At the NSLC on Business for middle school students, you’ll discover what it takes to turn a great idea into a product people want. Work with your team to develop an original business concept, identify your customers, and create advertising that brings your idea to life. Along the way, explore how businesses make decisions, solve problems, and work together to turn creative ideas into something real.
Middle School Summer Business Program
Discover the world of business.
Program Highlights
Inside Business at NSLC
Discover how creative ideas become real businesses this summer. NSLC’s middle school programs combine hands-on learning, leadership development, and the experience of life on a college campus, giving you opportunities to explore new interests, build confidence, and grow alongside students who share your curiosity.
Explore through active learning.
Hands-on simulations develop the skills and knowledge you need to pursue a future working in business.
Explore SimulationsExperience new surroundings.
Learn on a college campus, visit famous museums, and see historic landmarks with new friends.
Explore Trips & Tours
Grow as a leader.
Develop the knowledge and confidence you need to become a leader in your school community.
Explore LeadershipI had so much fun trying new things and meeting new friends! This was a really good experience for me.
Anika, Pennsylvania
Hands-on Simulations
Explore business
through hands-on challenges that let you create, market, and promote your own product idea. Brainstorm solutions to everyday problems, discover what makes customers choose one product over another, and work with your team to develop an advertising campaign. Explore how creativity, communication, and teamwork come together as you build a brand from the ground up.
Product Ideation
Bring a new product to life as you identify a gap in the market, develop and test a prototype, and refine your design to stand out from the competition.
Business Investment Simulation
Put your business instincts to the test as you explore promising companies, weigh potential risks and rewards, and compete to make the smartest investment decisions.
Supply Chain Management
Manage the journey of a product from production to delivery as you balance costs, coordinate resources, and work to get goods into customers' hands.
Business Ethics
Face challenging decisions as you examine conflicts between profit and responsibility, consider the impact on customers and employees, and determine how your company should respond.
Social Media Madness
Run your company's social media accounts as you create posts, react to customer feedback, and tackle unexpected PR challenges that could make or break your brand's reputation.
Intel Museum
Trips & Tours
Go beyond the classroom.
Explore iconic museums and visit historical landmarks during your time off-campus.
See Trips by Location
Leadership
is in our name.
Each NSLC program contains a leadership curriculum designed to teach skills that can apply to all areas of life. Workshops on goal setting, personality styles, communication and listening, and empathy set the foundation for a successful future no matter where it may lead.
Watch VideoLife on a College Campus
Dates, Locations, & Tuition
NSLC provides an immersive pre-college experience that prepares students for life beyond high school, allowing them to study in university classrooms, learn to navigate a campus, and experience college life firsthand. When submitting an application, students will select a residential or commuter option: residential students stay on campus in supervised dormitories, while commuter students follow daily arrival and departure times designated by their chosen location.
American University
Washington, DC
$3,395 Residential
$2,920 Commuter
Summer 2027
Jul 9 - Jul 14
Jul 18 - Jul 23
University of California, Berkeley
San Francisco, CA
$3,295 Residential
$2,820 Commuter
Summer 2027
Jul 5 - Jul 10
Jul 13 - Jul 18
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI
$3,195 Residential
$2,870 Commuter
Summer 2027
Jun 28 - Jul 3
Jul 8 - Jul 13
Tuition Resources
Related Programs
You may also be interested in our other Middle School programs.
Business FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Wondering if NSLC’s middle school Business program is right for you? Explore below, read our general FAQs, or reach out to our team. We’re happy to help!
Middle school is a great time to discover new interests before you begin making more decisions about classes and activities in high school. Exploring business and entrepreneurship introduces you to creative problem-solving, teamwork, and the process of turning ideas into something useful. You don’t need to know whether you want a career in business to benefit from the experience. You might discover that you enjoy developing new ideas, understanding what customers need, or finding solutions to everyday problems.
A summer business program gives students opportunities to practice skills they’ll use throughout high school, including communication, collaboration, organization, and problem-solving. At NSLC, you’ll work with other students to develop ideas, make decisions, and present your work. You’ll also participate in leadership activities that encourage you to listen to different perspectives, navigate challenges, and contribute to a team. These experiences can help you approach new classes, group projects, and extracurricular activities with greater confidence.
Entrepreneurship involves much more than starting a company. It brings together creativity, planning, communication, and decision-making, giving students opportunities to discover their individual strengths and interests. You might enjoy brainstorming new products, researching what people need, organizing a project, or explaining your ideas to others. Exploring these different roles can help you recognize what excites you and what skills you’d like to develop further.
Exploring business gives students opportunities to practice creative thinking, problem-solving, communication, and decision-making. At NSLC, you’ll work with other students to develop ideas, consider different approaches, and explain your thinking. You’ll discover how these skills apply to business while also practicing abilities that can help you in high school, extracurricular activities, and everyday life.
You don’t need to have started a business or taken a business class to explore the subject at NSLC. The middle school Business program introduces concepts like entrepreneurship, marketing, and product development through guided activities and team projects. Whether you enjoy coming up with creative ideas, organizing projects, or figuring out why certain products are popular, you’ll have opportunities to discover new interests. Curiosity and a willingness to try something unfamiliar are good places to start.
You’ll work with other students to develop an original business concept, starting with an idea for a product or service. Along the way, you’ll consider what customers need, explore marketing strategies, and create ways to promote your idea. You’ll also practice presenting your concept and explaining the decisions behind it. The experience introduces you to the different skills involved in bringing a business idea to life, from creative thinking to teamwork and communication.
Your future starts here.
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