We’ve written before about summer programs, both in general terms, and with specific options for students with specific interests, such as engineering, research, or computer science. These options, however, are all aimed at high school students, and many require students to be at least 16 in order to participate; even the most lenient require the students to be in or entering high school.
So how should middle school students spend their summers? While the activities you do in middle school do not show up on your college application, there’s much to be said about exploring your passions early, and getting a head start on figuring out what you enjoy enough to pursue more seriously once high school begins. In this article, we’ll explore some of these options, and look at how middle school students can make the best use of their summers. Let’s get started!
Art and Athletics
Most of this article will focus on academic areas of interest, but we wanted to include a note on these options. Both athletics and performing arts often have well organized and intensive camps in the summer, and if these are your passion, they are a great way to spend your time.
These are generally not full time commitments, but will often fill long hours in the summer. They can be supplemented by a low intensity academic opportunity, but don’t overload students if they don’t have the needed bandwidth. Summers are a time for students to unwind outside of school, and they should take that time to enjoy themselves, and the halcyon days of youth.
These programs are often offered at local or regional levels, and your coaches and teachers will know best which are the right choice for your student to pursue. Especially for performing arts and sports where competition is fiercest at young levels, these are one of the better ways to spend a summer. We won’t review specific programs here, but can help advise you on choosing between your various options; schedule a free consultation to learn how.
Non-Academic Camps
There are many camps offered that are generally non-academic, the classic sleepaway camps where students camp in the woods, experience nature, and get to try any number of activities from a range of disciplines. These are quite good opportunities, and their tendency to hire staffers from the ranks of former campers provides great opportunities in the future for students to demonstrate leadership, and expand their skill set.
We will not cover these opportunities in depth in this article, but know that they are an option, and can be a great choice for some students. Due to the length of these camps, they often do not work well with other summer options, such as those presented otherwise here, so you may need to prioritize the opportunities which appeal to you the most.
Appalachian STEM Academy
Run by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in association with Oak RIdge Associated Universities, this program is open to rising 7th through 9th grade students located in Appalachia. There are two one-week sessions offered. The goal of this program is to give students interested in STEM subjects hands-on and networking opportunities, to learn more about the options available in STEM, and to experience more of what’s available outside their region.
The program accepts 52 students each year, from all 13 states in Appalachia. The application is due in February, and requires an online form and a letter of recommendation from a teacher or community member. Public, private, and homeschooled students are all eligible to participate.
Duke Summer Courses
Duke offers a number of course options for middle school students. Unlike many other programs, they offer residential programs as well. You may apply to all of these programs online. This requires a transcript, a short essay response, and an optional resume. International students must include an English proficiency test score. The following programs are available to middle school students:
- Residential program: Students live on campus, and take courses from Duke faculty. One and two week programs are available, the classes offered vary each year.
- Commuter program: This is the same as the residential program, but students do not live on campus.
- Marine Lab: This does not take place on Duke’s campus, but on the coast of North Carolina, and has residential options. Students have several course options in marine biology for this week-long course.
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
This program offers both academic year and summer options. During the summer, students take three week courses, hosted on college campuses around the country. These programs have both residential and commuter options, allowing you to stay in housing or come in each day. Note that some locations are commuter only. The courses offered vary by location and year, but cover advanced topics from the high school level through collegiate.
Tuition varies by campus and course, but ranges from $3,099 to $6,819, though some financial aid is available. To enroll in these courses, you must become part of the Center for Talented Youth generally. This requires taking a test to assess your academic readiness; CTY is aimed at students who are working above grade level in one or more subjects.
Junior Forensic Science Camp
This is a weeklong camp put on by Saint Mary’s College for rising 6th through 8th graders. Students will use investigative and lab techniques to gather and analyze evidence, and work to solve a “murder” under the guidance of faculty. The program costs $495.
Saint Mary’s is a women-only institution, and this camp is only open to girls. This is a day camp held on the school’s campus, with no housing provided. You may register for the camp online.
Middle School Summer Challenge
Organized and hosted by Washington University St. Louis, this program is specifically for students from the St. Louis area. Students commute to campus, and spend a week taking humanities and STEM courses, and participating in leadership and team building exercises. The program is aimed at academically motivated students looking to explore new topics and gain new perspectives. There are two sessions; one for 5th and 6th graders, and one for 7th and 8th graders.
Applications must be submitted online, and are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications are due by April 1 at the latest, and require a current grade report and a teacher willing to write a recommendation letter. The program costs $785, though there is need based financial aid available.
NC State University Engineering Camps
As the name suggests, North Carolina State University runs a number of weeklong day camps for middle school students. There is one which is an overview of engineering generally, with hands-on activities to introduce concepts, and another which focuses more closely on computer science topics. The cost for either camp is $475.
The application opens in January, and closes in April. For the application, you are required to complete an online form, and answer two short response questions. Admission to the camp is done primarily based on your responses to these questions, and is moderately competitive.
Penn GEMS
Administered by Penn’s School of Engineering, this is a weeklong day camp for current 6th-8th graders in the Philadelphia area. The week includes a number of hands-on activities that serve as introductions to various fields and concepts within engineering, with a goal of allowing students to understand what engineering is, and what engineers do.
Applications are due in March, and require an online form, a transcript, and a recommendation letter from a math or science teacher. This is a day camp, so no housing is provided. The program costs $650, there is limited financial aid available.
Science and Technology Entry Program
Organized and administered by NYU, this is a program specifically for students from New York with an interest in STEM. Open to 7th graders and above, the program has both academic year and summer program options, designed to introduce students to STEM topics and help prepare them for college. The program is specifically aimed at underrepresented students.
You must be a resident of New York State to apply, and meet the state’s eligibility requirements. The application for summer opens in mid February, and requires an online form, a transcript, and a 500 word essay about your interest in STEM. There is a $350 fee to participate in the summer program, though fee waivers are available.
Science of Smart Cities (SOSC)
Run by NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering, this program is an introduction to both civil engineering and urban planning for students aged 12 to 14. The program lasts for three weeks, and consists of lectures, courses, and hands-on activities meant to help students learn about the science behind the field. This program is commuter only, no housing is provided.
Students must be at least 12 by the start of the program, and no older than 14. They must show a demonstrated interest in STEM as well. The application has an early deadline of March 10, and a final deadline of April 14. The online application requires your academic history and two short essay responses.
Stanford Middle School Scholars Program
This is a free three week virtual program aimed at preparing middle school students for the academic rigors of high school. It is aimed specifically at low income students, and focuses on preparing both soft and hard skills for high school, including time management, studying and how to make the most of your high school options.
The program is open to current 6th and 7th graders who reside in and attend school in the US. Students are required to attend both the summer and fall components of the program, and should intend to attend a rigorous college preparatory high school. The application must be submitted online and requires a letter of recommendation and a transcript. The application is due in late March.
University of South Florida Camps
The University of South Florida (USF) has a number of camps specifically for middle school students, to act as an introduction to a number of fields. These are all week-long in person camps. Housing is not provided, so they are most accessible to students located near the university. These are:
- Drone camp: This covers operation and maintenance of drones, and investigations into the coding and software that allows them to operate. There are numerous hands-on flying opportunities as part of this camp.
- Cybercamp: In cooperation with the Air Force, this camp is an introduction to cybersecurity and STEM, and serves as a basic introduction to numerous cybersecurity concepts.
- STEM Robotics: This focuses on coding, programming for, and operating robots, with both classes and hands-on activities. Students will have the chance to compete and solve challenges using their new skills.
- Music Tech Lab (grades 7-12): This camp combines the fields of music and technology. No experience in either is needed as students explore creating music using both instruments and computers.
You may register for all of the camps online.
Final Thoughts
Summer is a time for exploration, growing and discovering new things, and expanding your horizons, all while taking a bit of a break from the standard rigors of the academic year. The programs listed here are not the full scope of what’s available to students, but a sampling of what there is, so you have a sense of your options, and can begin to decide what would suit your own situation the best.
We do note that many summer programs for middle school students specifically are for students local to the program; thus you may have additional options depending on where you are situated.
Of course, with so many choices and options, finding the perfect one for you can be difficult. If you are looking for advice in finding the best summer programs, or in helping your student explore their passions, consider our candidacy building services. We have a long experience helping students find and explore their passions, and reach the heights we all know they’re capable of.
