This hands-on program, designed for high school students who are preparing to take high school Physics or have already completed it, covers critical laws of flight, gravity, and motion, as well as broader topics within aeronautics and aerospace technologies.
Students construct and test model airplanes while examining thrust, lift, drag, and weight under varying conditions. During their experiments, they will also explore the ways in which ailerons, elevators, rudders, and flaps affect an aircraft’s aerodynamics and stability.
Many lectures and exercises will center around acceleration, centripetal force, and g-force.
This program provides a great pre-college experience for teens considering an engineering or computer science major.
This program sells out every year – don’t lose your chance to join us by waiting too long!
This is a competitive admissions summer research program designed for teens.
Cost and Session Information
June 30 - July 18, 2025: Olin College, Needham, MA
Testimonials(10)
- Student Comment- July 19, 2019
- Student Comment- July 19, 2019
- Student Comment- July 19, 2019
"I enjoyed learning about the physics and equations for how a plane flies. It was very interesting and engaging. Building the foam planes was also very cool. Mr. Genova was always willing to help people."
- Student Comment- July 20, 2018
"I definitely learned a lot these three weeks while being able to apply my knowledge into something that could fly. The hands-on aspect was a good learning experience and a relief from the common traditional classroom setting I have during the school year."
- Student Comment- July 20, 2018
"I liked that we touched on the mathematical part of physics that tied into our projects. Our teachers let us test our ideas as what engineers do. I^aEURTMm glad that we were able to design things from scratch and not set projects."
- Student Comment- July 20, 2018
'The program was very educational and it taught me a lot about physics and aerospace engineering. Mr. Genova was not only kind but very helpful as well.'
- Student Comment- July 22, 2016
'I had a lot of fun in the class and learned a lot about the physics of flight as well as what makes a plane successful. Mr. Genova was an excellent teacher and TA Brian was really helpful.'
- Student Comment- July 22, 2016
'We progressed from building paper airplanes to making gliders to finally constructing our own airplanes. I liked that we got to make remote control airplanes and the field trips were very interesting. The teacher explaining the topics very well. The teacher assistant was very helpful as well.'
- Student Comment- July 21, 2017
'The program was very hands-on which was great. My teacher was highly interested in fostering the development of my knowledge in the area of air and space science.'
Take part in our award-winning summer STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) teen academic programs. Gifted students will engage in experimental research & take exciting field trips. Topics include Biology, Chemistry, Biomedical Engineering, Robotics, STEM Entrepreneurship, and more...(more)
The Boston Leadership Institute is an award-winning summer program for high-achieving teens. Since 2011, BLI has provided unique, engaging, and valuable opportunities to thousands of students from around the United States and the world. Led by highly qualified and decorated teachers and professors, students gain access to challenging and exciting coursework as well as important credentials to include on college applications...(more)
Explore the great outdoors at the Boston Leadership Institute! This course takes full advantage of our location outside of Boston. Our gorgeous campuses sit adjacent to a variety of elements like forests, fields, rivers and more. Students will get their hands dirty exploring the various New England habitats, marshlands, forests, geology and more...(more)
Do mysteries excite you? Do you dream of being a federal judge, prosecutor, defense attorney or expert witness? Do you dive into crime scene shows such as CSI, Criminal Minds, NCIS, and Law & Order or podcasts like Serial, Criminal and Someone Knows Something? Go behind the scenes and learn what happens during a murder investigation and the trial that follows...(more)
In this one-week business program, you’ll learn about brand identity, algorithm optimization, organic reach, and every other buzzword and strategy that can help your social media presence blow up. Try your hand at a variety of marketing techniques, such as designing a newsletter in Constant Contact, brochures or posters in Canva, and designing a brand logo in Adobe. ..(more)
Students conduct biological research and explore the extremely hot topic of synthetic biology. This field aims to identify genes that cause genetic diseases, providing a jumping off point for therapeutic intervention. High schoolers, come join us on the cutting edge of science this summer in our three week pre-college program!..(more)
Cooking and baking involve a deep understanding of chemical reactions, the building blocks of food, and molecules such as proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. How do they all come together? Why do some flavors taste so awful together?! How can one wrong move ruin a whole dish? Conversely, how can a few simple tricks create a masterpiece?..(more)
In this program, students will synthesize and explore the properties of polymers ranging from the fun, silly putty to those life-saving applications for medicine. This one-week summer program is designed for teens interested in materials science & chemistry...(more)
Thinking about a career in Engineering? Employ electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer programming in challenging hands-on projects. This is ideal for the future engineer. ..(more)
Heart-thumping emergency scenes meet the latest breakthrough technologies in emergency medicine in this exciting new program! Students will preview actual case studies of trauma from accident scenes ranging from car accidents to the aftermath of natural disasters such as hurricanes or avalanches...(more)
Calling all mini entrepreneurs! Do you have ideas to create the next best product on the market? Do you think you have what it takes to convince investors to believe in your product? Learn how you can make your dream a reality with Junior Shark Tank. Students will propose a business plan and create a presentation that they will pitch to a group of "investors"...(more)
Green chemistry, also known as sustainable chemistry, is the practice of designing materials that reduce or eliminate the production of hazardous materials. During this program students will explore the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry and learn how this philosophy is changing the culture in chemical research and industry...(more)
When deciding on a career path, do you see yourself working an exciting and fascinating job where each day is different? Do you want to build long-term relationships with patients? Maybe you’re looking to go into a field that is always in demand. Luckily for you, primary care encompasses all of these qualities and more! BLI is now offering the perfect program for students interested in general internal medicine, general pediatrics, family medicine, etc...(more)
Ever wonder what is behind the mind of a criminal? Dive deeply into the pathology of a serial killer, the motive of a stalker, or the face of a domestic terrorist. In this class students will not only learn about the different mental illness often found in criminals but what to look for in a crime scene to help catch the perp...(more)
Our Pet Medicine program is a fun and exciting way for middle school students to learn what it takes to be a veterinarian. Students will get to explore interesting methods of diagnosis, including how to detect pain through physical examinations, as well as how to analyze imaging from XRays, MRIs, and CT scans...(more)
Chemistry can be among the most challenging requirements for college-bound students. But these courses don’t have to be difficult! Our one week intensive Chemistry Edge course is designed to give students who are in, or entering high school, an edge in their chemistry classes...(more)
Interested in applied math? Enjoy business? Whether you are imagining a side hustle flipping homes, renting out an AirBnB, or becoming a mortgage loan officer, luxury home builder, or real estate investment trust analyst, you will learn what it takes to get you there. This program will be brought to life with a series of hands-on activities such as conducting an appraisal of an actual home on the market, filling out a residential loan application, and constructing an amortization table...(more)
Students will study space exploration missions, the increasingly detailed observations of planets we’ve recently reached, and the uniqueness of our own planet’s ability to harbor life. This one-week program is perfect for teens who are interested in Astronomy or Astrobiology. ..(more)
With TV shows like CSI and Bones being so popular, Forensics has become an important and exciting discipline in science. This is a chance for students to delve into a subject they don’t see in school! Perfect for those who are interested in Anatomy and Biology or crime, no other course combines these topics as well as Forensics...(more)
The Clinical Psychology one week program provides and introduction to the fascinating world of mental illness: origins, symptoms, and treatment. Students will gain understanding of the major forms of mental disorders such as: Autism, Schizophrenia, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression, Eating Disorders, and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity...(more)
Do mysteries excite you? Do you dream of being a federal judge, prosecutor, defense attorney or expert witness? Do you dive into crime scene shows such as CSI, Criminal Minds, NCIS, and Law & Order or podcasts like Serial, Criminal and Someone Knows Something? Go behind the scenes and learn what happens during a murder investigation and the trial that follows...(more)
Hey future doctor, get your stethoscope ready! Mini Med School is now in session for Middle School Students. In this class, we’ll dive into various areas, focusing on a few new subject areas every day. What makes up a routine check up? How do you test a patient’s reflexes? What are you listening for in their breathing? What about the differences between pediatric physicals and adult check ups. How do you know if a child is developing properly?..(more)
How do we prevent our most essential information from becoming public knowledge? How do government secrets stay safe? This is the work of cryptography. Without cryptography, the world would grind to a halt. Cryptographers are the critical gatekeepers of national security secrets, vital codes, and more...(more)
This one-week program is for students interested in understanding the process of drug discovery and development in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. The program provides an introduction to the knowledge required for a potential career in the pharmaceutical industry...(more)
The Biotech Remote Research Summer course is an award-winning, competitive admissions program that represents a prestigious credential. Boston Leadership Institute loans students state-of-the-art lab equipment to be used at home for the course that they then ship back at the end of the program...(more)
Thinking of a career in Architecture or just looking for a way to combine your interests in STEM with design work? Take advantage of this amazing opportunity to learn the basics, from conception to the mechanics, with MIT-trained and multiple award-winning architects. ..(more)
The one-week Introduction to Surgery program will present students with basic surgical skills, such as surgical knot tying and suturing, and then allow them to translate these skills to mock surgeries...(more)
Since the advent of human life, we have looked to those luminescent points in the night sky with wonder and curiosity. How do we know the distances to various stars and planets? What is dark matter? Why do we need it? Is a black hole a hole? Do pulsars pulse? Venus is hotter than mercury, Sirius is hotter than our Sun – but wait, how do we know that? Explore these questions and much more with our BLI teaching team!..(more)
In this program, students will cover veterinary surgery by performing mock surgeries and bone-settings, research common afflictions such as canine distemper and rabies. They will also explore various methods of diagnosis, including how to detect pain through physical examinations and how to analyze imaging from x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans...(more)
Statistics can be an intimidating course. But, this statistics program is not like any statistics class that you will take in school. This program is specifically designed to show students how math is used in every day life from the exciting perspective of sports...(more)
Interested in Chemistry? Some of the most popular (and lucrative!) career paths involve utilizing chemistry for medical applications: From drug discovery and development through clinical trials to determine dosage levels, bioavailability, toxicology, and chemistry is key. Universities, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies all offer high-paying research positions to graduates of chemistry and pharmacology programs...(more)
Some questions planetary scientists have been studying by using newly developed robot spacecrafts. With this new technology, they are observing planetary systems, replicating environments, and building theoretical models to connect the infinite unknowns of the universe...(more)
Students will employ principles of mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science while designing and assembling robotic vehicles and machines. Students' designs will be sophisticated enough to pass challenges that students assign to them, such as reacting to sound or finding and retrieving objects...(more)
In this course, students will be introduced to some of the core principles of Big Data. Students may learn techniques related to controlling the costs and benefits of information processing. The course may focus on elements such as decision-making, data structure and analytical models...(more)
Students will explore how the latest DNA and genetic testing and technologies can be used by law enforcement and medical examiners to identify the perpetrator of a crime, how dentists can use dental records to identify unknown murder victims, and how bite marks can be used to identify the suspect...(more)
Chart out the stars and constellations so you can look up at the night sky and KNOW what you’re seeing. Create a massive scale model of the planets and the distance between them, gaining a true understanding of the solar system’s enormity. Examine the beauty of refraction and reflection, using prisms like those used in telescopes, and create magical color patterns with the power to control them. Discover the cosmos in this Pre-High School program!..(more)
Are you interested in a career in business? Do you see yourself becoming the next Bill Gates?
This program is perfect for students who are interested in a career in business, but don’t yet know which discipline to specialize in, because they will receive an introduction to many!..(more)
Traditionally one of the most difficult high school science courses, this academic one-week program will make learning the subject of physics more accessible and give you the edge to master your high school Physics class...(more)
Students will be introduced to the Engineering Design Process through the design and fabrication of a small scale 3D printed race car. Research on aerodynamics and car design will inform each student’s car design as they fabricate, test and evaluate prototypes for a CO2 powered race car...(more)
This program takes full advantage of our location on the coast in Boston. Wellesley is only a commuter rail ride away from ships departing for the Boston Harbor Islands. Students study high and low tides, venture into rivers and streams, and explore the various New England habitats...(more)
This action packed one week marine biology precollege program will provide students with foundational knowledge of the biology and ecology of marine ecosystems, with a specific focus on the methods that scientists use to study marine habitats...(more)
Biomedical engineers develop the medical technology that saves lives. In our Biomedical Engineering academic program, you'll spend half of they day in the classroom, developing skills in scientific reasoning and asking research questions, and half of the day in the lab practicing 3D printing, 3D design, DNA extraction, and much more. ..(more)
You’ll explore common childhood diseases such as measles and mumps, and identify neurological disorders.
This program will provide a fast-paced, hands-on glimpse into what it’s like to be a pediatrician. Students will gain insight into childhood diseases and contagion, bloodwork, and mental disorders of childhood diagnosis and treatments...(more)
A hacker targets a system. They attempt to infiltrate it in hopes of stealing precious financial and personal information. They could steal identities, bank account information…but they’re blocked! If it weren’t for cybersecurity specialists, criminals like these could threaten our global wellbeing. EVERYTHING is online. One flimsy safeguard and the system comes crashing down...(more)
This program is ideal for students who have outgrown traditional summer camps and are looking for something fun, yet challenging where they can spend time outdoors. Students can have fun in the sun while they learn about engineering basics, conducting a series of projects involving boats...(more)
Students will cover the human neural systems, provide a detailed look at the pathways and components of the visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, and somatosensory systems. The program will also cover the higher order processes and functions such as learning and memory, emotion, drugs and addiction, stress and sleep. Neuroscience is always one of our most popular programs! ..(more)
This program covers the study, treatment, and research of cancer, including medical radiation and surgical oncology. Students will study the tell-tale signs of cancer, tackle the complex process of diagnosing, including the staging process, and provide a prognosis to a mock patient...(more)
In this program, students will work together to solve one extensive simulated crime. This material will be different from yet complementary to our popular one-week Forensics program. While the Forensics program teaches the minutiae of various lab techniques, fingerprinting methods, and more, this program will focus on solving a mystery. From crime scene intake to examinations, lab work, and deliberations, will you solve the crime?..(more)
Dive into the terrifying, enchanting, mysterious world under the sea! In this program, we will explore a variety of topics related to all things under the sea. This program is perfect for students with an interest in marine biology as well as oceanography, eco-tourism, and marine conservation...(more)
Jump into the world of finance and get a sneak peek into what financial analysts do on a day-to-day basis with the Boston Leadership Institute. Students will be exposed to the mathematical concepts and techniques used in finance and how to apply them to financial markets such as the stock market. ..(more)
Experience a rare, hands-on look at the nervous system and brain. Join an elite group of students who will study neurological diseases and disorders that require neurological intervention. This is a competitive admissions summer research program designed for teens...(more)
We’re DIVING into the exciting stuff!
Shark Week will explore not only sharks, but ALL monsters of the deep. You might build scale models to get a grasp on the true size of these aquatic predators, examine real shark teeth up close, plot shark sightings against seal populations, and so much more. ..(more)
The Boston Leadership Institute’s STEM Entrepreneurship hands-on academic program covers what it takes to start a new STEM business. Students generate innovative and forward-thinking product ideas, explore viable opportunities and markets, and learn to write a sales pitch and business plan...(more)
BLI's one-week pre-med Anatomy course is a jam packed with challenging and exciting material! Dive into dissections, the skeletal system, neuroscience, and more. If you're a student who prefers a hands-on experience, join Anatomy and spends hours in the lab every day. ..(more)
Investment Banking is a program designed for teens with an interest in business and math. Is investment banking for you? Find out by reserving a seat for this one-week summer business program! Hands-on activities, film clips, and lectures bring the field to life. Sign up today!..(more)
Want to save lives one person at a time? In this program, you’ll be presented with ill patients and be expected to diagnose the problem, outline a treatment plan, and provide a prognosis. Hands-on lab work will provide you with a look inside your “patients,” as will activities such as dissections, abdomen palpations, full patient workups, and much more...(more)
Join one of the rare high school programs that allows teens a hands-on feel for performing surgery. Students dissect and suture under the guidance of experienced instructors while studying anatomy, terminology, and hot topics in medicine. This pre-med program sells out EVERY SUMMER. Join us this summer for this exciting academic program!..(more)
This program does exactly what its name indicates: give students an edge in biology class. This course covers many of the topics that will be taught in students' future biology courses and can even help prepare them for the AP Biology exam...(more)
We’re here to help you find your best-fit teen-centered academic and enrichment opportunities.
"*" indicates required fields
By creating an account on TeenLife.com, I consent to receiving emails from TeenLife and any affiliates that I specifically opt-in to. I certify that I am 13 years or older and understand that I can unsubscribe at any time. See Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
