<p>Both my kids dealt with insufficient challenge in the middle school science courses by doing science fair projects. They weren’t required for school, but they did them on their own. Both did quite well and it was a help in HS admissions to selective programs.</p>
<p>We also found summer programs that would let them pursue their interests. One did some two-week programming classes until he started doing (free) Olympiad training curriuculum; the other did some hands-on environmental research through a state summer gifted program. It was residential, often with a historical bent (but mainly scientific), and the cost was less than day camps in our area.</p>