8 Engineering Camps for Middle School Students
If you’re a middle schooler interested in engineering, applying to a camp to delve deeper could be a great idea! Camps offer hands-on experiences and a supportive peer community, giving you the chance to explore topics beyond the classroom. They provide an engaging way to build your skills and knowledge while also helping you discover new fields of interest. Participating in a camp can set you on a path to a successful high school career by furthering your education in a fun and interactive environment. In this blog, we’ve listed 8 top engineering camps for those with a budding interest in engineering.
1. Veritas AI
Veritas AI offers virtual programs for middle and high school students, run by Harvard graduate students. The AI Trailblazers Bootcamp is a 10-week program for beginners in AI, where you'll explore AI concepts in fields like medicine and finance while working on your own project with mentor guidance.
If you have some Python experience, the AI Junior Fellowship offers 12 one-on-one mentoring sessions over 12 weeks to help you develop a research project, focusing on data exploration, coding, and design.
Application deadline: December 1, 2024
Program dates: December 15th to February 16th.
Costs:
The AI Trailblazers bootcamp costs $1990.
The AI Junior Fellowship costs $3900.
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students
Location: Virtual
2. University of California, Berkeley’s Girls in Engineering
UC Berkeley’s Girls in Engineering program is a one-week camp for middle school students, where you'll explore various engineering fields through hands-on projects. You'll dive into areas like robotics, electrical engineering, and computer science, all in a supportive and inclusive environment. The program emphasizes mentorship for students from underrepresented communities, offering guidance from inspiring engineers. With access to UC Berkeley’s renowned faculty, this highly competitive camp helps you develop both technical skills and interpersonal abilities.
Application deadline: Summer applications will open in mid to late January
Program dates: For 2024, there were two summer sessions
Session 1: June 24 - June 28
Session 2: July 8 - July 12
Costs: $600. Scholarships are available for eligible families
Eligibility: Open to students of all gender identities who live in the San Francisco Bay Area and will be entering 6th, 7th, or 8th grade in the fall
Location: UC Berkeley campus
3. Science of Smart Cities (SoSC)
The SoSC program is a four-week summer camp at New York University that introduces middle school students to urban engineering through hands-on activities. You will explore electronics, coding, and microcontrollers while tackling real-world urban challenges. In teams, you’ll design creative solutions, culminating in a final presentation to peers and families. The program combines lectures, projects, and site visits, offering a rigorous learning experience focused on problem-solving and teamwork.
Application deadline: April 29th
Program dates: July 8, 2024 - August 2, 2024
Costs: The program is free to attend
Eligibility: Students who are 12 years old and no older than 14 years old at the start of the program. Applicants must be New York City residents
Location: NYU campus
4. DynaMIT
DynaMIT is an in-person camp at MIT for middle schoolers from low-income families, offering hands-on STEM learning in areas like electricity, coding, and engineering. Run by MIT students, the program includes daily experiments and a weekly capstone project with mentorship. Participants also explore MIT’s campus and the greater Boston area. The camp aims to inspire and engage students in STEM through practical learning experiences and fun activities.
Application deadline: March
Program dates: The program is split into two sessions depending on age
Week 1: August 14th - August 18th (for rising 6th-7th graders)
Week 2: August 21st - August 25th (for rising 8th-9th graders)
Costs: The program is free to attend
Eligibility: Rising 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th graders
Location: MIT campus
5. Education Unlimited Robotics Summer Camp
This camp offers you an excellent opportunity to use the VEX5 robotics platform to build and code your own robot from scratch. You will learn the fundamentals of robotics, experiment with light and pressure sensors, create drive trains, explore electrical circuits, and more. This week-long program concludes with an exciting challenge: designing a robotics sports competition.
In addition to robotics, you will participate in leadership and problem-solving workshops, experiments, lectures, and other activities designed to build your skills. Held at either UC Berkeley or Stanford University—two leading institutions in STEM education—the camp also allows you to explore the campus and surrounding area each day. Midway through the program, you’ll enjoy an excursion to a local science venue!
Application Deadline: Rolling
Program Dates: The program is divided into three sessions:
Session 1: June 29 – July 4, 2025
Session 2: July 27 – August 1, 2025
Session 3: August 4 – August 8, 2025
Costs: Program costs vary depending on your choice of participation: day camper, extended day camper, or overnight camper. Learn more about pricing here.
Eligibility: Open to rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.
Locations:
Session 1 takes place at UC Berkeley.
Sessions 2 and 3 are held at Stanford University.
6. NASA: Space Center University
NASA’s Space Center University offers a hands-on program where you can learn about aerospace engineering and space exploration. You’ll have the chance to work on activities such as building and launching rockets, participating in astronaut training simulations, and exploring space robotics. The program also provides behind-the-scenes access to NASA’s training facilities and includes talks from NASA professionals. It’s a great opportunity for students who are passionate about space and engineering to learn directly from experts in the field.
Application deadline: N/A
Program dates: Students can register for any available dates.
Costs:
For groups under 20 students, the fee is $719.95 per person.
For groups of 20 or more, the fee is $619.95 per person.
Eligibility: Participants must be between the ages of 11-14
Location: Houston, Texas
7. University of Michigan Thinkabit Lab Summer Program
The Thinkabit Lab is a one-week camp for middle school students held at the Michigan Engineering Zone in Detroit. During the camp, you will explore how new technologies are developed, how computers are built, and how engineers pursue their careers. Through hands-on workshops and seminars, you will meet professional engineers, learn about engineering tools, and dive into the design process. At the end, you'll create your own engineering project to address a real-world challenge. This fully funded program offers a unique and competitive opportunity for young aspiring engineers.
Application deadline: April 5th, 2024
Program dates: The program is split into two sessions depending on age
Week 1: August 5th–9th, for 6th–7th graders
Week 2: August 12th–16th, for 8th–9th graders
Costs: The program is free to attend
Eligibility: Participants must be current 6th-8th graders
Location: Michigan Engineering Zone
8. CEISMC Summer P.E.A.K.S. (Programs for Enrichment and Accelerated Knowledge in STEM) at Georgia Tech
CEISMC Summer P.E.A.K.S. is a one- to two-week camp at Georgia Tech's Atlanta campus, where middle school students can explore STEM fields like robotics, mechanical engineering, and programming. Through hands-on activities and challenges, you'll learn to apply scientific principles to solve real-world problems. The camp offers access to Georgia Tech’s world-class facilities and faculty, providing a valuable introduction to engineering at one of the top engineering schools in the U.S.
Application deadline: March
Program dates: TBD
Costs: $400-$650 per participant
Eligibility: Rising 6th-8th graders
Location: Georgia Tech campus
Amelia Ao
Amelia is a current senior at Harvard College studying art history with a minor in economics. She’s enthusiastic about music, movies, and writing and is excited to help Lumiere students as much as she can!
Image Source - NASA Logo