Congratulations on your child's admission to Middle School Summer Challenge! We are excited to welcome your child to campus this summer. This web page includes important information to guide you as you make plans for your child to join us at WashU. Please be sure to review all of this information very carefully. If you have questions, you may email our office at precollege@wustl.edu.

We are currently planning to host the program in-person on June 29-July 3, 2026 (Session I) and July 6-10, 2026 (Session II). 

To finalize your child's participation in this year's program, we ask you to complete the following steps no later than April 22, 2026 at 11:59pm CT:

1. Download and complete your child's Emergency and Medical Information Form (including pick-up authorization information) and upload using our secure Form Upload.
2. Pay the balance due.

By deciding to attend our programs, your child commits to maintaining the highest academic and social standards. As a member of our community, your child is expected to make a positive contribution by acting responsibly and by respecting the rights of other students, faculty, and staff. Our Code of Conduct outlines the specific expectations for your child in our program. 

VIEW THE CODE OF CONDUCT

The Middle School Summer Challenge schedule is a busy one! Your child will be supervised throughout the day by instructors and program staff as they explore WashU and collaborate with their peers. 

• 9:00am: Student drop-off
• 9:15am-10:30am: Leading with Purpose Workshop
• 10:30-10:45am: Break
• 10:45am-12:00pm: Bear Challenge
• 12:00-12:45pm: Lunch
• 12:45-2:00pm: STEM Challenge Course
• 2:00-2:15pm: Break
• 2:15-3:20pm: Cultivating Creativity Activities
• 3:30pm: Student pick-up

Your child should plan to commit to the full length of the program and to schedule other commitments when the program is not in session. We cannot accommodate late drop-offs or early pick-ups due to outside commitments.

Your child should wear tennis shoes or other closed-toe walking shoes each day of the program. They will be moving around campus, as well as, participating in activities and need to have proper foot wear.

Your child should be dressed appropriately for the hot St. Louis weather. While most of our activities are indoors, students will still be traveling between buildings that require them to be outside. Please be sure to send rain gear (raincoat or umbrella) with your child as needed.

Your child should bring a water bottle with them each day. We will provide a drawstring bag, mini sprial notebook, folder, and pen. Your child will be asked to wear a lanyard nametag. Please be sure to send these items with them each day.

You must disclose all prescription or regularly taken over-the-counter medication for your child on their Emergency and Medical Information Form. Please be sure to send your child's emergency medication (ex: inhalers or epi-pens) with them each day of the program. These medications must remain secured on your child's person at all times. 

Your child should bring a nut-free lunch with them to the program. There will not be access to a refrigerator or microwave, so please plan accordingly. The program will provide a morning and afternoon snack. At lunch, your child will have the opportunity to interact with some of our older pre-college students through our Lunch Buddy Program. This volunteer program welcomes a small group of our High School Summer Scholars to share lunch and visit with our middle school students.

Middle School Summer Challenge courses and activities are designed to expand on students' current knowledge and challenge them to explore further topics that interest them. All of our activities are led by WashU affiliates. Courses include lectures, readings, interactive activities, and discussions.

Students will be provided all materials and supplies for the program. Because we have students that return every summer, courses and activities are updated each year to create new experiences for all students. 

While we do provide staff supervision as well as fun, interactive experiences, this is a selective, academic program. Individuals must apply and be admitted. Students are expected to be engaged, respectful participants.

Middle School Summer Challenge is a noncredit program. Grades are not issued. Students are evaluated based on interaction with peers, engagement during activities, and work produced. Students who have met all expectations will receive a certificate of participation. A performance evaluation will be emailed to parents within two weeks of the program's conclusion. 

Acceptance and participation in Middle School Summer Challenge does not imply or guarantee acceptance into a degree program at WashU. For questions about the undergraduate admission process, please contact Undergraduate Admissions.

Your child needs to be dropped off each day at 9:00am outside Simon Hall (#168 on campus map) located on Olympian Way. Signs will be posted and program staff will be present to check your child and escort them to class. Please do not plan to drop-off your child prior to 9:00am. Your child is not allowed to be dropped off on campus without a staff member present. Your child must be dropped off by an adult. They cannot walk to campus or ride a bike to campus alone. On the first day of the program, please allow a bit of extra time for drop-off for staff to connect with you and confirm important contact information.

Your child needs to be picked up each day at 3:30pm in the same location as drop-off. We'll provide you with a name plaquard for your car, so we can easily identify the child you are picking up. Please be sure to display the plaquard at time of pick-up. 

View Campus Map

Your child is allowed to bring a cell phone with them to the program for use during lunch and breaks, however, please note that cell phone use is not allowed during scheduled class times. If you need to reach your child during class time, you may contact our on-call supervisor (phone number will be provided at a later date). If a child uses a cell phone during class times, staff will ask the child to put the phone away. If the child continues to use their phone, the phone will be collected and returned at the end of class.

Below we have included guidance regarding health and safety procedures that directly impact your child's participation in the program. Additional information regarding medications and medical care is available here.

Should unforeseen circumstances require you to cancel your child's registration for the program, you must provide your intent to cancel in writing to precollege@wustl.edu by May 29, 2026 at 11:59pm CT to receive a 100% refund excluding a $100 nonrefundable administrative fee. If you cancel after May 29, you will receive a 50% refund excluding the $100 nonrefundable administrative fee up to the first day of the program. After the program has started, no refunds will be issued except as noted below. No refunds will be issued if your child leaves the program early.

If your child becomes ill and is unable to attend the program, we will issue a full refund of the program fee as long as we receive a doctor's note indicating the child is unable to participate.

If your child becomes ill during the program and cannot continue attending, a prorated refund of the program fee will be issued as long as we receive a doctor's note indicating the child is unable to continue participating in the program.