This summer, Bridges Middle School is excited to help bring creativity, STEM learning, artistic exploration, and joyful community experiences to students and families across Portland!
As Oregon’s only middle school exclusively serving neurodiverse students, we are proud to continue activating our campus as a hub for innovative learning opportunities that support curiosity, connection, and student growth.
Unbound Potential Summer Learning Lab
Five Weeks of Hands-On STEM Learning at Bridges
July 6 – August 7, 2026
Bridges Middle School is proud to partner with Unbound Potential Learning Labs to host five weeks of engaging STEM-focused summer programming on our campus.
At Unbound Potential Learning Labs, students participate in high-quality, inquiry-based STEM education designed with underserved and marginalized students in mind. Through hands-on projects, field experiences, guest educators, and creative problem-solving, students connect classroom learning to the real world in meaningful and exciting ways.
“Bridges Middle School is proud to partner with Unbound Potential Summer Learning Labs to host five weeks of summer programming on our campus, further activating our space as Oregon’s only middle school exclusively serving neurodiverse students. This collaboration provides our community with high-quality learning opportunities and enables our specialized educators to work with innovative instructional models.”
Weekly Themes
- Week 1 – Exploration & Discovery Lab (July 13th–17th) Students explore ecosystems, physical phenomena, and hidden systems that shape our world.
- Week 2 – Design & Craft Lab (July 20th–24th) Become an inventor, designer, and digital creator! Students use graphic design, prototyping, and other technologies to bring ideas to life. Guest instructors and guided projects make learning tech fun and meaningful.
- Week 3 – Kinetic Creations Lab (July 27th–31st) Build, test, and problem-solve! Students tackle engineering challenges through structures, machines, and playful design. Hands-on projects connect theory to real-world applications.
- Week 4 – City of Wonder Lab (August 3rd–7th): Explore creativity, imagination, and design in urban-inspired projects. Students engage in visual arts, architecture, and creative problem-solving, connecting artistic expression to STEM thinking.
- Week 5 – Future Worlds Lab (August 10th-14th) Investigate the future with numbers, patterns, and data. Students apply mathematical reasoning to model, predict, and design solutions for real-world challenges.
Program Highlights
- Weekly field trips via walking or public transit
- Guest teachers and community workshops
- Professional educator mentorship
- Daily snacks and all materials included
- Inquiry-based STEM projects
- Aftercare available from 3:00–5:30 pm (additional fee)
Tuition & Discounts
- $400 per week
- Bridges students receive:
- $25 off individual weeks
- $150 off full 5-week enrollment
Sliding-scale tuition and volunteer exchange opportunities are also available to interested families.
👉 Learn more here 👉 Register here
Special Arts & Creativity Camp with Arianna Cropp!
We are also thrilled to let you know about a special summer camp opportunity (not at Bridges) through ILYouth2 led by our own beloved Bridges art teacher and counselor, Arianna Cropp!
ILYouth2 (“I Love Youth Too”) is a youth arts program by Portland art gallery ILY2 (“I Love You Too”), that fosters creative thinkers and makers through small-group camps, workshops, and creative hangouts. ILYouth2 also houses a small gallery focused on intergenerational exhibitions; and a retail area centering youth-made art and goods, mirroring the creative retail offerings at ILY2’s Pearl District flagship gallery.
Ms. Arianna brings her incredible creativity, warmth, and student-centered approach to a unique camp experience focused on artistic exploration, self-expression, connection, and joyful learning. Families who know Arianna know how gifted she is at creating welcoming, affirming spaces where students can thrive creatively and socially.
Families who know Arianna know how gifted she is at creating environments where students feel safe, inspired, and empowered to be themselves.
👉 Register here 👉 Learn more on Instagram
We hope your family can take advantage of these exciting opportunities to learn, create, build, and connect this summer!