Start exploring Writing & Humanities summer programs for middle schoolers

Dates:

Jun 21–Jul 2, 2027

Length:

2 weeks (12 days)

Cost:

$5,550–$6,550

Location:

Boston, MA

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through current high school students; younger students with strong readiness considered

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Priority Dec 31, 2026 · Regular Feb 28, 2027

Two-week history research and writing workshop where each student develops a research paper on a historical topic of their own choosing, with daily group instruction and seminar discussion, one-on-one conferences with instructors, and afternoons of research and writing in a research library.

Dates:

Jul 19–30, 2027

Length:

2 weeks (12 days)

Cost:

$5,550–$6,550

Location:

Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through current high school students; younger students with strong readiness considered

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Priority Dec 31, 2026 · Regular Feb 28, 2027

Two-week history research and writing workshop where each student develops a research paper on a historical topic of their own choosing, with daily group instruction and seminar discussion, one-on-one conferences with instructors, and afternoons of research and writing in a research library.

Dates:

Jul 5–16, 2027

Length:

2 weeks (12 days)

Cost:

$5,550–$6,550

Location:

The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CT

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through current high school students; younger students with strong readiness considered

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Priority Dec 31, 2026 · Regular Feb 28, 2027

Two-week history research and writing workshop where each student develops a research paper on a historical topic of their own choosing, with daily group instruction and seminar discussion, one-on-one conferences with instructors, and afternoons of research and writing in a research library.

Dates:

6 sessions between Jun 6–Aug 13, 2027 (2 weeks (12 days) and 10 weekends options)

Length:

2 weeks (12 days)–10 weekends

Cost:

$3,650

Location:

Online (Zoom)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through current high school students; younger students with strong readiness considered

Format:

Online

Deadline:

Priority Dec 31, 2026 · Regular Feb 28, 2027

Online history research and writing workshop. Each student drafts a research paper on a historical topic of their choice, with group sessions on the historian's craft and one-on-one coaching.

Dates:

Aug 2–13, 2027

Length:

2 weeks (12 days)

Cost:

$5,550–$6,550

Location:

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through current high school students; younger students with strong readiness considered

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Priority Dec 31, 2026 · Regular Feb 28, 2027

Two-week history research and writing workshop where each student develops a research paper on a historical topic of their own choosing, with daily group instruction and seminar discussion, one-on-one conferences with instructors, and afternoons of research and writing in a research library.

Dates:

Not confirmed for 2027

Length:

Unknown

Cost:

Contact program for pricing

Location:

Peloponnese, Greece

Grades:

High school students

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Priority Jan 1, 2027

An intensive introduction to Ancient Greek taught on location in Greece's Peloponnese, combining language study with exploration of the region's ancient sites.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 27–Aug 8, 2027 (3 weeks options)

Length:

3 weeks

Cost:

$7,550

Location:

Interlochen, MI

Grades:

6-8

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Priority Jan 15, 2027

Middle-school students live in cabins on Interlochen's campus and spend the session in one arts focus, with daily instruction and time for camp activities.

Dates:

Jun 27 – Jul 3, 2027

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$3,095–$3,725

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

A week examining the three branches of government, political parties, public opinion and interest groups through lectures, debate exercises and congressional simulations, with visits from elected officials, Capitol Hill staff, lobbyists and policymakers.

Dates:

Jun 20–26, 2027

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$3,095–$3,725

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

A week on the science of AI and its ethical, regulatory and geopolitical implications, combining lectures and guest speakers with hands-on exercises that test simple AI models, interactive simulations and real-world use cases.

Dates:

Jul 11–17, 2027

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$3,095–$3,725

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

A week of craft lectures and workshops led by graduate student instructors, generating new poems, stories and essays, plus sessions on publishing, careers in writing and writing programs, and off-site excursions.

Dates:

Jul 11–17, 2027

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$3,095–$3,725

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

A week on how democracies handle conflict, covering elections and electoral violence, democratic endurance and erosion, polarization and populism, with a crisis simulation and talks from professors, activists and policymakers.

Dates:

2 sessions between Jun 20–Jul 24, 2027 (1 week)

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$3,095–$3,725

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

A week exploring the international system, instruments of foreign policy, international law, terrorism, nuclear weapons, global health and development with Georgetown faculty, specialists and practitioners.

Dates:

3 sessions between Jun 20–Jul 31, 2027 (1 week)

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$3,095–$3,725

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

A week introducing jurisprudence and how laws are adjudicated, covering constitutional law, the jury system, sentencing and Supreme Court controversies, with legal professionals and a mock criminal trial.

Dates:

Jul 18–24, 2027

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$3,095–$3,725

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

A week on homeland security, cybersecurity, arms proliferation and how intelligence is collected, analyzed and disseminated, with tours of government institutions and meetings with civilian, military and intelligence officers.

Dates:

Jul 25–31, 2027

Length:

1 week

Cost:

$3,095–$3,725

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

A week on America's role in a changing world, from Congress, the presidency and the press in foreign policy to the Atlantic Alliance, great-power competition and the future of American foreign policy.

Dates:

Jun 27 – Jul 17, 2027

Length:

3 weeks

Cost:

$7,085–$9,085

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

Three weeks applying economics and political science to real-world policy problems, from microeconomics, trade and foreign aid to poverty, inequality and fiscal and monetary policy, with field trips and workshops.

Dates:

Jul 11–31, 2027

Length:

3 weeks

Cost:

$7,085–$9,085

Location:

Washington, DC (Georgetown University campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter / Residential

Deadline:

Early bird Jan 31, 2027 · Final May 15, 2027

Three weeks on how U.S. foreign policy is made, combining lectures, talks by policymakers, visits to foreign embassies, crisis simulations and discussion of defense policy, terrorism, NGOs, think tanks and trade.

Dates:

4 sessions between Jun 21–Aug 6, 2027 (1 week and 3 weeks options)

Length:

1 week–3 weeks

Cost:

$2,883–$6,381

Location:

New York, NY (Columbia Morningside campus)

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Commuter

Deadline:

Early registration Feb 1, 2027 · Final Apr 1, 2027

Students take one intensive non-credit course at Columbia's Morningside campus, choosing from courses across art and architecture, business and economics, creative writing, humanities and philosophy, journalism, law, marketing, mathematics, neuroscience, physical sciences, politics, science and medicine, social impact, psychology, and technology.

Dates:

3 sessions between Jun 21–Aug 6, 2027 (1 week and 2 weeks options)

Length:

1 week–2 weeks

Cost:

$2,868–$4,018

Location:

Online

Grades:

Rising 9th graders through graduating seniors (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Online

Deadline:

Early registration Feb 1, 2027 · Final Apr 1, 2027

Students take a live, small-group online course taught by Columbia instructors on weekdays, with discussions, debates, simulations and projects, plus online student-life workshops. Course areas include art and architecture, business and economics, creative writing, humanities and philosophy, journalism, law, marketing, mathematics, neuroscience, physical sciences, politics, science and medicine, social impact, psychology, and technology.

Dates:

Jul 3–16, 2027

Length:

2 weeks

Cost:

$4,985

Location:

Smith College, Northampton, MA

Grades:

Students entering grades 9–12 in fall 2027 (completed grades 8–11)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Priority Feb 1, 2027 · Tuition assistance Mar 1, 2027 · Final May 1, 2027

Two-week residential creative writing program at Smith College where students take one morning and one afternoon workshop in forms such as fiction, poetry, screenwriting, playwriting, journalism, and science fiction, using a multidraft approach, and leave with the start of a writing portfolio.

Dates:

Jul 18–31, 2027

Length:

2 weeks

Cost:

$4,985

Location:

Smith College, Northampton, MA

Grades:

Students entering grades 9–12 in fall 2027 (completed grades 8–11)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Priority Feb 1, 2027 · Tuition assistance Mar 1, 2027 · Final May 1, 2027

Two-week residential, discussion-based program at Smith College exploring gender in history, politics, and culture, with morning and afternoon courses on topics such as reproductive justice, queer and trans lives, environmental justice, and social change.

Dates:

Jul 3–31, 2027 (classes start Jul 5)

Length:

4 weeks (29 days)

Cost:

$5,174–$10,475

Location:

Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, CA

Grades:

Current 8th-12th graders, including graduating seniors (California students; up to 20 out-of-state/international students)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Feb 28, 2027

Credit:

Yes (3 units of CSU college extension credit)

Four-week residential program at Cal Poly Pomona for the California State Summer School for the Arts. Students spend the session in one department. Four-week residential creative writing program at Cal Poly Pomona for about 70 young writers, with workshops in fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and dramatic writing led by professional writers, so every student studies every genre.

Dates:

7 sessions between Jul 4–Oct 10, 2027 (2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 7 weeks, and 8 weeks options)

Length:

2 weeks–8 weeks

Cost:

$3,240–$7,300

Location:

Kyoto, Japan

Ages:

14-17 (18-19 case by case) (completed grades 8–11)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Mar 1, 2027 (apply by Dec 15, 2026 for $300 off)

Credit:

Optional college credit (official transcript, $425 extra)

Japanese language and culture program in Kyoto for independent teens of all levels, with mixed-age classes, structured teen activities two days a week plus biweekly Saturday trips, and a host-family homestay.

Dates:

7 sessions between Jun 6–Oct 10, 2027 (2 weeks, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks, 6 weeks, 7 weeks, and 8 weeks options)

Length:

2 weeks–8 weeks

Cost:

$2,630–$5,420

Location:

Nagoya, Japan

Ages:

14-19 (completed grades 8–12)

Format:

Residential

Deadline:

Mar 1, 2027 (apply by Dec 15, 2026 for $300 off)

Credit:

Optional college credit (official transcript, $425 extra)

Japanese language program in Nagoya for independent students ages 14–19, with four 50-minute classes each weekday in mixed-age groups, fully optional activities, and a host-family homestay.