Please click on the red program titles to learn more information about each program on their respective website. Deadlines to apply for these summer programs vary and begin as early as March, so apply as early as possible.
Free or low-cost science and engineering summer programs
Amphibious Achievement
Cambridge, MA
Amphibious Achievement is an athletic and academic mentorship program for high school students in the greater Boston area. Through a combination of coaching in rowing and swimming, and a focus on college-prepatory academics, our approach works to expand higher education opportunities for students.
BioBuilder High School Apprenticeship Challenge
Cambridge, MA
The High School Apprenticeship Challenge is an eight-week program held from mid-March through May that prepares Boston-area juniors and seniors for a paid internship in the life sciences. The Apprenticeship focuses on building technical knowledge, lab techniques, research-based thinking and professional skills.
Boston University Artemis
Boston, MA
Artemis is a five-week summer program for rising 9th grade girls focused on computer science. $100 registration fee, free otherwise including lunch. All materials must be received by May 1.
City Sprouts Summer Program
Cambridge, MA
CitySprouts’ tuition-free summer program provides a unique opportunity for young people to learn firsthand about the natural ecology of their local environment, starting with the school garden.
Engineering Design Workshop
Cambridge, MA
For four and a half weeks during the whole month of July, the Engineering Design Workshop (EDW) engages Cambridge, Boston, and Greater Boston-area 9th through 12th grade students in hands-on engineering projects.
Junction
Cambridge, MA
Junction is a summer program for advanced, self-driven high school students held on the MIT campus for two weeks in mid-August
MIT DynaMIT
Cambridge, MA
dynaMIT is a completely free, week-long science program for economically-disadvantaged middle school students hosted on the MIT campus. The program has different dates for rising sixth and seventh graders and for rising eighth and ninth graders.
New England Aquarium
Boston, MA
The New England Aquarium offers a variety of volunteer and paid opportunities for teens ages 13 through 19.
Northeastern University Summer STEM Program (NUSSP)
Boston, MA
NUSSP is a free (after $50 acceptance fee) academic program run by the Center for STEM Education, which takes an active role in shaping education in students entering grades 6, 7, and 8. Applications are due March 31.
SeaGlide Workshop
Cambridge, MA
The SeaGlide Workshop is an intensive one-week workshop for high school teachers and rising ninth through 12th graders in the greater Boston area.
The Crimson Summer Academy at Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
Over the course of three consecutive summers, 30 high-achieving students from Boston, Cambridge and Somerville high schools live on Harvard's Cambridge campus from Sunday evenings through Friday afternoons, returning to their homes on weekends.
Tutoring Plus
Cambridge, MA
Tutoring Plus advances educational equity by supporting youth in their academic, personal and social growth through free, individualized tutoring, mentoring and enrichment programs.
UMASS Boston Summer Transportation Institute
Boston, MA
Approximately twenty rising 9-12 graders will receive full scholarships to participate in the four-week, non-residential summer program.
You GO Girl
Cambridge, MA
This four-day summer program is an on-MIT-campus introductory science and engineering program for girls entering ninth grade in the fall.
Science and engineering summer programs with tuition/ fees under $1,000
Winchester, MA
The Acera Summer STEAM Camp is a creativity-based arts and sciences day camp where children ages 7-14 can nurture their natural desire to inquire, create, and innovate.
Adventures in Veterinary Medicine at Tufts
North Grafton, MA
Current 7th or 8th grade students are eligible for all middle school sessions. Middle school applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The Adventures in Veterinary Medicine Middle School Program is a fun and exciting way for middle school students to spend one week learning about being a veterinarian and the varied career opportunities within the profession.
Boston Leadership Institute
Wellesley, MA, $559 for one-week program; $2,200 for three-week
Award-winning summer STEM research programs for teens include: Biological Research, Applied Physics Research, Chemistry Research, Neuroscience, Biomedical Research, Marine Biology, Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, Engineering, & STEM Entrepreneurship for rising 8th-12th students.
CSRecitations
Natick, MA
Founded by experienced MIT Alumni, our school provides year-round, after-school and summer classes offering a comprehensive curriculum for grades 1 through 12 designed to meet and exceed Massachusetts DESE standardsfor computer science, including: Scratch, JavaScript, Unity, Python, an accredited AP Computer Science class, a challenging MIT edX Python programming recitation and competitions.
Newton and Beverly, MA, $595 to $795 (Scholarships are available)
Rising 3rd to 12th grade students can choose from Drone & Code, Microscope Adventures, Space Science, Bridge Building, Super Science Sampler, Whales n’ Things, Catapult Engineering, Summer Rocket Blast Off, 3D Printing & Design and the Hydraulics Makerspace. These are project-based introductions to applied science and engineering. We use drawings, tools, hardware, measuring instruments, computer applications, coding and modeling. 10th to 12th grade students may apply for Counselor-in-Training positions.
Empow Studios
Locations in Boston, Belmont, Brookline, Cape Cod, Lexington, Newton-Needham, and Westford, MA; half-day is $365, full-day is $645
Empow Studios is open to children who have completed grades 1 to 8 at the time of the session. Empow runs two types of camps: Tech & Design Camps and Minecraft Camps. Tech & Design camps feature robotics, 2D & 3D video game design, virtual reality (VR) game design, animation, programming / coding, 3D modeling & printing, audio engineering, and music production. Minecraft camps feature modding, electrical engineering (via redstone circuits), architecture, game design, and world creation.
i2 Camp at Roxbury Latin
Boston, MA
i2 Camp at Roxbury Latin is co-educational and open to rising 5th through rising 8th graders. Partnering with some of the world’s leading STEM organizations, the camp broadens a child’s exposure to STEM with a wide variety of new, innovative courses not seen in traditional middle school education.
KTBYTE
Lexington and Newton, MA, or at various affiliate locations
KTBYTE is a computer science education academy that provides a progressive curriculum designed for students 8-18 years old. Courses offered range from Scratch programming to college level courses or USA Computing Olympiad prep. Classes are primarily taught in Java and are conducted in both in-person and online formats.
Launch at WPI
Worcester, MA
For students entering ninth and tenth grades, spend your days working with WPI’s world-renowned faculty on current problems and challenges in biology, chemistry/biochemistry, computer science, engineering technology, interactive media and game development, or robotics.
LINX Camp
Wellesley, MA
LINX camps provides a traditional day camp experience that builds community and character while allowing campers to explore over 40 unique camps in a variety of areas of interest: Adventure, Fine and Performing Arts, General, Leadership, Sports and STEMM Camps. For grades K-10.
O Brain Builds
Needham, MA
Students in grades four through eight will explore the wonders of the human brain. In Brain Builds, student-neuroscientists will uncover how our brains perform action, communicate with our senses and encode memories using electrophysiological and other cutting-edge techniques.
Summer at Einstein’s Workshop
Burlington, MA
From mid-June through August, Einstein's Workshop offers weekly camp programs for students in K-12, with multiple morning and afternoon offerings each week.
U-Design at BU
Boston, MA
U-Design is a fun, exciting science and engineering program for kids who are currently in grades 6 - 9 at time of registration. It is a hands-on laboratory and workshop experience that gives you the opportunity to learn about science and technology by engaging in the real work of scientists and engineers: design, exploration, experimentation, and invention.
UNAGB's Summer Institute in Global Leadership
Harvard University
The United Nations Association of Greater Boston's Summer Institute in Global Leadership brings international issues to life for teens in the Greater Boston area. Facilitated at locations such as Harvard University, Belmont Day School, and Simmons University, students hear from experts in the field, receive training from professional negotiators, and end the week with a Model UN simulation. Each week, students are introduced to a challenging global problem relevant to the world today, such as climate change, human rights, or global health. As they uncover facts, hear from influential guest speakers, and discover unique perspectives on the problem, students emulate the role of civic leaders eager to make the world a better place. By the end of the week, students have become experts on the issue and are ready to develop solutions. Using Model UN as a platform for debate, students step into the role of international leaders from different nations to negotiate solutions to be voted on. Programs are open to students from grades 5 through 12, depending on the program week. This event is not owned, controlled, supervised, or sponsored by Harvard Uniersity or any of its schools or programs.
Wheelock STEM in the City at Boston University
Boston, MA
During the camp, students explore a variety of STEM-related careers and the educational pathways needed to attain those careers. In addition, they are introduced to college life and academics through campus tours featuring Wheelock's classrooms, residence halls, library, theater, dining hall, multicultural center, and other campus buildings. Students must be entering the eighth or ninth grade in the fall in order to apply.
Science and engineering summer programs with tuition/fees over $1,000
Alexa Café at Simmons College
Boston, MA
Alexa Café, named after iD Tech co-founder Alexa Ingram-Cauchi, was designed with girls ages 10-15 in mind. While all iD Tech programs are great for girls, this program acknowledges the pervasive STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) gender gap, and seeks to remedy it with a chic, collaborative learning environment focused on girls. The Café emphasizes leadership, entrepreneurship, brand identity, and philanthropy, with STEM subjects creatively woven into the curriculum. Alexa Café encompasses coding camps, game design courses, filmmaking classes, web design courses, and photography camps.
Camp Reach
Worcester, MA
For girls entering 7th grade, Camp Reach emphasizes the social context of engineering design, girls work in teams with a community “customer” to create a plan for solving a real problem. Camp Reach keeps the connection with participants through follow-up programs during the school year.
Digital Media Academy
Cambridge, MA
Digital Media Academy is a series of STEM camps for 6-17 year olds. Topics include Robotics, App Development, Programming Made by Girls, and more.
Dream, Design, Discover
Boston, MA
Sessions are open to children ages 5 through 12. Students will be divided into Junior Designer, Senior Designer, and Design Leader groups within each class.
Environmental Science Program
Newton, MA
The Environmental Science Program is open to students who will be entering grades 7, 8, 9, or 10 by September 2016. The Envi Sci program combines fun outdoor activities with learning about the environment. Each year it builds on the "peer education" principle by having the student leaders design, develop, and deliver the materials that the students use.
Emagination
Newton Centre, MA
Emagination’s MA Summer Camps at Boston College for ages 8-17 include Computer Camp, Minecraft Coding Camp, Game Design Camp.
iD Game Design & Development Academy
Cambridge, MA
iD offers a co-ed, intensive, 2-week, pre-college Game Design & Development Academy for teens ages 13-18.
iD Tech Camps
Cambridge, MA
At iD Tech Camps, students ages 7-17 learn to code, design video
games, mod Minecraft, create with Roblox, engineer robots, model and print 3D
characters, work with AI, build laptops, learn about cybersecurity, and more!
Summer programs held at MIT and 150+ locations nationwide.
Ivy SEED Summer Camps
MIT or Harvard University; Cambridge, MA
Founded in August of 2013 and based in Boston, Ivy Seed Academy is an education company that provides STEM programs, summer camps for children around the world and educational tours. The course is designed to prepare students for the fundamentals of IOS programming language created by Apple. Throughout the Programming & App Development for iPhone & iPad, students will explore fundamental programming concepts and instructional design principles. Students will able to apply design principles and create individual phone app at the end of class.
Summer Science and Engineering Program
Northampton, MA, $5,800 (financial aid available)
The Smith Summer Science and Engineering Program (SSEP) is a four-week, residential program for exceptional young women with strong interests in science, engineering and medicine. Girls who will be in high school (grades 9-12) in the fall are eligible to apply for the summer program. Applications must be received by April 1 for a discount on your full program payment.
The Experimentory at Deerfield Academy
Deerfield, MA, $8,000
The Experimentory is an interdisciplinary summer program teaching innovation to rising seventh and eighth grade students from across the US and the world.
Additional free or low-cost summer programs (not STEM-specific)
Trinity Education for Excellence Program (TEEP)
Boston, MA
TEEP’s 9th grade summer program and high school Leadership Development Program focus on three key aspects of leadership development. At the heart of TEEP is a 5-week intensive summer program during which rising 7th and 8th graders focus on academics in the morning (math, language arts, music, fine art, and computer skills) and enrichment activities, like field trips, in the afternoon.
Additional summer programs with fees (not STEM-specific)
The Business of Doing Good
Boston, MA
The Business of Doing Good is a social entrepreneur program for middle school students. They introduce students to real life social entrepreneurs and teach them basic entrepreneurial and work place skills. At the end of the week-long program, students will have created a project idea, business plan, and market analysis.
College Preview at Boston University
Boston, MA
BU's one-week non-credit Summer Preview program offers a choice of seminars to rising high school freshmen and sophomores.
EXPLO at Wellesley
Wellesley, MA
EXPLO at Wellesley offers engaging and innovative summer programs for residential and day students entering grades 8+9, where they can choose from over 100+ classes in topics ranging from exploratory robotics to bacterial epidemiology and beyond.
Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center’s Summer Expeditions
Boston, MA
Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center’s Summer Expeditions deliver exhilarating 8- to 14-day wilderness courses for youth ages 12-17.
Public Speaking Institute at MIT
Cambridge, MA
For students entering 4th-8th grade in Fall of 2016, this program is designed to help students build confidence in their public speaking skills. The Public Speaking Institute trains students in public speaking, logic and rhetoric through an interactive and dynamic curriculum that encourages incremental progress through ongoing practice and exercise. Over the course of the program, students will participate in three main courses: Debate, Persuasive Speaking, and an elective.