Apprentice Learning focuses on getting more girls into STEM through a combination of workplace field trips, apprenticeships with STEM professionals, and summer internship opportunities. One of their opportunities is their City Summer Internship, a paid career exploration program for Boston girls entering ninth grade where interns explore careers in Boston’s economic engine neighborhoods and learn to earn! Find out more here.

BASB works across Boston with out of school time programs primarily around data-informed capacity building. They support more than 300 programs and schools to provide quality out-of-school learning across grade levels and neighborhoods, collecting and using data to improve student outcomes. BASB also runs Boston’s 5th quarter work to provide summer learning. 

Breakthrough Greater Boston (BTGB) is a year-round, tuition-free program that offers six years of academically intensive out-of-school time (summer and after school) services to highly motivated, traditionally underserved middle and high school students in Greater Boston. Learn more about Breakthrough’s program for middle schoolers here and access their student application here. Breakthrough’s Boston chapter is open to 6th and 7th grade students who attend TechBoston Academy, Neighborhood House Charter School, Codman Academy, New Mission High School, Academy of the Pacific Rim, and Boston Prep.

Citizen Schools is a national organization based in Boston has programming in Somerville and Cambridge. Their model brings in external volunteers from companies to present on different subjects (including STEM), and also brings student groups to visit companies. They use an apprenticeship model to expose students to STEM by connecting them with STEM professionals after school, and in some cases in partnership during the school day itself. 

City Sprouts is based in Cambridge, and has programming in Boston. Their programs focus on gardening, agriculture, and cooking with a STEM lens. City Sprouts runs a free summer program, open to 11-14 year olds who live or go to school in Boston or Cambridge. Find out more here.

Community Boat Building is a Boston-based program that guides students in building boats (either models, or actual row boats). They combine engineering, carpentry, and social emotional learning in an engaging educational package for students. Community Boat Building’s summer program features different building projects for kids aged 7 and up. Find out more here.

Courageous Sailing is a Boston-based program that teaches STEM through sailing (e.g. how does buoyancy work?), as well as explorations of sustainability and marine biology. They are are a year-round educational center for community sailing and youth development. Courageous offers Boston-area youth free and low-cost out-of-school-time programs in sailing, environmental education, job skills development, and leadership training.

Digital Ready runs a variety of programs that are focused on providing students with career ready skills in STEM sectors. BoSTEM partners with them on their virtual AP Computer science course. In the summer, Digital Ready runs summer studios, where students spend 5 intensive weeks as part of a project team, earning 3 college credits and up to $2,100. Apply here.

EBSC is an East Boston-based program that changes its programming every year, but usually has a chemistry or physics focus. EBSC offers after school and summer programming for kids of all ages, priced on a sliding scale based on income. Find out more here.

FableVision Studios is a multi-media production studio that designs and develops a wide array of engaging media and interactives that inspire, teach, and move people to action. FableVision’s program uses their technology called FabMaker, which is a simplified computer aided design program. Students use the software to engineer solutions to problems.

The Girls in Engineering, Math & Science (GEMS) program explores “What is STEM?” and will then engage in mini experiments, learn about coding and technology, and design a STEM-based project. 

HMS MEDscience is an innovative high school Biology course immersing students into simulated medical emergencies.The Harvard MEDScience program simulates real life medical diagnosis through the use of a dummy that can mimic different vital signs. Students work through the process of trying to diagnose different diseases through asking questions and checking for signs. 

LSA’s programming focuses on robotics, and typically uses a different lens to explore the topic. For example, they have explored robotics through the lens of sustainability, medical science, etc. Students learn about the field of robotics, which will culminate in a project over the course of the year where they build a robot to solve a problem (themed after the focus for the year).

MGH CCHI leverages their medical and research professionals and staff to mentor students over the course of the school year on their science fair project. MGH is also a participant in the Summer Jobs Program, employing high school students from Boston, Chelsea, and Revere. As part of their summer experience at Mass General, students learn about jobs in health and science fields through weekly professional development and skills workshops. Find out more here.

Mount of Olives Community Center, Inc. (MOCC) provides a range of services that include: Tutoring in Math and Science, an after school program, ESOL, computer literacy class, summer camp, training and educational programs with an understanding of an appreciation for the unique health, cultural and spiritual needs of its diverse client population.

Sociedad Latina’s approach celebrates diverse Latin heritages and enables young people to forge identities with deep roots in Latin culture. Sociedad Latina runs their STEAM program year round. Their 5 Week summer STEAM program is available for free for rising BPS middle school students, especially students attending Timilty Middle School, Tobin K-8 School, and Dearborn STEM Academy. BPS high school students can also apply for a paid position to be a Youth Leader. Apply here for the summer program for middle schoolers and here for summer jobs for high schoolers. 

STEAM Ahead changes its programming, but typically focuses on math, coding, engineering, and AI. They do have programs on music production as well, and will try to provide programming that will be interesting to students. STEAM Ahead has a free summer program for current Boston Public Schools students in 2nd-5th grade. Find out more and apply here.

SySTEMic flow inspires and supports women of color to pursue STEM, with a specific focus on math in their programming. They run math afterschool programs, career panels, tutoring, and much more.

Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center (TIOBEC)’s program uses Thompson Island itself as a learning tool for the environment, sustainability, and social emotional skills. During the school year they bring students on shorter trips, and then during the summer they run a day program for students. Thompson Island also has a three-week overnight summer experience, free for BPS rising 7th and 8th graders. Boston high school students can participate in their Green Ambassadors program, a paid summer employment opportunity.

UMASS Boston Talented and Gifted (TAG) Latino Program – Project Alerta is only a summer program, which has academics in the morning, and then enrichment in the afternoon. During the afternoon, students can choose from a variety of different activities, some of which are STEM focused. Their five-week summer program is free to BPS students currently in grades 5-8. Find out more here.

West End House is based in the Allston/Brighton area, and primarily serves students from that community, or that go to school in the area. WEH fosters a safe and secure environment for their young people, helping children and teens from all over Boston progress and graduate from high school, and then persist and graduate from college.  Their STEM programming changes every year based either on the interests of students, or other partners who are available to support programming.

3Point’s program model is sixty minutes of project-based learning in the engagement center followed by equal time in either basketball or dance two times per week for twelve weeks each term. The engagement center portion is designed to be led by a teacher from the school and a 3Point educator assisted by college students from the University of Massachusetts Boston. The basketball and dance programs are led by coaches from the community employed by 3Point. They also provide five and seven week summer academies.