10 Summer Programs for Middle School Students
Extracurricular summer programs that expose young scholars to advanced subjects and fun, immersive learning are an abundant resource. And they’re not just for high school students. Middle school students can also spend their summer breaks meeting new friends, discovering newfound interests, and developing important skills.
We’ve compiled a list of ten summer programs for younger students to participate in, including virtual, in-person, and international options. Learning doesn’t have to stop when the school year ends.
Scholar Launch Research Programs
Understanding the Scientific Method Through Cognitive Neuroscience
Application deadline: May 31, 2025
Students will learn about the scientific method through the lens of neuroscience, an interdisciplinary science that incorporates mathematics, linguistics, engineering, computer science, chemistry, psychology, and medicine. They’ll learn about the normal development and activity of the nervous system and discover how neuroscientists conduct experiments to find ways to prevent or treat problems that affect the brain, nervous system, and body.
Faculty Advisor: Ph.D. in Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego
How are Neurons Affected by Diseases? Cell Neuroscience, Neurodegenerative Diseases, and Related Research Methods
Application deadline: May 31, 2025
Participants will learn about the basic unit of our brain, neurons, and how neurons are affected in common neurodegenerative and developmental diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Students will also be trained in standard research methods utilized in the field of neuroscience and biology.
Faculty Advisor: Ph.D. candidate in Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford
The Science of Sharks and Rays: A Dive into the Biology and Ecology of Elasmobranch Fishes
Application deadline: May 31, 2025
This research program invites students to explore the evolutionary history, anatomy, physiology, movement, and vital ecological roles of elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, rays, guitarfish, and sawfish). These species evolved long before even the first trees appeared on Earth. Students will study the unique adaptations, like cartilaginous skeletons, that have enabled their survival across millions of years. They’ll also dig into how human activities–fishing, ecotourism, keeping elasmobranches in aquariums–affect the lives of these animals.
Faculty Advisor: Graduate Research Assistant, Shark Lab, California State University, Long Beach
Ghosts in Literature and Society: Exploring the Hauntings of Cultural and National Identity
Application deadline: May 31, 2025
Students will investigate the spectral presence in literature and cinema, exploring how ghosts reveal the lingering past and its influence on national and cultural identities. They’ll examine the role of ghosts as carriers of history, memory, and transformation. Together, we will question: What defines a ghost in cultural texts? How do hauntings reflect collective identities? To what end do these specters persist, and how do we exorcise—or embrace—them?
Faculty Advisor: Assistant Professor, Queens University of Charlotte; Ph.D. in Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, University of California, Berkeley
More Extracurricular Opportunities for Middle School Students
ISSOS International Summer Schools
With campuses in England, Scotland, and the United States, ISSOS offers three-week, all-inclusive summer school experiences to students aged 13 to 18. This incredible international opportunity allows students to select one academic subject and one elective course to focus on during their program, alongside evening activities and cultural day trips.
Depending on which school campus they choose to complete their program at–Yale, Cambridge, or St. Andrews–students can study everything from creative writing to business and entrepreneurship.
NSLC Pre-College Summer Programs
The National Student Leadership Conference invites both middle and high school students to participate in fast-paced, hands-on summer sessions across a range of disciplines. Programs are held at various universities throughout the United States, guaranteeing a diverse array of options and experiences for participants. Middle school students in 6th to 8th grade can study the following subjects at either American University or the University of California, Berkeley:
School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) Middle School Programs
Young artists aged 10 to 13 can spend their summer break honing their craft in Chicago. SAIC offers middle school summer programs designed to expand students’ skills and techniques ahead of high school in fun and interactive ways. Program participants can focus their interests and bring their ideas to life by studying fashion, toy design, drawing and painting, animation, and more. They can also learn through immersive experiences, like visiting the Art Institute of Chicago museum, and form relationships with SAIC’s world-renowned instructors.
Oregon State University STEM Academy Middle School Summer Camps
OSU has several summer day camps that are perfect for curious middle school students interested in fun, hands-on learning. The courses are shorter in duration than other summer programs, ranging from one to five days each. However, students can look forward to walking away with real-world experiences and, in some cases, their very own creations, built with the skills they developed during their time with OSU.
STEM Academy day camps include:
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY)
The Center for Talented Youth is Johns Hopkins University’s nonprofit academic center that offers transformational educational experiences to gifted students from 2nd to 12th grade. CTY “fosters intellectual growth in exceptional students from all backgrounds and communities” by providing accredited courses designed to accelerate learning and challenge young scholars.
Students can choose from an incredibly extensive selection of online classes or on-campus programs that are all curated to benefit advanced learners who are demonstrably ahead of their peers intellectually and require a greater challenge beyond the classroom.
Northwestern University Center for Talent Development (CTD)
Northwestern’s School of Education and Social Policy established its Center for Talent Development (CTD) in 1982 to help students identify and develop their passions and strengths. This research-driven extracurricular education is available to kids of all ages, from preschool through 12th grade. Students can choose from summer programs (residential, commuter, and online), year-round online programs, weekend programs, and leadership and service programs. More specifically, students from 3rd to 8th grade can enroll in honors-level, credit-bearing online courses, one- and two-week academic day camps, and three-week day and residential camps.
CTD is committed to prioritizing students’ and families’ needs by designing programs to fit a variety of schedules and educational goals.
Each of these summer programs is curated to help middle school students develop leadership skills, explore future career paths, and enhance extracurricular activities. These are also excellent opportunities for students to meet new friends from various backgrounds and cultivate relationships with industry experts, like professors, that may benefit them throughout their academic careers. There’s still time to apply for summer programs, but act fast! Application windows are closing soon.
