7 Robotics Summer Camps for Middle School Students
If you’re a middle school student interested in robotics, attending one of these robotics summer camps can be an amazing opportunity! By participating in these robotics camps, you will have the chance to work on hands-on STEM projects that will deepen what you know in a fun and engaging way.
These camps are also great opportunities to see what future career paths in engineering, computer science, and technology may look like, helping you make more informed decisions about your academic and professional goals.
Exploring robotics during middle school through summer camps can also significantly enhance your applications for future programs in high school. You will be able to build the foundational knowledge you will need to succeed in future robotics clubs, competitions, and advanced projects, all of which are impressive additions to a college application.
Location: MIT, Cambridge, MA
Cost: Free
Program dates: The program is typically held over one week in August.
Application Deadline: The applications typically close in March.
Eligibility: Rising 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th graders
The DynaMIT Program, hosted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), will introduce you to the world of robotics, providing both a solid theoretical foundation and hands-on experiences. During the DynaMIT Program, you will be engaged in learning the basics of mechanical design, electronics, and programming, all essential components in the field of robotics. Instruction is delivered by MIT students, ensuring that you receive high-quality education and insight into the latest advancements in technology and robotics.
Structured around interactive workshops and project-based learning, the DynaMIT Program encourages you to apply the concepts you learn in real-time by working on your own robotics projects. You will start with simple tasks to grasp the fundamentals and gradually move on to more complex challenges, fostering your problem-solving skills and creativity. The final output of the program is a project showcase where you and your team will present your completed project to peers, instructors, and guests.
Here is everything you need to know before applying to the DynaMIT program!
Location: Competition rounds are held either online or at various locations in your state. MIT will likely hold the finals on campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cost: Free
Program dates: Five weeks. Tentatively, the program will run from the end of June to the beginning of August
Application deadline: Applications typically in May
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in partnership with NASA, Boeing, the ISS National Lab, the National Science Foundation, and other aerospace companies offers a five-week program to introduce middle school students to computer programming, robotics, and space engineering. Each year, through a game, students have to solve problems of interest to NASA and MIT.
In 2023, students competed to see which team could program NASA’s Astrobee Satellite the best. Astrobee is NASA’s robotic system that reduces the time astronauts spend moving in zero gravity. Students controlled Astrobee’s speed, rotation, and direction of travel to reduce navigation time while conserving fuel.
Location: New York University, NYC
Cost: Free
Program dates: July 8, 2024 - August 2, 2024
Application Deadline: April 14, 2024
Eligibility: Students who are at least 12 years old by the start of the program, but not older than 14 on the day the program begins, can apply. Those applying must be NYC residents.
The Science of Smart Cities (SoSC) program is a great opportunity for you if you’re interested in robotics and its application within the framework of urban development. This program focuses on teaching you how to apply principles of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to solve real-world challenges facing modern cities. During the course, you will explore concepts in robotics, energy science, urban infrastructure, and environmental sustainability, and use these concepts to imagine and design solutions that could make cities smarter, more efficient, and more livable.
The structure of the SoSC program is designed to be highly interactive and project-based, encouraging you to apply what you've learned through hands-on activities and collaborative projects. Initially, you will explore the basics of robotics and smart technologies, gradually progressing to more complex topics as the program continues. One of the key components of the program is the final project, where you will work in teams to design a smart city solution that addresses a specific urban challenge. The culmination of the program is a showcase event where you present your projects to an audience of peers, instructors, and possibly industry professionals. The program also offers the opportunity to network with peers and experts in the field, along with access to guest lectures, workshops, and seminars.
Location: UC Berkeley, CA and Stanford University, CA
Cost: The program costs between $2,000 and $3,000, depending on whether you opt for food and lodging. Education Unlimited offers partial tuition waivers (up to 50%) to students with demonstrable financial need
Program Dates: June 30, 2024 - July 5, 2024 (UC Berkeley) | July 28, 2024 - August 2, 2024 (Stanford University)
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising grade 6-8 students
At the Education Unlimited Robotics Summer Camp, you will dive into the world of robotics using the cutting-edge VEX5 robotics platform, recognized globally as a leading classroom robotics platform. Starting from the ground up, you'll begin by constructing a chassis, which serves as the skeleton of your robot, providing stability and support for all other components. This foundational step is crucial as it prepares you for the subsequent stages of robot development. Following the chassis construction, you'll move on to mounting motors, adding wheels, and incorporating gears to create a comprehensive drive system. This process allows you to learn about essential mechanical concepts such as speed and torque, enabling your robot to move and respond to commands.
You will also dive deeper into the complexities of robotics by exploring electrical circuits, power sources (like batteries), and communication systems (such as radio controllers). The camp emphasizes the engineering process, employing design thinking to brainstorm, construct, test, and redesign your robots to meet various challenges. You will get to enhance your robots with sensors and robotic arms, furthering their capabilities to navigate through early challenges including terrain navigation and transportation tasks. The program ends with a presentation where you and your team will design and compete in a robotics sports competition.
Location: On-campus
Cost: $850. Financial aid is available.
Program Dates: June 17-28, 2024
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Rising grade 7-8 students
Arizona State University's 7Up RobotCamp is an opportunity for students to dive into the world of robotics and programming, beginning with the Alice programming environment. In this initial phase, you will explore 3D animation, movie, and game development, learning the fundamentals of programming in a visually engaging and intuitive way. This part of the camp is designed to spark your interest in technology and programming, setting a solid foundation for more complex concepts.
As the camp progresses, you will transition from the Alice programming environment to more focused robotics design and construction. Using EV3 robotics programming, you and your fellow campers will design, build, and program robots capable of performing tasks and solving challenges. This part of the camp mirrors the complexity and excitement of the FIRST Lego League (FLL) Robotics Competition, offering a real-world application of your newly acquired skills. You will participate in a robotics challenge that tests your problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and creativity.
Location: NYU, New York City
Cost: $350
Program dates: July 5, 2024 - August 4, 2024
Application Deadline: March 24, 2024
Eligibility: Students who are New York State residents, have an 80 average in Math, Science, and English, meet New York state requirements, meet state-determined economic criteria listed on the eligibility section of the website, are middle or high school students in grades 7-12, can apply.
The NYU Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) is a program that will deepen your interest in robotics and your understanding of science and technology. This program combines academic enrichment with practical, project-based learning. Morning classes are dedicated to enhancing your understanding of core academic subjects, with a focus on mathematics and English. You will have the opportunity to study a range of math topics, including Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus AB, and Calculus BC, depending on your level of expertise and interest. Additionally, the English Seminar aims to improve your writing skills and critical thinking abilities, preparing you for success in all academic areas.
In the afternoon, STEP shifts focus to elective project classes that are specifically designed to apply academic concepts to real-world scenarios, particularly in the fields of robotics, engineering, and technology. These elective classes emphasize hands-on learning and interdisciplinary approaches, allowing you to explore the practical applications of your morning lessons in exciting and innovative ways. Whether you're building a robot, designing a software program, or exploring the principles of engineering, you'll be encouraged to think creatively and work collaboratively.
7. Camp Integem
Location: Multiple locations in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Orange County
Cost: Between $570 and $2000, depending on the program. Partial financial aid is available
Duration: Between one and three weeks; programs are held in July and August
Application deadline: There is no information available
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
Integem offers in-person summer camps in STEM, AI, robotics, AR coding, game design, and much more for students in California. A unique selling point of Integem is that it is an NVIDIA-authorized training partner. During the camp, Students can earn NVIDIA AI certificates from the company’s deep learning institute. For robotics, students can choose to attend one (or more) of the following programs:
Intro to AI Engineering with AR
Intro to Robotics Design & AR Coding
AI Robotics Engineering with AR Coding
Advanced AI Robot Design with AR & NVIDIA Jetson Nano*
*The Jetson Nano developer kit is a compact computer that lets you run multiple neural networks simultaneously for actions like image classification, object detection, segmentation, and speech processing.
8. Bonus program - Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8
Program dates: 25 hours over 10 weeks (on weekends) during the spring and 25 hours over 2 weeks (on weekdays) during the summer cohort
Fee: $1,790
Financial assistance: Need-based financial aid is available
The AI Trailblazers program by Veritas AI is a virtual program that teaches middle school students the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and machine learning. Over 25 hours, you will learn the basics of Python as well as topics like data analysis, regression, image classification, neural networks, and AI ethics. Students learn through lectures and group sessions with a 5:1 student-to-mentor ratio. By the end of the program, you will have worked on a hands-on project in a subject of your choice! Previous projects done by students have included building a machine-learning model to classify music genres and creating a machine-learning algorithm to provide a custom list of educational resources based on selected specifications.
One more option - The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program
The Lumiere Junior Explorer Program is a program for middle school students to work one-on-one with a mentor to explore their academic interests and build a project they are passionate about. Our mentors are scholars from top research universities such as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, Duke and LSE.
The program was founded by a Harvard & Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. The program is rigorous and fully virtual. We offer need based financial aid for students who qualify. You can find the application in the brochure!
To learn more, you can reach out to our Head of Growth, Khushi Malde, at khushi.malde@lumiere.education or go to our website.
Multiple rolling deadlines for JEP cohorts across the year, you can apply using this application link! If you'd like to take a look at the cohorts + deadlines for 2024, you can refer to this page!
Jessica attends Harvard University where she studies Neuroscience and Computer Science as a Coca-Cola, Elks, and Albert Shankar Scholar. She is passionate about educational equity and hopes to one day combine this with her academic interests via social entrepreneurship. Outside of academics, she enjoys taking walks, listening to music, and running her jewelry business!
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