Boston Beyond facilitates a unique summer learning network for Boston kids. Each summer, students participate in skill-rich learning in parks and museums, on college campuses, and other real-world settings in every corner of the city. Our evidence-based approach has replaced traditional summer school for the Boston Public Schools and is being adapted across the state and country.
Boston Beyond’s network operates hundreds of high-quality, free and low-cost summer programs each year. Browse network offerings and discover the right program for your child or teen.
Your one-stop-shop for Boston Summer Learning programs: exciting camps & activities, academic enrichment, and free and low-cost options. Questions? Click here…
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Use the program locator below to browse summer programs.
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Any program with a BOOST icon can be applied for using BOOST.
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Click “Apply Now” to register and apply for programs.
Program Interested in Expanded Services to Schools.
Boost Available
Cost to Student/Family Per Semester
Scholarships Available
Our program will be offered as a series; therefore students can opt into the series they are most interested in.
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At BLTC, Student-athletes will have a chance to compete on a national level this summer. They will encounter firsthand national competition in Atlanta, GA where there will be a tremendous media spot light.
ACT Skills Developed: Grades Served: Program Topics:This Virtual Summer Literacy Program provides high-quality, small-group or 1:1 reading instruction for BPS students who are unable to attend in-person summer programs. Led by certified BPS teachers, students receive structured, engaging lessons focused on building foundational reading skills and preventing summer learning loss.
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BSA’s unique approach nurtures every child’s potential guiding them to reach their highest levels of academic and musical excellence and to develop a lifelong love of music. BSA’s students orchestras serve as a model society in which an atmosphere of competition between individuals is replaced by shared aspiration and investment.
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Once enrolled, students continue learning throughout high school both during the summer and academic year. The Summer 2026 session is a fully on campus and residential.
ACT Skills Developed: Grades Served: Program Topics:Boston’s Bridge to Excellence Summer STEM Academy is a full-day (8:00 AM-4:00 PM) program for K1-2 students that strengthens literacy and math skills through the district-selected BPS curriculum while bringing learning to life with daily hands-on STEM exploration in partnership with Concord Education. As the school’s current on-site licensed provider for over three years, BBTE offers a trusted, safe, and culturally responsive environment.
Grades Served: Program Topics:Boston Higher Ground’s NextGen Explorers Summer Learning Academy is a five-week, full-day program operating Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM-3:00 PM, serving students in K2-6 (with plans to expand to grades 7-8). The program integrates rigorous academics, STEM and arts enrichment, and structured social-emotional learning.
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Train like an elite fighter. Physically, mentally and emotionally overcome adverse situations while maintaining focus.
ACT Skills Developed: Grades Served: Program Topics: ACT Skills Developed:
At this program, students will have the chance to work with their peers to solve different problems that may be challenging and new. Through the combination of activities that students enjoy they will also learn some important qualities like leadership and teamwork all while doing things that we enjoy.
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Breakthrough delivers research-based programs that intervene early, extend learning time by 1,900 hours per student over 10 years, & leverage a “Students Teaching Students” model. In the Summer Program, rising 7th-9th graders prepare for the transition to high school through core academic instruction while a select group of high school students explore the education field through our Junior Teaching Fellowship.
ACT Skills Developed: Grades Served: Program Topics:Breakthrough delivers research-based programs that intervene early, extend learning time by 1,900 hours per student over 10 years, & leverage a “Students Teaching Students” model. In the Summer Program, rising 7th-9th graders prepare for the transition to high school through core academic instruction while a select group of high school students explore the education field through our Junior Teaching Fellowship.
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In the Learning in the Community program, students will have the chance to gain confidence in themselves, meet friends, and learn how to manage a variety of social situations. The program is one of the only affordable experiential-based social skills learning programs being offered in Boston.
ACT Skills Developed: Grades Served:Full-time summer employment (paid stipend) for all students, and a combination of both work experience and professional learning opportunities.
ACT Skills Developed: Grades Served: Program Topics:Hey Young World Inc. Health & Wellness students Camp is a summer program for students ages 8-15 that promotes healthy living, fitness, and education.
Grades Served: Program Topics:Research shows that a large part of the achievement gap between students from low-income families and their peers can be explained by unequal access to summer opportunities.
High-quality summer learning programs can reverse summer learning loss while teaching skills that directly impact student achievement.
In Boston, high-attending summer students gained an advantage equivalent to 25% of a school year in math and literacy—at two-thirds the cost.
Is my child eligible to participate in Boston summer learning?
If your child is enrolled in a school that located in the city of Boston or attends a METCO program, they are likely eligible for one or more of our network’s programs. Individual program eligibility requirements vary, so you should check the individual websites of programs that match your needs.
What do Boston summer learning programs typically cost?
All summer programs in the Boston Beyond network are free or low-cost to students and their families. These high-quality programs are paid for through public funds and grants to ensure open access to children from all economic backgrounds.
How do I register my child in a Boston summer learning program?
Each program operates its own application process. Search the database above and then visit the websites of the programs that interest you to sign up.
The Achieve skills are Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Perseverance.
These skills help young people process information, assess situations and potential outcomes, and connect actions to future goals. When young people Achieve, they engage in disciplined thinking that is rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence; consider consequences and alternatives; and evaluate information to reach a conclusion. They demonstrate imagination and originality, and stay focused on their goals despite obstacles or distractions.
The Achieve skills are most closely associated with academic outcomes, including college and career readiness. Critical thinking is one of the most crucial competencies for job preparedness (American Management Association, 2012; Kress et al., 2005). Creativity is important for classroom engagement, which in turn can impact academic achievement (Boxx et al., 2013), and is also a crucial skill for the workforce (Hadani & Jaeger, 2015). Perseverance is associated with academic success, including higher educational attainment and higher course grades (Farrington et al., 2012; Duckworth et al., 2007; Vandell et al., 2007).
Critical thinking is conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information to reach an answer or conclusion. Critical thinking involves disciplined thinking that is clear, rational, open-minded, and informed by evidence.
Research shows that critical thinking is linked to college and career readiness. Young people with strong critical thinking skills analyze relationships between ideas, consider perspectives other than their own, explore multiple solutions to problems, and use evidence to support their conclusions.
Creativity is exhibiting originality, imagination, inventiveness, or ingenuity.
Research shows that creativity is important for classroom engagement, academic achievement, and workforce preparedness. Young people with strong creativity skills will generate multiple solutions to a problem, show originality, ask questions, and demonstrate curiosity.
Perseverance is focusing on a long-term goal despite challenges, consistently performing required or important tasks and demonstrating initiative in spite of obstacles or distractions.
Research shows that perseverance is important for academic success, including educational attainment and school grades. Young people with strong perseverance skills will set goals, persist in completing a task even when challenges arise, connect a current task to future goals, and try again when they fail at doing something.
The Connect skills are Social Awareness & Relationships, Communication, and Teamwork.
These skills help young people make contributions to their community, and develop healthy, supportive relationships with peers and adults, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures. When young people Connect, they work constructively and cooperatively with others, empathizing with and taking the perspective of peers, advocating for their views respectfully, understanding social and ethical norms for behavior, and sharing ideas clearly and compellingly.
Not only are Connect skills useful for a young person’s ability to interact with others, but these skills have also been shown to influence academic success and engagement in the classroom (Pierce et al., 2010; Caprara et al., 2000; Furrer & Skinner 2003). Teamwork and communication are considered two of the most important skills by employers (American Management Association, 2012). Relationship-building is an important aspect of achievement in school for all ages (Birch & Ladd, 1997; Arbreton et al., 2009).
Communication is making clear and compelling oral presentations, sharing ideas, clarifying information as needed, and adapting communication styles to meet audience needs.
Communication is important for interacting with others and conveying one’s thoughts and feelings, but communication skills are also important for career preparedness. Young people with strong communication skills will share ideas or information with others effectively, ask and answer questions, listen actively, and be able to summarize key points.
Teamwork is the ability to work constructively and cooperatively with others.
Research shows that teamwork is linked to improved academic achievement and improved self-efficacy. Young people with strong teamwork skills compromise during disagreements, listen to different points of view, and know how to give and receive feedback.
The Thrive skills are Growth Mindset, Efficacy, and Self-Regulation.
These skills help young people recognize and manage their emotions, anticipate the impact of their behaviors on others, and take ownership over their actions. When young people Thrive, they believe that their abilities can grow with effort; have confidence in their ability to accomplish an outcome or goal; and are able to manage their emotions, thoughts and behaviors as appropriate to different situations. This first requires an awareness of self – the recognition of their emotions, thoughts, motivations, strengths and weaknesses.
Research demonstrates that the Thrive skills can impact a variety of behavioral outcomes, including health, safety, and good habits (Roeser et al,. 2002; de Riddler et al., 2012; Moffitt et al., 2011; Galla & Duckworth, 2015). Growth mindset has been shown to improve achievement test scores in mathematics (Dweck, 2006; OECD, 2015). Self-efficacy influences school grades and classroom engagement (Bandura et al., 1996). Self-regulation influences academic achievement, including test scores and grades (Duckworth & Seligman, 2005).
Having a growth mindset is believing that talent and intelligence can be developed and improved through continued learning, practice, and effort.
Research shows that a growth mindset is associated with academic success. Young people with a growth mindset will understand that mastery comes through effort, embrace feedback and constructive criticism, and seek to learn from their experiences.
Self-efficacy involves believing in one’s ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task; is often task or situation dependent.
Research shows that self-efficacy influences school grades and classroom engagement. Young people with high self-efficacy will show confidence in their own abilities, know they are in control of their own behavior, and be open to risks and challenges.
Self-regulation is managing one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations.
Research shows that self-regulation influences academic achievement, including test scores and grades. Young people with strong self-regulation skills will reflect, plan, and think ahead; consider the impact and consequences of their behaviors; gain control or adjust their behavior as necessary; manage stress and delay gratification; and work well independently, focusing on tasks.
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Social Awareness & Relationships
Social awareness and relationships involves empathizing with and taking the perspective of others; understanding social and ethical norms for behavior; and cultivating positive, supportive connections with friends, classmates, and adults.
Research shows that social awareness and relationships are important for academic achievement and engagement in the classroom at all age levels. Young people with strong social awareness and relationship skills will show respect and consideration for their peers, form friendships with peers, share interests and ideas with adults, and demonstrate disagreement or ask questions in a respectful manner.
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