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Summer 2025 Application Open Now

Apply by December 31 to receive our Early Bird discount–up to $200 off per session!

 

EXPLO summer programs for middle schoolers

EXPLO is a unique, immersive summer program for middle schoolers. Designed specifically for ages 12-14 (rising grades 7-9), it gives you new connections and experiences to open up a world of possibility. In this 2-week residential or day pre high school summer program, you have limitless ways to explore. Be all you.

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Programs that spark

At EXPLO’s summer programs for middle schoolers, you get to experience the world to find your spark. When you get to try more, be more, and connect more, you feel different. You ARE different. Energized. Inspired. Motivated. Make big-picture discoveries. Try new things. Follow your passions. Have summer fun.

Choose the right pre high school summer program for you.
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EXPLO 360°

Explore topics you love and things you never thought you’d try in a customized summer program with 40+ options. Create your own program from options like Robotics, Fashion Illustration, Psychopathology, Wilderness Survival, Codebreaking, Architecture, Forensics, Comedy, and much more.

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Veterinary Science

Travel from the farm to the zoo to learn about animal medicine. Read a corgi’s x-rays. Diagnose a sick elephant. Give a horse a dental exam. Work with real animals and models. Meet professional vets.  Go on behind-the-scenes trips to wildlife centers, animal clinics, zoos, and rehabilitation centers to learn about careers you didn’t even know existed.

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Medical Rotations

Step into the life of a doctor. Place an IV. Scrub for surgery. Respond to a patient in cardiac arrest. Find the missing piece to a health puzzle that saves a life. Discover if health and medicine sparks your curiosity. You’ll explore new ideas and careers with real medical professionals from top hospitals, practices, and simulation labs. 

An age that matters

We built this summer program for middle schoolers specifically for ages 12-14. We get that you're figuring out who you want to be—and the more you experiment, the more you'll know. Discover the world of people, places, ideas, and you. Be creative. Be inquisitive. Be surprising. Try new things to find your spark. Be all you. And suddenly, all those future decisions in high school and beyond go from overwhelming to exciting. 

People who connect

Learning is an adventure. Our professional teachers and practitioners build immersive, hands-on experiences. Our program collaborators and advisors come from places like Biogen, Davis Art Museum, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, ESPN, Council on Foreign Relations, Google, HBO, Major League Soccer, NASA, and more. This leads to deep learning and lifelong connections.

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Connor Dumont

Math teacher + EXPLO instructor

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Geraldo Sibinde

Registered Nurse + EXPLO instructor

Graham

Dr. Graham Sager-Gellerman DVM

Veterinarian + EXPLO guest speaker

Days built by you

Custom-build your summer fun. Choose daily activities, evening events, and weekend trips. Join a glow stick party. Go to Six Flags. Experience indoor skydiving. Try comedy. Play soccer (football) with friends from around the country—and world. Have a beach day. And so much more. You have limitless options whether you choose the day or residential pre high school summer program.

Evening events

Dorm life

Meals with friends

Weekend trips

A history fueled by curiosity

Founded in 1976 as a nonprofit startup out of MIT, EXPLO has brought together 90,000+ young people from 101 countries. Our alumni go on to found startups like Instagram and nonprofits for climate resilience, win Grammy and Tony awards, become NASA scientists, and more. We’ve been inspiring 12-14 year-olds for decades. See how we lay the foundation for future success in this summer program for middle schoolers.

Salvador Gomez Youth Empowerment Activist Founder
Salvador Gomez
Climate Resilience and Youth Empowerment Activist Founder, Light and Hope for Puerto Rico
Katie Stack Morgan Scientist
Katie Stack Morgan
Scientist, NASA Jet Propulsion Lab, Mars 202 Rover Mission, PhD Caltech | Forbes 30 Under 30
Smiti (Ruia) Kanodia Business Leader
Smiti (Ruia) Kanodia
Business Leader + Entrepreneur | Founder, Time Out India
Jon Chang
Jon Chang
VP Growth Marketing, theSkimm | Forbes 30 Under 30
Celia Rose Gooding
Celia Rose Gooding
Actor + Singer | Grammy Award Winner, Tony Award Nominee
Kevin Systrom
Kevin Systrom
Co-founder and former CEO of Instagram | Forbes 30 Under 30

The Details

Get dates, tuition, application, and more logistical details about EXPLO’s  summer programs for middle schoolers  here.

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