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Ready to dive into your summer programs in Boston? Start here.


It's time to discover—and be—yourself. It's time to build independence, explore the world of people, places, and ideas, and exercise new levels of freedom. These are the middle school years—exhilarating, a bit chaotic, but filled with the excitement of limitless possibilities. We love middle school students, and that's why we've built a middle schooler summer program especially for you, from the ground up.

Sessions + Dates

Dates + Deadlines

Session 1: 

Overnight: June 27 - July 10  
Day: June 28 - July 9

Session 2: 

Overnight: July 11 - July 24 
Day: July 12 - July 23  

Your Summer Home–Wellesley College

Join us at beautiful, historic Wellesley College just outside Boston. This wooded 500-acre campus boasts extensive academic and recreational facilities, a scenic lakefront, a botanical garden, an art museum, and lively Wellesley Square just outside the gates. From movie and spa nights to concerts and carnivals, there’s always something happening on campus. Less than 30 minutes away: the universe of culture, sports, entertainment, and recreation of Greater Boston, where you can join foodie tours, harbor cruises, park outings, and more.

 
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On-campus action at Wellesley

Your home at Wellesley College has it all— lounges, athletics facilities, and beautiful green spaces. It’s the perfect backdrop for on-campus options from garden club to Zumba league to Dungeons + Dragons, hip-hop dance, and much more. Find new friends you vibe with in these and other clubs, leagues, and activities—or start one of your own! 

Just beyond the campus gates is charming Wellesley Square—yours to explore as well. Check out the shops, grab some ice cream, or sample some sushi at a local eatery.

boston

Off-campus adventure in Greater Boston

Each weekend day, you choose what you do and where you go. Maybe it will be a whale watching trip, foodie tour, or Red Sox game. Or maybe a day at the Museum of Science. A trip to Salem? A Duck Tour? We can’t answer this one for you because it’s up to you!

Residential Students—24/7 EXPLO

 

You’ll learn just as much from having a roommate as from any academic course. For two weeks at Wellesley College, you won’t miss a thing, from sunup to lights-out. You’ll build friendships with your roommate and the rest of the kids in your living group. And you’ll have your friendly EXPLO Resident Advisors there at all times to help or just hang out.

first timers

First-Timers Can Rest Easy

For 50 years, we’ve been making the overnight experience as smooth and stress-free as possible, with the best staff-student ratio of any campus-based summer program, a 24/7 health center, and Student Life staff who actively connect with every student to ensure their wellbeing.

First-Time Residential Students
boarding school

A Sneak Peek at Boarding School

One of the best ways to prepare for boarding school is to try a short-term residential academic enrichment program first. EXPLO lets students see that they’re ready for boarding school life.

Preparing for Boarding School

EXPLO Day-to-Day

Looking for a middle schooler summer day option with all the action and community spirit of an overnight program? That’s EXPLO’s day student program. You’ll participate in all the same workshops, electives, clubs, leagues, and activities together with residential students. Day students have the option to stay later, enjoy dinner, and participate in the evening event on campus.

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Residential or Day?

For families who live near campus, sending a child to EXPLO as a day student can be an attractive option. But we’ve also had many families who, after trying both the day and residential programs, wish they had chosen the residential option sooner. That’s because the residential program experience often brings profound developmental benefits that extend beyond what can be captured in the day experience.

Read more

International Students

Each year, teens come from around the world to pursue their passions and build their future in this study abroad summer program for middle schoolers. Here, you won’t just take courses with American students—you’ll live in the same residential halls, eat in the same dining halls, and explore a new city with new friends from places like New York, California, Japan, Brazil, Texas, and Indonesia.

Considering attending an American boarding school? EXPLO is the perfect preview of school life in the U.S. For two weeks, you’ll experience the independence of life away from home while fully supported by residential staff who hail from across the globe and have years of experience making international students feel safe, comfortable, and confident.

International Students

Tuition + Financial Aid

EXPLO is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) educational organization. All tuition and fees are invested into running and improving our programs each summer. Tuition at EXPLO includes: all programming costs, course supplies, room and board, entertainment, and tuition insurance throughout a student’s stay on campus.

Program Tuition

Overnight

$6,575 / session

Damage Deposit: $150

Trips + Sundries: $350

Day

$4,245 / session

Damage Deposit: $150

Sundries: $150

 

Supplemental Course Fees

$400 Medical Rotations supplement 
$400 Veterinary Science supplement
$60 Cooking Classes - Workshops supplement
$30 Cooking Classes - Electives supplement 

Additional fees are based on individual student circumstances and student choice while at the program.

See how we can help—Financial Aid 

We are ready to do everything we can to help you give your teen the EXPLO experience. EXPLO is committed to providing grants to as many qualified students as possible.

Tuition, Financial Aid + Payment Plans Details

Technology Policy

Unplugged Summer Fun + Connection

A different kind of summer

At EXPLO, we believe in the power of real-world connections, hands-on experiences, and the joy of being fully present. That’s why we are proudly an unplugged summer program!

To help our students make the most of every moment, cell phones, smartwatches, and other mobile devices will be securely stored during the session. Day students will check in their devices each morning and retrieve them at the end of the day, while overnight students will have theirs returned on the final day. For those staying overnight, scheduled calls home begin on the second Monday of each session from a shared floor phone.

Why We Unplug

Frequently Ask Details 

Each day looks a bit different and it is all up to you.  Check out A Day In The Life page to find how your day could unfold.  

Daily check-in 8:15 a.m., pick-up 6:00 p.m. We love when students stay late and welcome day students to join us for dinner and evening events.  If a student stays for the evening, pick up is at 9:00 p.m.

Day students should plan on being with us for the entire day. 

EXPLO Academic Enrichment Programs require a deposit of $800 per session. Deposits, less an application fee of $100, are refundable until March 1, 2027. After March 1, 2027, deposits become non-refundable.

If you proceed with enrollment, the full deposit amount, including the application processing fee, will be applied to your tuition balance.

Credit cards are our preferred payment type for online deposits. A credit card deposit will expedite our ability to process your application. If you pay your deposit via check or bank wire, we will not be able to process your application until we have received payment

Early Bird Discount:
Deadline: December 31, 2026

  • $200 per overnight session
  • $100 per day session

Alumni Discount:
EXPLO offers a rolling returning discount for students who have previously attended an EXPLO campus-based summer program. 

  • $200 per overnight session
  • $100 per day session
Double Session Discount:
We offer a discount for students attending both Session 1 and 2 during the same summer: $250 for overnight students; $200 for day students; and $225 for a combination of day and overnight sessions.

EXPLO layers safety into every aspect of the experience. Together, these layers create a secure environment where students can explore widely—and parents can breathe easily.

  • Unmatched support: A 1:8 staff-to-student ratio and two live-in Resident Advisors on every hall mean caring adults are always close by.

  • Round-the-clock medical care: A dedicated, on-campus health center is staffed by registered nurses 24/7, with Student Life staff trained to spot and respond to issues early.
  • Daily accountability: Program-wide check-ins happen throughout the day.  All program administrators live on campus.  A well-supervised staff is a key to well-supervised students.  Final check-ins for the day are at 9:15 p.m. A 10:15 p.m. room curfew ensures every student is safe, settled, and accounted for before lights-out. EXPLO also has a very close working relationship with the supportive Wellesley College police and safety department.

  • Trained trip escorts: Whether it’s whale-watching or a museum run, staff accompany all off-campus trips and handle transportation logistics.

Start your adventure.

Day in the life
A Day in the EXPLO Life
Tuition
Tuition + Financial Aid
Admissions
Start Admissions Process