Middle School

Steps to Success offers a wide variety of out-of-school time programs for our middle school students (6th–8th grade), with opportunities taking place both during the school year and during vacation weeks and the summer.

Building on our elementary age programs, our programs for middle school students feature an expanded offering of Outdoor Exploration trips as well as the opportunity to be a part of Summer Connections, a 4-week, introductory job readiness program in July.

Extended Learning Program

Teen Advantage (TA)

Our Extended Learning Program (ELP) for 6th–8th grade students, Teen Advantage (TA), presents invaluable opportunities for students beyond regular school hours.

Serving students at the Lincoln, Ridley, Pierce, and Lawrence Schools, TA extends the learning journey, empowering students to grow and learn new skills in a supportive environment outside of the classroom. TA provides students with homework assistance and diverse enrichment activities, ranging from scientific exploration to creative and artistic pursuits. Past enrichment partners have included Van Aiken Photography, BU Anatomy Academy, and Artservatory.

The TA curriculum also focuses on supporting our students’ social-emotional growth. Group Leaders at our program sites lead activities designed to help students build relationships with peers, strengthen interpersonal communication skills, and problem-solve collaboratively.

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Outdoor Explorations

Our Outdoor Explorations program allows students to venture beyond Brookline and immerse themselves in diverse outdoor experiences.

Through our partnerships with local organizations, STS offers students hands-on, experiential learning opportunities that foster teamwork, leadership, and the confidence to see themselves as part of a larger world.

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Outdoor Explorations programs for 6th–8th grade students feature both day trips and an annual overnight experience. Past day trips have included a sailing experience in partnership with World Ocean School and a biking trip on Cape Cod. Every winter, over February Vacation, about ten 7th and 8th grade students take a 3-day trip to Crawford’s Notch in New Hampshire, where the majority of students get their first introduction to winter sports like skiing and snow-shoeing.

Outdoor Explorations programs take place year-round, with most opportunities taking place during school vacation weeks and summer break.

Camps

Steps collaborates with local summer camps to offer enriching and affordable summer opportunities for our elementary school students.

Through our partnerships many students participate in local day camps, engaging in activities and connecting with peers and adults. Additionally, we partner with overnight camps to provide students with extended experiences, ranging from four to seven weeks, where they learn essential skills, form lasting friendships, and develop openness to new opportunities.

These engagements significantly enrich our students' summers, fostering valuable social-emotional growth and providing learning opportunities that support them far beyond the summer months.

Camp opportunities take place exclusively over the summer. However, parents and families can reach out to their Steps Advisor anytime, even as early as November, if they are interested in discussing summer opportunities for their students.

Summer Connections

Summer Connections is a 4-week, introductory job readiness and academic enrichment program. Rising 8th and 9th graders engage in an internship with a local community organization in the morning and then attend classes that support their professional development in the afternoon.

Morning internship partners include sites like Calculus Project, Smart Summer, and the Brookline Teen Center. Topics covered in afternoon classes include social entrepreneurship, college awareness, and financial literacy. In collaboration with Brookline Interactive Group, students also spend their afternoons completing multimedia digital projects on social issues they are passionate about. Students earn a stipend for their participation at the end of the program.

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Summer Connections takes place in July. The program culminates in a showcase event in which parents and families are invited to view and celebrate student work from the summer.

Interested in learning more about our middle school programs or partnering with Steps in delivering high-quality programming to our students?

Don't hesitate to reach out!