Summer Programs

DESIGN, ENGINEERING, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Led by NEIA’s Industrial Designer in Residence, Fransisco Mireles, the Innovation Studio: Mini-Inventor’s Workshop is an immersive experience that will introduce students to a needs-based product development process called human-centered design. Students will EXPLORE, EXPRESS, TEST, and CREATE their own pre-defined project over the course of the week with real-world practitioners and learn a new concept integral to the human-centered design process each day, including sketching, prototyping, electronics, coding, and presenting. The program will culminate in design presentations of all projects at the end of the week to parents and guardians. The ideal student for this program does not need previous design experience but should be ready to learn, create, and innovate.

Details

Who is the program for: rising grades 4-8
Cost: $999 (Cost includes tuition, lunch, and course materials)
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Dates: July 8 – 12, 2024 (grades 4-8)

NEIA’s Innovation Studio curriculum is a state-of-the-art digital and traditional maker space available to all our students. Here, they learn how to innovate daily–see what Innovation Studio at New England Innovation Academy is all about!

This immersive week-long Computer Programming & Game Design workshop aims to give students a robust foundation to develop skills for continued learning in the rapidly growing world of game design and coding. “I’m looking forward to starting the video game design program at NEIA. I enjoy how coding concepts become fun and exciting when they are applied to turning innovators’ ideas into reality.” – Francisco Mireles, Industrial Designer in Residence & NEIA Innovation Studio Teacher.

Details

Best Suited For: rising grades 4-8
Cost: $650 (Cost includes tuition, lunch, and course materials)
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Dates: July 15-19, 2024

Welcome to the Middle School Leadership & Entrepreneurial Mindset Program—a transformative journey designed to empower young minds with the skills and mindset needed to lead with confidence and think like an entrepreneur. In this program, middle schoolers will develop essential life skills, cultivate leadership abilities, and nurture their entrepreneurial spirit.

Program Highlights:

• Leadership Foundations: Explore the fundamentals of leadership, focusing on self-awareness, effective communication, teamwork, and decision-making. Discover what it means to be a leader at any age.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Foster an entrepreneurial mindset by encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and resilience. Learn to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.
• Innovation and Creativity: Cultivate a culture of innovation by engaging in activities that spark creativity, encourage brainstorming, and promote out-of-the-box thinking.
• Project-Based Learning: Collaborate on hands-on projects that challenge you to identify problems, propose solutions, and execute plans, all while emphasizing leadership and entrepreneurship.
• Effective Communication: Hone your communication skills, including public speaking, active listening, and persuasive storytelling, which are all vital for both leadership and entrepreneurship.
• Financial Literacy: Gain an understanding of basic financial concepts, such as budgeting, saving, and investing, and explore the importance of financial responsibility.
• Pitching and Presentations: Develop the ability to pitch ideas effectively and present projects with confidence, an invaluable skill for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Details

Best Suited For: rising grades 4-8
Cost: $999 (Cost includes tuition, lunch, and course materials)
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Dates: July 22-26, 2024

This program aims to provide an innovative and immersive learning experience that will transport you into new dimensions of knowledge and exploration. Our program is designed to harness the power of cutting-edge VR technology to enhance your education, ignite your curiosity, and prepare you for the future.

Journey into Immersive Learning: Step beyond traditional classrooms and textbooks into immersive educational experiences.

Virtual Field Trips: Embark on virtual field trips to historical sites, remote ecosystems, and distant planets. Witness history, biology, and geography unfold before your eyes.

Collaborative Projects: Work collaboratively with your peers on exciting VR projects. Design games, solve real-world problems, and build together in virtual space.

Future-Ready Skills: Develop crucial skills for the 21st century, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital literacy, while mastering VR technology.

Career Path Exploration: Get a glimpse into potential career paths in fields like virtual reality development, simulation design, and digital education.

Details

Best Suited For: rising grades 10 – post graduate
Cost: $999 (Cost includes tuition, lunch, and course materials)
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Dates: July 15-19, 2024

NEIA Next’s two-week boarding experience delivers the foundation for a successful career. Babson’s summer program offers a comprehensive curriculum that focuses on nurturing entrepreneurial thinking and action. All students will receive a certificate of completion from the Babson Academy for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurial Learning. 

Learn about Babson’s world-famous strategic framework—the Entrepreneurial Thought and Action® methodology. This action-oriented method for navigating environments equips them with practical skills to navigate uncertain environments. The program emphasizes the development of an entrepreneurial mindset and explores the importance of entrepreneurial identity. 

Your student won’t be learning from teaching assistants. Babson’s best professors, award-winning educators, will be leading these lessons. The program extends its scope to real-world problem-solving by examining the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and providing tools for strategic analysis. The topics covered in this premiere pre-college program include idea generation, business model design, empathy-driven value assessment, the application of Design Thinking, marketing and selling strategies, and negotiation skills. 

Financial aspects of entrepreneurship, including budgeting and fundraising, will be covered, preparing students to one day start their own businesses. The program culminates in a Rocket Pitch event, judged by Babson faculty on Babson’s campus. By helping participants master the art of impactful pitching, program participants will leave ready to communicate their entrepreneurial vision effectively.

This program equips aspiring entrepreneurs with a diverse skill set and a deep understanding of the entrepreneurial journey. The Entrepreneurial Mindset with Babson College Faculty is a must for any high school student interested in elevating their entrepreneurial skills, their business knowledge, and their college admissions profile. 

Details

Who is the program for: rising grades 10-12 and postgraduate
Cost: For more info on residential program tuition, room, and board, follow the Registration link. 
Dates: July 22-August 2, 2024 All students will be boarding for the entire length of the program

Program Information:

• Students will live in the newly renovated residence hall at New England Innovation Academy, a beautiful 26-acre campus just 35 minutes west of Boston.
• Babson College professors teach all daily workshops
• Special Guest Speakers from renowned area colleges
• Classes run 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Monday to Friday, with evening assignments and project work
• Weekend explorations in the Boston area, including college visits

Coursework

Block 1: The Mindset for Entrepreneurship

• Entrepreneurial Thought & Action (ET&A) and the entrepreneurial mindset
• The improvisation mindset
• The global mindset
• Entrepreneurial identity
• Understanding the importance and practice of reflection in the entrepreneurial journey
• Team Design and Launch

Block 2: Opportunity Identification/Idea Generation

• UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
• Finding solutions to the SDGs
• Developing powerful ideas
• Design Thinking

Block 3: Venturing Essentials

• Designing Business Models
• Understanding problems with empathy
• Prototyping
• Marketing for entrepreneurs
• Negotiations
• Presentation skills and pitching

Block 4: Putting it All Together

• Rocket Pitch events are designed to culminate three weeks of learning.
• Students participate in solution pitching to a panel of judges consisting of real-world practitioners and university professors.

How to Apply

Apply by March 31, 2024, to be eligible for a 10% tuition discount.

• Complete the information form
• Record a 2-3 min video about the real-world impact you want to make
• Write a short essay (250-300 words) about a project you helped to build or launch

Space is limited, so apply early! Apply Now 

Would you like to sponsor a student for this program? Contact collaborations@NEIAcademy.org

Watch a film about our global NEIA Next program.

“Where Ideas Take Shape, Innovations Come to Life”

Are you ready to transform your ideas into real-world innovations? Join the InnovateX Product Development Bootcamp, where innovation is our core value, and creativity is our driving force. This intensive two-week residential boot camp is designed to take you on an exhilarating journey from concept to creation,  equipping you with the skills, knowledge, and mindset to thrive in the dynamic world of product development.

Program Highlights

• Ideation and Innovation: Dive deep into the art of brainstorming, ideation, and innovation. Learn techniques to generate groundbreaking ideas that can change the world.
• Product Prototyping: Turn your concepts into prototypes. Get hands-on experience with 3D printing, rapid prototyping, and design thinking methodologies.
• Market Research: Understand your target audience, competition, and market trends. Develop strategies to ensure your product meets real-world needs.
• Product Design: Learn the principles of product design, including user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design, to create compelling and user-friendly products.Mentorship and Collaboration: Connect with industry experts, mentors, and fellow participants. Collaborate on real projects, leveraging each other’s strengths.

Details

Who is the program for: rising grades 10-post graduate
Cost: For more info on residential program tuition, room, and board, follow the Registration link. 
Dates: July 8 – 19, 2024

Welcome to Creativity in the Age of AI, a program designed to empower participants with the creative and innovative skills necessary to harness the potential of AI and shape the future. In this age of automation, creativity is your competitive edge, and innovation is your currency.

Why is creativity more essential than ever in today’s AI-driven world?

• Augmenting, Not Replacing, Creativity: While AI can perform certain tasks with remarkable efficiency, it lacks the inherent ability to think creatively, invent new ideas, or understand the nuances of human emotions. Creative thinking remains a distinctly human trait that AI can complement but not fully replicate.
• Problem Solving and Innovation: Creativity is at the heart of problem-solving and innovation. In a world where complex challenges arise regularly, creative thinkers are needed to identify unique solutions, adapt to unforeseen circumstances, and create breakthrough technologies that can harness the full potential of AI.
• AI Requires Creative Input: AI systems rely on data, algorithms, and human input to function effectively. Creative individuals play a critical role in defining the objectives, designing algorithms, and curating datasets, which are all essential components of AI development.
• User-Centric Design: Creative designers and user experience experts are crucial for crafting AI-driven applications that are user-friendly and intuitive. These professionals ensure that AI solutions align with the needs, preferences, and values of users, enhancing the overall user experience.
• Human-Centric Approach: Creativity keeps the focus on the human element of AI applications. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining empathy, emotional intelligence, and human values in the development and deployment of AI systems.

Details

Who is the program for: rising grades 9-12
Cost: For more info on residential program tuition, room, and board, follow the Registration link. 
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Dates: August 5-9, 2024

Coursework

• Engage in hands-on practice to improve idea generation and entrepreneurial thinking.
• Learn techniques for creative problem discovery and problem-solving from an expert in the field.
• Identify worthwhile problems for creative innovation.
• Includes a trip to MIT’s campus.

Registration

Sign Up Now