MIT Splash is offering some 2-day courses for high school students on November 22-23. Teens who cannot attend may still find it interesting to browse the class list at https://esp.mit.edu/learn/Splash/2014/view_classes .

Most of these course descriptions say grades 9-12. Are the really just for seniors. Looks like there is a lottery for the classes and they are intended for local area students. Interesting set of classes.

Probably not worth the trip across the country just for this event even if I do have family in the area I could visit.

No, sorry -- I meant to write high school "students".

" Splash is for 9–12th graders only; Spark is for 7–8th graders only."

This sound like they are strict about the official grade level (unfortunately).

https://esp.mit.edu/learn/Splash/index.html .

Is this really so? Has anyone had a younger child attend? (Or at least inquired directly whether they would allow a younger child in some classes, particularly in Spark ?)

https://esp.mit.edu/learn/newgrades.html

"We will not be able to make exceptions for academically advanced middle school students to attend high school Splash. However, we hope that middle school students will find more options available to them at Spark ..."

Looks like their insurance only covers kids age 11+. And the homeschool policy says that you can attend for a maximum of 6 years, irrespective of nominal grade placement. The tone of the policy suggests that the issue of access and fairness to a wider population is the driving force behind the age minimum. (That, and liability, of course.)