MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute offers tuition-free, project-based STEM courses for rising high school seniors, culminating in a four-week residential prog...
▌ Editor's read The MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is a highly selective, tuition-free program for rising high school seniors. It offers rigorous, project-based STEM courses, with an online component followed by a four-week residential program at MIT. The program has been operating for 10 years, as indicated by the '10th Anniversary' banner on their homepage. BWSI is directly affiliated with MIT, a leading university, which suggests a high standard of academic rigor and access to cutting-edge resources. Students can earn college credit for successful completion of the program. The program's hybrid structure includes both online preparation and an in-person residential experience, as detailed on their 'About' and 'Courses' pages.
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Since 201610+ years operating
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University programRun by an academic institution
Who thrives here Ages 14–17
MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in stem, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Day and overnight options
- ACA accredited
- Not verified
- Established
- 2016 (10 years)
- Operator
- University program
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: STEM
- Ages: 14–17
- Hours: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM EDT (Virtual) / 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EDT (In-Person)
- Address: 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139
- Cost notes: USD. Free for families with income < $200,000. $2,400 for families with income > $200,001. Housing is not included.
Logistics
- Lunch provided: No
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)
- What ages does MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) accept?
- MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is open to children ages 14–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) cost?
- MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) publishes $600/week for the standard session. That sits 37% below the $949 median for stem camps in Cambridge, which makes it one of the more affordable options in the category. USD. Free for families with income < $200,000. $2,400 for families with income > $200,001. Housing is not included. Final cost depends on session length, sibling discounts, and whether extended care is added on.
- What are MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)'s hours?
- MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) runs 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM EDT (Virtual) / 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM EDT (In-Person). If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Who runs MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI)?
- MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is operated by a university program, with 10 years of operating history. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) provide lunch?
- MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) does not include lunch — campers bring their own. Most day camps without provided lunch are nut-free or nut-aware, so check the allergy policy before packing. Frozen water bottles double as ice packs and drinks; insulated lunch boxes hold below 40°F for about four hours.
- How does MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) compare to other stem camps in Cambridge?
- MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) is one of 33 stem camps in Cambridge that overlap its age range. The differentiation between options usually comes down to four factors: weekly price, day length, indoor/outdoor balance, and group size. Browse same-city alternatives in the directory to compare side by side.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare MIT Beaver Works Summer Institute (BWSI) with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- STEM summer camps guide · Compare projects, staff fit, and age-readiness signals.
- Financial aid and scholarship camps · Compare aid policies, discounts, and application timing.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
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