8 Summer Computer Camps for Middle School Students
Middle School is a time of development and self-discovery for students, and a great way to encourage this growth is through summer camps. For middle schoolers looking to acquire more in-depth knowledge of technology, there are a range of summer camps focused on computer coding and programming.
These programs not only make your summer vacations constructive but also encourage confidence and social skills through meeting new people from different cultures and regions. Summer computer camps can open doors early in your educational career by exposing you to advanced content. In this way, summer computer camps can help you prepare for the rigors of high school.
Here are 8 summer computer camps that can help middle school students develop new skill sets and hone existing ones.
Location: Virtual
Fee: $2,400. Financial aid available
Application Deadline: February to May for the summer cohort
Program Dates: 8 weeks in June for the summer cohort
Eligibility: Grades 6-8
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 begins with you exploring several topics in a chosen track, such as Computer Science, AI & Data Science, and Engineering. You will then choose one topic on which to create an independent, high-school-level project with support from your mentor. The program was founded by a Harvard & an Oxford PhD who met as undergraduates at Harvard. You can find the application in the brochure!
Location: Online
Fee: Varies by course
Application Deadline: Varies
Program Dates: TBA for 2025
Eligibility: Students aged 12-18
The Berkeley Coding Academy is a summer program that focuses on children between the ages of 12-18 and emphasizes computer programming and coding. The program includes lessons on topics like game development, web design, and robotics. Creativity, teamwork, and analytical skills are incorporated into the learning. You will obtain an understanding of programming languages such as Python and Java as you work on interesting projects with expert guidance. This program will also help you build technological capabilities as the academy is oriented towards innovative and problem-based learning that is relevant to technology studies and careers.
Location: Various locations (in-person and online)
Fee: Varies by program
Application Deadline: Varies
Program Dates: Multiple sessions are offered in the summer
Eligibility: Students aged 7-18
Coding with Kids is a program aimed at exposing kids and teenagers to the fundamentals of computer programming in an entertaining way. The program offers onsite and online classes on game and application development as well as website design. Programs are designed for students according to their capacities and promote imagination and resolution of different challenges. Under the guidance of teachers, you will acquire basic knowledge of programming languages and the fundamentals of coding. This program not only teaches technological skills but also increases your confidence and instills a lasting interest in technology.
Location: Online
Fee: Free for basic courses, subscription-based for advanced courses
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Program Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: Ages 13+
Codecademy provides an interactive learning environment for students aged 13 years and above. The program targets those keen on learning programming languages such as Python, Java scripts, and HTML/CSS. In addition to individual courses, the program offers ‘paths’ for learners with specific goals. For example, the ‘Code Foundations’ track includes 5 beginner-friendly courses and provides a certificate at the end. Codecademy also incorporates real-time coding assessments and projects to ensure that you can apply your knowledge.
Location: Online
Fee: $100 – $300 depending on class
Application Deadline: Varies
Program Dates: Multiple 6-week sessions offered year-round
Eligibility: Students in grades 5-12
The Create & Learn Data Science for Kids program provides various courses ranging from Coding in Roblox to AI in Python. You will acquire basic skills related to coding and programming in your chosen course by completing meaningful projects. Your engagement and learning will be facilitated by interactive tools. You will learn computation, data analysis, fundamentals of programming, and more skills necessary for future study in computer science.
Location: Online
Fee: Free
Application Deadline: N/A
Program Dates: Self-paced
Eligibility: Girls in grades 3-12
The Code at Home program of Girls Who Code provides an educational summer experience for girls and young women in grades 3-12 to learn coding skills from home. Their website offers self-learning materials, material from teachers, and activities requiring group participation, which create a conducive learning environment. You will participate in interactive coding exercises that will improve your ability to program in various languages, including Scratch and Python. This program not only enhances skills in technical domains but also involves working with your peers, which allows you to build both hard and soft skills.
Location: Virtual
Fee: $447 per course
Application Deadline: Open enrollment
Program Dates: Multiple year-round sessions
Eligibility: Students aged 11-13
Code Wizards HQ offers summer coding programs for students aged 8-18, providing both in-person and online options. The middle school program offers a range of courses that are organized into three levels—Wizard Level I, Wizard Level II, and Wizard Level III. The online lessons in Wizard Level I teach you fundamentals like how to use Python libraries, create your own apps and games, and build websites with HTML and CSS. Level I culminates in a capstone project where you’ll create two apps and a website to apply the knowledge you’ve acquired in this tier.
Location: Various locations in Houston, TX or virtual
Fee: Varies by program. Some courses are free, and scholarships are available.
Application Deadline: Varies
Program Dates: Multiple sessions in the summer
Eligibility: Ages 7-14
Coder Kids offers a summer program for children aged 7-14 to introduce them to coding through fun and engaging projects. You can explore various topics such as game development, web design, and robotics. The program is tailored to different skill levels. Through hands-on learning experiences, you will develop essential coding skills. The middle school offerings include Python Coding Projects, Intro to Java, Website Design, Unity Game Design, Intro to C++, and more.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.