Middle School Offerings (open to 6th-8th grade students)
Eligibility: Students entering 6th grade in Fall 2026 and students entering 9th grade in Spring 2026 are eligible to attend!
MCSD Students: Merced City School District has purchased seats for MCSD students in each Elementary and Middle School academy. Registration will be completed through MCSD’s 6Crickets system (not BSA general registration), which is expected to open in early April. Per MCSD policy, students who graduate from 8th grade in Spring 2026 are not eligible for the MCSD-funded academy seats.
Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. If seats fill, students will be placed on a waitlist and may be offered a seat if openings occur on Day 1, Session 1.
REGISTRATION OPENS IN APRIL
Life Through Time: Fossils, Food Webs, and Future Ecosystems
Cost: $160
Dates: June 8th - June 12th, 2026 and July 6th - July 10th, 2026 (Select one offering only)
Available Seats: 24
What do fossils tell us about the past - and the future? In this academy, you'll explore California's wildlife, uncover ancient food webs, and see how everything in nature is connected. Get hands-on with fossils, investigate how species have adapted over time, and discover why protecting biodiversity matters. If you love animals, science, and adventure, this academy is for you!
Future of Farming: Tech, Coding & Sustainability
Cost: $160
Available Seats: 24
Dates: June 8th - June 12th, 2026 and June 22nd - June 26th, 2026 (Select one offering only)
Can robots help grow our food? Explore how programming, sensors, and rovers are transforming agriculture in this hands-on academy! Learn to code microbits and engineer robots to tackle real-world farming challenges like conserving water and energy. See how technology is making agriculture more efficient and sustainable - and put your skills to the test with fun, interactive projects!
Neuropsychology Uncovered: The Brain in Action
Cost: $160
Available Seats: 24
Dates: June 8th - June 12th, 2026 and June 22nd - June 26th, 2026 (Select one offering only)
Explore the fascinating world of the brain through hands-on activities, including brain dissection and working with EKGs to study brain activity. Dive into topics like attention, memory, sleep, and the effects of trauma on brain function. Learn how neurons communicate, exmine key brain structures, and trace human development from prenatal stages to adulthood. Perfect for students curious about psychology and neuroscience!
Space and Motion: Where Physics Meets the Stars
Cost: $160
Available Seats: 24
Dates: June 8th - June 12th, 2026
Explore force, motion, energy, and light through hands-on experiments and engineering challenges. Then apply those same physics principles to astrophysics, discovering how the laws of motion shape planets, stars, and galaxies. Developed by University of California, Merced astrophysicist Dr. Nierenberg.
¿Field Curious? Sustainable Ag from Field to Lab (Dates TBD)
Cost: $0 (Zero cost due to generous grant support!)
Available seats: 24
- June 9th & 10th (T/W) and July 7th & 8th (T/W) (Select one offering only)
Experience the connection between agriculture, environmental science, and research! In this hands-on academy, students will design a short research project, conduct fieldwork, and analyze data using lab techniques. Work alongside UC Merced scientists, gain real-world research experience, and build a sense of community in field science. Perfect for students curious about sustainability and scientific discovery!
Next Level Math Academy
Cost: $160
Available Seats: 24
Dates: June 15th - June 19th, 2026
Make math hands-on and fun! Students build ramps, use food coloring experiments, play math games, and explore concepts on Polypad and Desmos. They strengthen skills with sequencing, variables, equations, ratios, proportions, functions, and linear equations—building confidence and preparation for future math success.
BioBuilders: A Hands-on Journey into Living Ecosystems
Cost: $160
Available Seats: 24
Dates: June 15th - June 19th, 2026 and July 13th - July 17th, 2026 (Select one offering only)
Go deeper into real biological science! Students investigate cellular biology, genetics, heredity, and ecosystems using scientific inquiry, data analysis, and lab-based exploration. Emphasis is placed on biological systems, scientific reasoning, and understanding how life functions at multiple levels of complexity.
Power Up: Exploring Circuits & Innovation
Cost: $160
Available Seats: 24
Date: June 15th - June 19th, 2026 and July 6th - July 10th, 2026 (Select one offering only)
Get ready to spark some creativity! In this hands-on academy, you'll explore how electricty is generated and used in everyday life. Build simple and parallel circuits, then put your skills to the test by engineering cool projects like night lights, art robots, and solar cars. Perfect for students who love to tinker, invent, and discover how things work!
The Rock Lab: A Hands-On Geology Adventure
Cost: $160
Available Seats: 24
Date: June 15th - June 19th, 2026 and July 13th - July 17th, 2026 (Select one offering only)
Uncover the secrets of our planet in this hands-on STEM academy! Explore tectonic plates, volcanoes, and rock formations through interactive labs and field studies. Design earthquake-resistent structures, analyze soil and water samples, and model geological phenomena. Each day features exciting experiments and engineering challenges that bring Earth science to life!
Shark Survivor: Adapt & Thrive
Cost: $160
Date: June 22nd, - June 26th, 2026 and July 13th - July 17th, 2026 (Select one offering only)
Do you have what it takes to survive like a shark? Developed by shark scientist and TEDx speaker Dr. Sora Kim, this academy dives into how sharks have outlasted mass extinctions and adapted to changing oceans. Explore ancient and modern shark species, investigate real-world environmental challenges, and compete in a week-long survival challenge to see if your shark can outlast the rest! Perfect for ocean enthusiasts and future marine biologists!
The Roots and Rings Lab: Forestry and Climate Impacts
Cost: $160
Available Seats: 24
Date: June 22nd, - June 26th, 2026
What can trees tell us about the past, present, and future of our environment? In this hands-on academy, you'll explore how climate impacts forests by studying tree biology, collecting real field data, and analyzing samples in the lab. Learn forestry techniques used by scientists and uncover the secrets hidden in tree rings! Developed by leading researchers from UC Merced and UC Santa Cruz, this academy is perfect for nature lovers and aspiring scientists alike!
The Magic of Marine Microbes
Cost: $160
Dates: July 6th - July 10th, 2026 and July 20th - July 24th, 2026 (Select one offering only)
Uncover the hidden world of marine microbes and their vital role in ocean ecosystems! This academy explores how ocean currents shape marine life, the incredible diversity of microscopic organisms, and how climate change impacts them. Discover how microbes help sustain marine ecosystems and may even hold solutions for a changing planet. Dive into ocean science adn explore the magic of life beneath the waves!
Chem Quest: Unlocking the Wonders of Chemistry
Cost: $160
Available Seats: 24
Dates: July 6th - July 10th, 2026 and July 20th - July 24th, 2026 (Select one offering only)
Calling all young scientists! Get ready for a thrilling week of bubbling reactions, colorful experiments, and hands-on chemistry discoveries. This summer STEM academy, packed with activities from the American Chemical Society, will have you uncovering forensic science secrets, creating slime, testing mysterious substances, and even launching mini rockets!
Secure Water Future: Super Soaker Water Academy
Cost: $160
Dates: July 13th - July 17th, 2026
Dive into California's water systems in this interactive, week-long academy! Explore how water is stored, managed, and used in agriculture while examining the impacts of climate change. Through hands-on activities and technology driven solutions, discover ways to protect our water future. The academy includes a 2-hour kayaking field trip to Lake Yosemite for an unforgettable on-the-water experience!
Compost Quest: From Waste to Wonder
Cost: $160
Available Seats: 24
Dates: July 20th - July 24th, 2026
Dig into the science of composting in this hands-on academy! Explore energy flow in ecosystems, uncover the secrets of soil and compost, and investigate different composting methods. By the end of the week, students will understand how composting transforms waste into nutrient-rich soil, helping to create a more sustainable planet!
Med-X: Exploring Emergency & Healthcare Careers
Cost: $160
Available Seats: 24
Dates: July 20th - July 24th, 2026
Medicine is more than just being a doctor! In this week-long academy, students will gain hands-on medical experience, including giving shots, dissecting a brain, and learning to suture. Get Stop the Bleed certified, train with emergency medical responders, and even step inside a med-evacuation helicopter! Explore a variety of exciting careers in the medical careers in the medical field while developing real-world medical skills.
