Middle School Offerings (open to 6th-8th grade students)
Eligibility: Students entering 6th grade in Fall 2025 and students entering 9th grade in Spring 2025 are eligible to attend!
Registration Link Coming Soon!
Neuroscience Uncovered: The Brain in Action
Cost: $150
Available Seats: 24
- June 9th-13th, 2025
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!
Power Up: Exploring Circuits & Innovation
Cost: $150
Available Seats: 24
- June 9th-13th, 2025
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!
Earth Explorers: A Hands-On Geology Adventure
Cost: $150
Available Seats: 24
- June 16th-20th, 2025
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!
The Magic of Marine Microbes
Cost: $150
Available Seats: 24
- June 23rd-27th, 2025
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!
¿Field Curious? Sustainable Ag from Field to Lab
Cost: $60
Available seats: 24
- June 26th-27th, 2025 (TH/F)
- July 10th-11th, 2025 (TH/F)
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!
Life Through Time: Fossils, Food Webs, and Future Ecosystems
Cost: $150
Available Seats: 24
July 7th-11th, 2025
What do fossils tell us about the past - and the future? In this academy, you'll explore California's wildlife, incover 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: $25
Available Seats: 24
- July 7th-11th, 2025
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!
The discounted rate for this academy is made possible by the IoT4Ag project!
Seeing the Forest for the Trees
Cost: $150
Available Seats: 24
- July 7th-11th, 2025
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!
Chem Quest: Unlocking the Wonders of Chemistry
Cost: $150
Available Seats: 24
- July 14th-18th, 2025
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: $150
Available Seats: 24
- July 14th-18th, 2025
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!
Algebra Adventure: Unlocking the Math Mysteries!
Cost: $150
Available Seats: 24
- July 14th-18th, 2025
Prepare for high school math with this hands-on algebra academy! Strengthen number sense, master equations, and explore functions through exciting challenges like math escape rooms and equation relay races. Build confidence in algebraic thinking, discover real-world applicaitons, and sharpen problem-solving skills. Get ready to unlock the mysteries of algebra and set yourself up for success in high school math!
Med-X: Exploring Emergency & Healthcare Careers
Cost: $150
Available Seats: 24
- July 24th-25th, 2025
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.
Compost Quest: From Waste to Wonder
Cost: $50
Available Seats: 24
- July 21st-25th, 2025
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!
The discounted registration fee is made possible by the Central Valley Community Composting Collaborative.
Shark Survivor: Adapt & Thrive
Cost: $150
Available Seats: 24
- July 21st-25th, 2025
Do you have what it takes to survive like a shark? Developed by shark scientist adn 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!
