UMass Amherst is offering four summer pre-college programs for students in Grades 10-12 at its Mt. Ida campus in Newton. Students can experience college-level academics, explore their interests, and get a feel for campus life. All programs meet Monday-Friday, 9AM-4PM, are taught by UMass faculty and advanced graduate students, and feature hands-on, project-based learning. Residential and commuter options are available. Applications are considered on a rolling basis through mid-June.

• Building & Construction Technology: CityLab, July 23-August 5
• Summer Design Academy: June 25-July 15
• Veterinary Technology, July 9-22 (full)
• Wildlife Veterinary Medicine & Reproduction:  June 25-July 8 (Full)

This summer, the Newton South HS Science Team is running its 4th annual Newton Summer Science Program (NSSP) for middle schoolers and rising 9th graders. NSSP is a series of week-long, free science classes taught by qualified and passionate NSHS Science Team members to help prepare students for high school science classes in a fun and interactive environment. All classes are free, and the Science Team greatly appreciates any donations to support its work. Register here.

This year, NSSP will offer these classes (details here):

• Genetics: Uncovering the Blueprint For Life (*)
• Cell Biology: Let’s Dive Into Life Science! (*)
• Psychology
• Code-cracking
• Brain, Body, and Behavior (*)
• Forestry: An Adventure In The Trees (*)
• Fluids: From Motion Graphics to Airplanes!
• Organic Chemistry: Unlocking the Power of Carbon
• Journey into Chemistry: Catalyzing Change
• Anatomy & Physiology: Immune System
• Intro to Python
• Intro to 3D Modeling

(*) Most classes are online this year, but those marked (*) will be running in-person at Newton South High School.

Roger Williams University in Bristol, Rhode Island has just launched a new summer STEM Food Science Camp, July 23-28, for students currently in Grade 9-11 to explore the equipment and techniques that scientists use to understand why some foods are delicious. Topics will include the microbiology of bread and fermentation, the chemistry of preserves like pickles and jams, and engineering the perfect milkshake. Email summer@rwu.edu for more information.

Empow Studios is offering a Memorial Day discount of $75 off any summer camp registration made through May 29. Use code MEMORIALDAY at checkout. Refunds are available (minus $10 registration fee) up to 14 days before camp starts. Camps are available both on-campus (in Newton, Lexington, Natick/Wellesley, Boston, Cambridge, and Milton) and online.

Boston University’s School of Medicine is offering two separate tracks for SummerLab, its summer biotechnology laboratory program for students currently in Grades 9-12:

• DNA, Genes, and Drug Production (July 10-14 or July 24-28) focuses on the central concepts and skills of recombinant DNA technology as they apply to biotechnology — focusing on the processes of gene expression, cell lysis, and protein purification.
• Let’s Get Physio! (July 17-21) allows students to explore the relationships among body movements, power generation, biomechanics and muscle physiology — focusing on sports and exercise science and an introduction to data science.

Both programs meet 9AM-3PM daily. The cost is $1000 for one week or $1500 for two consecutive weeks, and scholarships of 50% are available for students who qualify for free/reduced price lunch program and children of full-time BU faculty and staff. Registration is now open. For more information, email sumlab@bu.edu.

Harvard Museums of Science and Culture will offer Summer Science Weeks for students entering Grades 1-8. Each program runs for one week, 9:30AM-noon.

• Earth Explorers: July 17-21, Grades 1-2
• Ancient World Adventures: July 17-21, Grades 3-5
• Budding Botanists: July 24-28, Grades 1-2
• Ins and Outs of Skeletons: July 24-28, Grades 4-6
• Amazing Animals: July 31-August 4, Grades 1-3
• Super Scientists: August 7-11, Grades 2-4
• Tools of a Scientist: August 7-11, Grades 6-8
• Spineless Wonders: August 14-18, Grades 1-3
• Nature’s Designs: August 14-18, Grades 4-6

Empow Studios is celebrating World Creativity and Innovation Day (April 21) — and a few days following — by offering a $100 discount on any of its STEM Summer Camps through April 30 if you use code INNOVATION. Empow’s award-winning camps include Minecraft, Roblox, Coding, and STEM Survey. Its risk-free registration policy offers refunds up until 14 days before camp begins. Empow now has locations in Newton Upper Falls and Newton Centre, as well as Natick, Lexington, Cambridge, Boston, and Milton.

The PATHwayS Camp is a free, one-week (July 24-28) NASA camp for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) students 18 and older to work in teams to respond to this challenge: “Design a fictional self-enclosed system that could be used to support human life on Mars for 1 year. How can you ensure thriving in addition to just surviving? Consider the various aspects of living: health, communications, community, water, food, or energy systems.” The camp will include field trips and presentations that will help guide students to design the life support system. This camp is free for the 15 students who are accepted. Applications are due April 30. For more information, email Aimee.Bonanno@umb.edu.

PATHS is a new coalition of two minority serving institutions, UMASS Boston and Bunker Hill Community College, with funding from NASA, working to increase diversity in engineering in Massachusetts. The group supports students to explore STEM activities, persist through the barriers by finding a path that works for them, and change the status quo.