Enrichment Programs | New York City
In addition to Geeks Rule, New York City is home to various enrichment programs, such as after school organizations, summer programs, and competitions, for students to participate in to continue exploring their passion in STEM. These programs provide hands-on learning experiences and give students access to advanced technology, industry mentors, and research opportunities that allow students to develop essential skills and broaden their understanding of the field. Taking advantage of other STEM enrichment programs encourages your child to continue their passion in STEM and prepares them for their future academic and career success.
Location: Uptown and Downtown Manhattan
Timeline: BEAM Discovery takes place in the summer, Year-round support offered
Cost: Free
Age Groups Served: Elementary, Middle School, High School
Highlights: Math-focus, College-readiness
Overview: Bridge to Enter Advanced Mathematics (BEAM) offers programs to students from elementary school to college that aim to increase their engagement in mathematics and their overall interest in pursuing STEM careers. The summer after 6th grade, students can get involved in BEAM Discovery, spending five weeks learning math and the summer after 7th grade, students spend three-weeks on a college campus learning proof-based math. Starting in eighth grade, students receive support for high school and college applications and assistance with financial aid and scholarships. The application window for BEAM programs is from February – March of each year. To apply to BEAM summer programs, visit https://www.beammath.org/apply for more information.
Location: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island
Timeline: Year-round (after school programs), Summer (camps)
Cost: Free
Age Groups Served: Elementary, Middle School, High School
Highlights: Outdoor recreation, Ecology
Overview: City Parks Foundation provides STEM-based programming through their CityParksLearn series that allows students to engage in place-based experiential learning. Programs take place after school and via summer camps. Students may be interested in the Coastal Classroom, Learning Gardens, or Green Girls program, which teach about the natural world and equip them with knowledge on how to protect the environment. Summer internships are available for high school students interested. To learn more and register, visit https://cityparksfoundation.org/learn/.
Location: Brooklyn, Queens
Timeline: Calendar Year (January - December)
Cost: Free
Age Groups Served: Elementary, Middle School, High School
Highlights: Mentorship, Community service
Overview: Cornell University Cooperative 4H Wizards is an out-of-school mentoring program that provides cooperative learning experiences for students in New York City, focusing on topics ranging from agriculture to technology. Through hands-on projects and interactive activities, students develop skills in teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving and give back to their communities by creating a technology-related service project. Students are required to participate for one-year and meet weekly for a total of 50 contact hours during the year. Click here for an overview of the mentoring program.
Location: Bronx, Manhattan
Timeline: Year-round
Cost: Free
Age Groups Served: Middle School, High School
Highlights: Focus on Black youth, Sports
Overview: Harlem Gallery of Science (HGS) offers the Dream and Inspire: Mentoring Future Leaders Program, which is a STEM-focused mentorship program in conjunction with National Society of Black Physicists that connects college student mentors with middle and high school students. In addition to the mentorship program, HGS hosts exciting events – previous pop-ups have included Dunk! The Science of Basketball and The Science of Music. To learn more about the mentorship program, please email [email protected]. For updates on ongoing events and activities, visit https://hgs-ny.org/.
Location: Bronx, Manhattan
Timeline: Spring Break, Year-round (in collaboration with New York Public Libraries)
Cost: Free
Age Groups Served: Elementary, Middle School, High School
Highlights: Engineering, Hands-on learning
Overview: HYPOTHEkids partners with STEM Matters NYC to offer a free Spring Break STEAM Camp for middle school students at West End Labs. Led by experienced educators and industry professionals, the camp offers a collaborative and inclusive environment to explore coding, robotics, art and design, and more. To sign up for the STEAM Spring Break Camp, visit https://www.hypothekids.org/steam-nyc.
Location: Brooklyn
Timeline: Academic year
Cost: Free
Age Groups Served: Middle School, High School
Highlights: Field trips, Digital literacy
Overview: In partnership with the Department of Youth & Community Development, InnovateEDU holds an after school program at Brooklyn Lab Charter School which focuses on digital literacy for students in grades 6-12. Students have the opportunity to compete on robotics teams, produce art, and learn to code, write, and design. To learn more and for instructions to sign-up for the after school program, visit https://www.innovateedunyc.org/after-school-program.
Location: Manhattan
Timeline: Year-round
Cost: Varies (fundraising assistance is provided and grants and sponsorships are available)
Age Groups Served: Middle School, High School
Highlights: Competitions, STEM Centers
Overview: NYC FIRST engages students in computer science and engineering through technology and robotics leagues and competitions (FIRST Lego League, FIRST Tech Challenge, FIRST Robotics Competition) and through after school programming. They also have STEM centers which are hubs for educational experiences and technology, including computer science, electronics, and 3D printers. For students interested in applying to a STEM-focused high school, NYC First has also launched a new public high school, Gotham Tech. To learn more, please visit https://www.nycfirst.org/.
Location: Brooklyn
Timeline: Summer
Cost: Free
Age Groups Served: Middle School
Highlights: Women and LGBTQ+ friendly, Creative writing
Overview: The Octavia Project hosts a summer program for middle school students where students are part of interdisciplinary workshops that use speculative fiction to explore STEM subjects. Youth who identify as women, trans, non-binary, and/or gender non-confirming are invited to register for the in-person, four week summer camp held in Downtown Brooklyn. For more information, please visit https://www.octaviaproject.org/join-the-octavia-project-summer-camp/.
Location: Manhattan
Timeline: Year-round
Cost: Free
Age Groups Served: Elementary, Middle School, High School
Highlights: Spanish-speaking, Faith-based
Overview: Operation Exodus supports students through after school and summer enrichment programs (including STEM learning and literacy) and mentoring that support students as they transition from middle to high school. The organization also provides students with technology support and supports families with social-emotional learning resources. To learn more about programs and family support, please visit https://operationexodus.org/student-and-family-programs/our-programs/.
Location: Brooklyn, Manhattan
Timeline: Summer
Cost: Free
Age Groups Served: Elementary, Middle School, High School
Highlights: Focus on girls of color, Dance
Overview: STEM from Dance uses dance as a pathway to engage girls of color in STEM education. In particular, the program aims to foster a sense of belonging and confidence in STEM among girls of color. All programs guide participants to deeply explore the STEM concepts and mechanisms that underlie dance performance. STEM from Dance offers a summer program, Girls Rise Up, for girls ages 8 -18. Applications for the summer open in March, to apply for the summer visit: https://stemfromdance.org/programs/girls-rise-up.
Location: Manhattan
Timeline: Summer - Spring, annually
Cost: Free, students receive a stipend and scholarship
Age Groups Served: High School
Highlights: Focus on girls of color, Dance
Overview: STEM Educational Institute provides high school students from NYC with programming to support their pursuit of STEM careers. Students participate in Saturday STEM classes, receive financial literacy and mental support, and, upon completion of the program, receive access to a stipend and scholarship. https://www.stemeducationalinstitute.com/index.html