Environmental Science programs for high schoolers.
56 programs indexed in environmental science. 31 are free or pay a stipend. 6 prioritize under-resourced or underrepresented students. This page updates whenever we add a new environmental science program.
All environmental science programs
- SelectiveNational Park Service21st Century Conservation Service Corps
Information about partnerships related to the 21st Century Conservation Service Corps, which offers opportunities for young people to contribute to conservation efforts. Specific programs may be available for high schoolers.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed - SelectiveCalifornia Water ServiceA Splash of Creativity
Students submit original artwork addressing water conservation and local California water issues for statewide recognition and awards.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveMissouri University of Science and TechnologyAccelerated Environmental Scientist
Intensive field-based environmental-science experience covering ecosystems, water quality and related topics, with an optional university-credit component.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveWave HillACES — Art, Community, Education and Science
Year-long paid youth program connecting arts education, environmental science, community engagement and informal teaching.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateHurricane Island Center for Science and LeadershipAdvanced Ocean Lab — Surrounded by Science
Students in grades 10–12 complete a longer advanced ocean-science residential experience emphasizing scientific practice and field-based learning.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveUNC Charlotte Center for STEM Education / AEOPAEOP High School Internship STEM Research Program
Rising juniors and seniors complete roughly 220–300 hours of faculty-mentored STEM research and present their findings through program research events.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 11–12 - Highly SelectiveAlcorn State University / USDA APHISAgDiscovery Summer Enrichment Program
Students ages 13–17 learn from university faculty and USDA experts in plant science, animal science, biotechnology, veterinary science, wildlife biology, and agricultural careers through laboratories and workshops.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–11 - SelectiveArkansas Game & Fish CommissionAGFC Youth Volunteer Program
Students volunteer at conservation events and other AGFC activities across Arkansas while earning documented community-service hours.
📍 AR🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveAlabama A&M UniversityAgriFCS Academy Summer Camp
A free residential week introducing rising juniors to food, agriculture, natural resources, and human-sciences disciplines through hands-on activities and campus experiences.
📍 AL🎓 Grade 11 - SelectiveAlabama Wildlife Federation / Alabama Nature CenterAlabama Nature Center Volunteer Program
Volunteers age 16+ can assist with animal ambassadors, citizen-science work, educational field trips, fishing programs, and other conservation activities.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveAlaska Native Science & Engineering ProgramANSEP Acceleration High School
Free year-round STEM acceleration for Alaska Native students.
📍 AK⏱ School year + summer📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateUniversity of South FloridaAqua Bulls Ocean Exploration
Students explore marine biology and oceanography through coastal fieldwork, research techniques and an at-sea research expedition collecting and analyzing data.
📍 FL🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUniversity at BuffaloArcadis Pathways to Engineering Camp
Free engineering exploration emphasizing environmental impacts, laboratories and hands-on field activities.
📍 NY🎓 Grade 9 - ModerateBall State University College of Architecture and PlanningArchitecture + Planning Camp @ CAP:Indy
Students explore architecture, planning, sustainability, site analysis, sketching, ecology, and 3D modeling through a week of design activities in Indianapolis.
📍 IN🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveMississippi State University Extension ServiceArt Doing Its Part
Mississippi high-school students create artwork, slogans, and short reflections explaining connections between litter and waterway pollution. The statewide contest highlights regional environmental challenges and uses winning work in public-awareness campaigns.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateMissouri University of Science and TechnologyArt in the Outdoors Camp
Students use painting, photography and multimedia art while drawing inspiration from outdoor and natural environments.
📍 MO🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveArizona State UniversityASU SCENE
Free science club + research opportunities for AZ high schoolers, with focus on first-gen students.
📍 AZ⏱ Year-round📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12 - ModerateUMBCAtmospheric Science Lab: Build, Test, and Deploy a Handheld Air Quality Sensor
Students explore atmospheric science through construction and deployment of an air-quality sensor.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateAuburn UniversityAuburn Summer Science Institute
Hands-on STEM research at Auburn — Alabama residents prioritized; in-state tuition aid available.
📍 AL⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveAudubon Nature InstituteAudubon Nature Institute Teen Volunteers
Teen volunteers support Audubon's wildlife, conservation, education, and guest-engagement mission across its New Orleans nature attractions while working alongside staff and gaining practical experience.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateUMass AmherstAvian Physiology Lab Research Intensive
Students spend six weeks embedded in the Gerson Lab studying how birds physiologically respond to extreme environmental conditions and contribute to ongoing faculty research before presenting a poster.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveBaruch College / CUNYBaruch College Now STEM Research Academy
Spring research preparation followed by a five-to-six-week faculty-mentored summer project. Recent research includes genetics, biology and environmental science; participants receive a $1,000 stipend.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–11 - ModerateChesapeake Bay Foundation / Washington CollegeBay Science and Solutions at Washington College
Rising grades 10–12 collect environmental data by kayak and research vessel and work in Washington College science laboratories while studying ecosystem restoration and community solutions.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 10–12 - Highly SelectiveHurricane Island Center for Science and LeadershipBio Blitz — Understanding Biodiversity
Students investigate biodiversity across intertidal, forest, shoreline, freshwater, and marine ecosystems while developing scientific-research and environmental-leadership skills.
📍 ME🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveMississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and ParksBob Tyler Fish Hatchery Youth Art Contest
Mississippi students depict native fish or wildlife species through original artwork. Winners receive gift cards, publication in Mississippi Outdoors, and display on MDWFP platforms.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveBow Seat Ocean Awareness ProgramsBow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest
Annual creative contest for teens combining art, writing, film, and music with environmental advocacy.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Spring🎓 Grades 7–12 - SelectiveBrooklyn College / CUNY College NowBrooklyn College STEM Research Academy
Spring research preparation followed by summer research in fields such as ecology, environmental science and biology.
📍 NY🎓 Grades 10–11 - ModerateOhio Academy of ScienceBuckeye Science & Engineering Fair
Independent statewide ISEF-affiliated research fair. Ohio students present original STEM research; six projects advanced directly to Regeneron ISEF in 2026.
📍 OH🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveMississippi State UniversityBug & Plant Camp
Students ages 12–17 collect, identify, and preserve insects while learning entomology, botany, biodiversity, and field-collection techniques.
📍 MS🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateNorth Carolina ZooCamp Crew
Teen volunteers assist zoo educators with wildlife camps, crafts, games and educational activities.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveLincoln Park ZooCamp Teen Volunteer Program
Teens entering grades 9–12 complete a five-week service-learning placement supporting the zoo's conservation-focused summer camp. The position is volunteer rather than paid employment.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveCalifornia Academy of SciencesCareers in Science Intern Program
Multi-year, year-round paid internship involving hands-on science, field research, STEM education, professional development and public engagement at the Academy.
📍 CA🎓 Grades 9–10 - ModerateCEICaretakers of the Environment International
Annual international youth conference on environmental research and projects.
📍 Varies (International)⏱ 1 week📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveChesapeake Bay FoundationChesapeake Bay Foundation Student Leadership Program
High-school students join a year-round leadership network, attend primarily virtual monthly meetings, participate in advocacy and conservation events, and design an evidence-based environmental action project.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateChesapeake Bay FoundationChesapeake Connections & Actions
Students investigate environmental challenges in rivers, marshes, farmland, and Bay communities while developing advocacy and environmental-leadership skills.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveField Museum / Youth Conservation Action partnersChicago Green Ambassadors Program
Paid youth interns explore environmental issues affecting Chicago communities and connect residents with neighborhood green spaces through conservation and community-engagement work. It particularly serves youth from several South and West Side neighborhoods.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateUniversity of Nevada, Reno College of EngineeringCivil and Environmental Engineering Camp by J-U-B Engineers
Students work on civil and environmental engineering activities; UNR highlights hands-on work such as designing water filters to purify drinking water.
📍 NV🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveMassachusetts Clean Energy CenterClean Energy Internship Program — High School Vocational Track
Eligible Massachusetts vocational-technical high-school students can obtain paid internships with clean-energy and water-innovation employers during the academic year and summer.
📍 MA🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveClemson UniversityClemson CAFLS Summer Program (SPECTRA)
A residential program for diverse students to explore agriculture and natural resource careers at Clemson.
📍 Clemson, SC⏱ 1 week📅 April 15🎓 Grades 10–12 - ModerateNorth Carolina Museum of Natural SciencesClimate Resilience Camp
Students investigate climate change, resilience and environmental solutions through field and laboratory activities.
📍 NC🎓 Grades 9–11 - ModerateLouisiana State UniversityCoast and Environmental Sciences Camp
Students collect environmental samples in the field, analyze them in LSU laboratories, visit conservation/research sites, and examine issues including microplastics, pollution, hypoxia, and coastal ecosystems.
📍 LA🎓 Grades 10–12 - ModerateAuburn UniversityCoastal Fisheries Camp
Five-day marine-science program featuring field and laboratory work, water sampling, plankton studies, salt-marsh ecology, marine-species identification, and research-vessel experiences.
📍 AL🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveChicago Botanic GardenCollege First
CPS sophomores and juniors participate in a seven-week paid summer experience that combines environmental coursework with a mentored scientific investigation, field trips, and college preparation. School-year follow-up opportunities are also provided.
📍 IL🎓 Grades 11–12 - Highly SelectiveColumbus Zoo and AquariumColumbus Zoo Teen Conservation Field Experiences
High-school students conduct immersive wildlife and conservation field studies while meeting conservation professionals and exploring environmental careers.
📍 OH🎓 Eligibility not confirmed - SelectiveUniversity of North Dakota / Williston Basin CTE CenterCONNECT Energy Education Workshop
Juniors and seniors explore engineering and energy careers through hands-on activities with UND and regional energy professionals.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 11–12 - ModerateConnecticut STEM FoundationConnecticut STEM Fair
Students submit completed scientific research or research proposals in health, physical, environmental and behavioral-science categories and defend their work live before judges.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveConnecticut's Beardsley ZooConservation Discovery Corps
Year-long teen volunteer program combining field-conservation research, zoological career exploration and public conservation education.
📍 CT🎓 Grades 9–12 - Highly SelectiveUniversity of CaliforniaCOSMOS
UC residential STEM program. Need-based fee waivers cover full cost for qualifying families.
📍 CA⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human ResilienceCTAHR Summer Research Institute
Eight-week program where students conduct original faculty-mentored laboratory, field or library research addressing food systems, sustainability, community resilience and related problems, then present at a research symposium.
📍 HI🎓 Grades 10–12 - ModerateDakota ZooDakota Zoo Crew
Teen volunteers serve as camp mentors, conservation educators and junior zookeepers while completing structured zoo service.
📍 ND🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveDelaware Department of EducationDelaware ArcGIS StoryMap Competition
Students use maps, data, images and narrative to investigate a real issue. The 2026 high-school theme focused on sustainability challenges in students' communities.
📍 DE🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateMontana Learning CenterDinosaur Camp
Six-day residential paleontology experience where students work at active Hell Creek Formation fossil sites with professionals, learning excavation, documentation and fossil preservation.
📍 MT🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveU.S. Department of EnergyDOE STEM Rising / SCEP
Paid internships across the 17 DOE national laboratories.
📍 Multiple national labs (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 8-10 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 Grades 11–12 - Highly SelectiveDuke UniversityDuke Marine Lab Community Science Program
A hands-on summer research program at the Duke University Marine Lab focusing on ocean science and environmental justice.
📍 Beaufort, NC⏱ 2 weeks📅 April🎓 Grades 10–11 - SelectiveUniversity of PennsylvaniaEarth Science Academy
High school students delve into topics like climate change, natural hazards, and sustainable resources.
📍 Multiple🎓 Eligibility not confirmed - ModerateUMBCEarth Science with Satellite Imagery
Students examine Earth-science questions using satellite imagery.
📍 MD🎓 Grades 9–12