in-person options are available, providing flexibility for students. Camps like “Enjoyable Coding with Alice” and “Drawings & Animations with JavaScript” allow students to interact with coding concepts in a creative and accessible way. 

For those with varying levels of experience, the camps provide options tailored to both beginners and those who have previously worked with programming or science. Courses like “Explore Coding for Beginners” are designed for newcomers, while others like “Games with JavaScript” require a basic understanding of certain principles, allowing students to build on their knowledge. 

Location: University of Texas, Irving, TX

Cost: $150

Program dates: Weekly camps in the summer

Application deadline: Applications are open till the last Wednesday prior to the start of the camp. 

Eligibility: Students aged 11-14 can apply.

7. SMU Lyle School of Engineering’s Introduction to Engineering Summer Camp

The SMU Lyle School of Engineering’s Introduction to Engineering Summer Camp is a dynamic entry point for middle school students into the world of STEM. Designed for those with little to no prior exposure, this five-day program introduces participants to key engineering fields like electrical, mechanical, civil, and environmental engineering, as well as computer science. 

Through a series of carefully structured activities and projects, you get to experience the engineering design process firsthand, learning how to approach problems and create solutions in ways that mirror real-world scenarios. For instance, you might experiment with simple circuits, explore the basics of coding, or even design and test structural models, all while building foundational knowledge in engineering!

Location: SMU Lyle School of Engineering, TX 

Cost: $600

Program dates: Typically 5 days in June 

Application deadline: Applications typically open in February.

Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th graders can apply.

8. Summer Camps at UC San Diego

The University of California, San Diego organizes a variety of summer camps that focus on fields like programming, robotics, and engineering for middle school students. These programs also include topics from exciting fields such as filmmaking and animation, helping guide students through the basics of coding and creative expression while introducing them to 3D modeling and engineering principles. These camps blend learning with practical applications, allowing you to gain practical experience in niche subjects, building a strong foundation in STEM-related fields.

Options such as "Beginning Robotic Adventures with LEGO EV3 & SPIKE PRIME" offer an exciting introduction to robotics, where you work in teams to solve real-world problems. Alternatively, in "Introduction to Filmmaking Boot Camp" and "Creating Awesome Stop Motion Animation," you get to tap into your artistic side, experimenting with storytelling and production techniques! You can find the full list of available camps here.

Location: University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA

Cost: Varies for different camps; financial aid is available.

Program dates: 4-day camps in June-July

Application deadline: Applications typically open in February.

Eligibility: Varies for different camps, click here for specific details on programs and eligibility.

If you’re looking to build a project/research paper in the field of AI & ML, consider applying to Veritas AI! 

Veritas AI is founded by Harvard graduate students. Through the programs, you get a chance to work 1:1 with mentors from universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, and more to create unique, personalized projects. In the past year, we had over 1000 students learn AI & ML with us. You can apply here!

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