Summer is already here, and it is a great time for middle schoolers to take a break, recharge, and pursue fun adventures with family and friends. In between fun activities, it is also a great time to explore new areas of interest and also get ahead academically. Academically driven students can use this time to prepare for high school, giving direction to their skills and interests. With the explosion of virtual programs during the pandemic, students have more options than ever before in every subject, interest, or hobby one can possibly think of. At the same time, with pandemic restrictions easing across the country, there are now also more in-person programs that students can choose from. We have compiled a list of opportunities that you can consider for your middle schooler in between healthy doses of fun and relaxation.
Pre College Summer Programs
Remote and in-person
Age Group: Grades 4 to 8
The University of Washington offers courses in diverse disciplines for middle schoolers to partake in over the summer. The options range from electronics to coding to writing to debate to an endless array of other options. The dates of each program vary, but all of them run sometime between late June and August. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis - check the website to see the availability of courses and be quick to apply as all the classes are filling up!
Remote and in person
Age Group: 10 to 13 years
This summer, the New York Film Academy offers online and in-person summer programs based in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Italy, and Australia. Programs are available in a range of film courses, such as filmmaking, acting, photography, 3D animation, musical theater, and game design. Most programs start around June, with application deadlines falling on Thursday of the week before the program’s start date. Check the website to learn more about each program.
Camp Launch at William and Mary School of Education
In person
Age Group: Grades 7 to 10
The William and Mary School of Education offers gifted middle school (as well as high school) students an academically rich summer camp with courses in STEM, writing, and personal development. The program is specifically geared toward giving students from low-income households a chance to carve out an academically rich and bright future for themselves. The virtual camp this year will be held from July 17 to 30. Get in touch with camplaunch@wm.edu if your child is eligible and interested in the program.
Interlochen Arts Camp Programs
In person
Age Group: Grades 3 to 12
The Interlochen Arts Camp Programs offer students specialized programs in the arts, such as creative writing, dance, visual art, film and media, and interdisciplinary arts. All programs have rolling applications - check the website to learn more about the individual programs, and be quick to apply!
In person
Age Group: Grades 4 to 7
EXPLO is a non-profit organization that runs summer programs focused on experiential learning, where middle schoolers work with experts to focus on real-world projects. The programs, broken into one for 4-5 graders and one for 6-7 graders, are set to take place in Wheaton College for the summer, with both daily commuters and fully residential options. The two and three-week programs for this summer are set to run around the end of June and the beginning of July.
Center for Bright Kids GLOW Program
In person
Age Group: Grades 5 to 8
Middle schoolers attend a two-week residential program supporting differentiated foundational knowledge through helping children work with a dynamic group of high-interest peers. This year, the program is set to take place from 12 June to 25 June. Applications are currently open - be quick to visit the website and apply as seats are filling up!
In person
Age Group: Grades 6 to 12
Summer Discovery’s Middle School Enrichment Opportunities allow students to build on academic rigor and leadership skills alongside building friendships and a community. The program allows children to explore passions without the pressures of academic grades. Some sample courses include 3D design and printing, creative writing, computer science, dance, mock trial, photography, and more. Currently, the programs are being offered at two locations: University of California, Los Angeles and Georgetown University. Visit the website to learn more about each campus.
Online Courses
Middle schoolers can consider honing their skills in an academic area of their interest through different online platforms. Here is a list of some disciplines and how they can learn more:
Math
- Prodigy is a free fantasy roleplaying game. In it, students battle in-game characters by answering set questions. The app includes a reporting tool that allows parents/teachers to track a child's progress. Questions can also be customized for more targeted learning. Prodigy is designed for students ages 6-14/grades 1st-8th.
- Thinkwell is a website that produces high quality video seminars on a variety of topics, such as pre-algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Although the prices can be high, Thinkwell is a great alternative for students that don't respond as well to reading textbooks and need a more visual approach in order to master a new concept.
- Greg Tang Math utilizes graphics and vivid visuals to instill an understanding of mathematical concepts. His site offers a variety of free games, puzzle packs, board games, and other enrichment tools meant to find alternative methods to teaching traditional concepts.
- Brainscape is a series of digital flashcards that uses confidence-based repetition to focus on problem areas. Decks are easily synced between devices or shared with friends for test prep or study groups. Students can also work collaboratively with their teachers/tutors to create flashcards focused on their particular learning needs.
- Khan Academy is an indispensable resource as we all know, and it’s completely free. Why not jump ahead and get the hang of algebra, or geometry while the student has time on their hands?
For more information on math enrichment, visit our Definitive Guide to Math Enrichment page.
Technology and Coding
- Code.org is a nonprofit website geared towards teaching school aged children (K-12) how to code online for free. They have courses that teach students how to code for apps, games, and websites using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
- Codecademy is a free online platform that offers programming classes in Python, Java, JavaScript, Ruby, SQL, C++, HTML, and CSS. It provides interactive lessons for daily practice. Codecademy is notable for teaching real world programming skills through different learning modules called “career paths” such as web development and data science. These paths offer a comprehensive learning experience, where the students are taught how to apply real world programming skills.
- Skillcrush is a beginner friendly coding resource that delivers emails with bite-sized, 5 minute courses. Purchasing “blueprints” allow students to combine these classes into comprehensive courses. Upon completion of a blueprint, Skillcrush provides a letter of recommendation, a portfolio of code, and an official Certificate of Completion.
- Udemy is an online learning platform that has over 2,000 user-created courses dedicated to coding. There is a fee for most classes but many of the short beginner coding lessons are offered for free. Paid classes typically offer Certificate of Completion.
- MIT Open Courseware is part of MIT’s goal to make all of their education materials from their courses free, which happens to include several courses on coding. Students can learn Java, C++, and even MATLAB through video lectures and assignments.
For more information on math enrichment, visit our blog on Best of Online Learning - Coding.
English
- HemingwayApp is a simple, but effective tool passionate writers can use to highlight their problem areas. This online editor scans uploaded texts for run-on sentences, passive voice, and other common grammatical and structural issues that even a skilled proofreader can miss. The site also allows users to track their reading time, word count, and reading level, which can help meet the requirements of certain assignments.
- Time4Writing is best known for its teacher-led 8-week writing course. Compared to other online intensives, it's relatively cost effective and comes highly recommended. The site also has a Free Writing Resources page that includes study guides on supporting details, run-ons, structural issues, and thesis statements. They also offer help on writing for standardized tests and research resources.
- Writopia is a non-profit creative writing program for kids and teens ages 4–18. Started in New York City, the program has expanded to Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, and is now accessible anywhere via online courses. All classes are taught by published authors and writers, and they provide classes in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and even college essay writing.
- EssayPunch takes a teach-by-doing stance on writing. This free interactive website leads students through all the steps involved in drafting, editing, and proofreading assignments, teaching key concepts along the way. Users are able to track and understand their progress as well as view their future goals at a glance. Students that struggle with writing an informative or persuasive paper may respond to this relatively hands-on method.
For more information on writing resources, consult the Versed Guide to Definitive Writing Help.
Language
- Duolingo is a cost-friendly language website. They offer free, interactive and bite-sized lessons in 35 different languages. Each lesson is personalized, allows each user to learn at one’s own pace, and the short 5-10 minute lessons allow for incremental breaks. Learners progressively unlock new content as they master topics. Languages range from popular ones like French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, to even fictional languages such as High Valyrian (although this may not be the most useful).
- HelloTalk is yet another cost effective resource that students can use to learn a language. The free app connects students with native speakers across the world. It has talk, video, and text features, allowing you to learn a language and its culture through natural conversation from people that speak it first-hand. This app is most useful for learners that need help with native pronunciations and conversational fluency or would simply like to learn more about the culture, slang and context of a language.
For more information on language resources, consult our Best of Online Learning: Languages blog.
Art and Music
- Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes offered daily in design, illustration, photography, film, animation, fine arts, graphic design, and more. Each class has bite-sized video lessons and hands-on projects, and students proceed to share their projects in the class to get feedback and collaborate with other Skillshare students, making this especially useful for arts students. Skillshare is free, although most upgrade to premium ($15/month) to access full content. Annual membership is $99/year ($8.25/month).
- Musika is a music lesson website that connects you to private music teachers within your area that you may pursue in person or online. Musika also offers a risk-free trial lesson, making it a strong option for those that want to test out online lessons. Rates depend on location, but a typical 60 minute online lesson in New York, NY, is $48 - $60.
For more information, consult our Best of Online Learning: Music and Art blog.
A more diverse resource, Outschool.com is a great resource for online courses in a variety of subjects, ranging from math to history to science to entrepreneurship to so much more! It is the perfect opportunity for your child to explore a range of subjects outside of traditional school classes.
Read
The summer provides a perfect opportunity for middle schoolers to hone reading and writing skills. Children should definitely use this time to pick up some new books. Along with the chance to pick up books at the library, technology has given us easy access to ebooks and digital libraries. Harvard Classics, Goodread, Apple Books, and Kindle are some options that middle schoolers can consider using for reading. The good news is that your family can be anywhere in the world and access every book out there. Beyond books, middle schoolers should try reading newspapers, magazines, and academic journals. Reading the news every day is a good habit and the New York Times subscription is a great place to start. Along with articles, the NYT has weekly quizzes and games that test readers’ knowledge on what they have read, which might be an ideal practice to help strengthen your child’s reading skills and general knowledge.
Volunteer
Middle schoolers can use the summer to volunteer and make an impact. The most appealing option would be to find an established organization for your child to join. Popular organizations that are always welcoming of volunteers are the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and Meals on Wheels, to name a few. However, it is true that many organizations won’t take students under 14 or even 16. If it is an option for your family as a whole to volunteer together, many organizations will allow parents to bring their children to volunteer together. Beyond established organizations, middle schoolers cannot contribute to the community in other ways. Consider making them take up self-driven work that doesn't require them to be part of an organization. For instance, children can help clear trash in local areas such as parks, beaches, or local trails. Alternatively, they can start donation drives by collecting old clothes, toys, books, or even food from the neighborhood and donating it to interested organizations such as shelters and foster homes. You may also find opportunities for your child to contribute to your neighborhood itself. For example, they can offer to mow an elderly neighbor's lawn or help out with other household chores people might need help with. An excellent volunteer option is making your child tutor elementary school children, which can even be done virtually!
Creative project
Along with volunteer opportunities, children can also use this time to undertake different creative projects. They can consider starting a business, such as selling baked goods or even artwork (such as bookmarks!). They can create their own poetry collections or photo albums documenting their time over the break. Suppose you have a backyard or any open space with sunlight, then your child can start their own nursery or vegetable patch. For musical ones, if your child can bring a few friends together, start a band!
Healthy does of fun
Summer is about exploring new things, relaxing, and having fun. Try to get your child involved in organized (or not so organized) sport —along with keeping your child active, sports are useful in building community, discipline, and character. Have your child take time to step out of the house to go for hikes or walks, help out with household chores, play board games with the family (scrabble and boggle are a big plus!), and meet friends. Go on family vacations and adventures. Enjoy the outdoors and recharge for the fall.
Here are some additional insights on the middle school years:
12 Things Middle Schoolers Can Do This Summer
Guide to Gifted and Talented Programs and Are They Worth It?
7 Things Every Middle School Parents Should Know
Parenting Advice: How to Help Guide Your Child to Find an Interest
2019 Splash Is Back and Filling Up Quickly - Classes at MIT, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford and Other Top Schools for Middle and High Schools Students
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