15 Best Environmental Science Summer Programs for High School Students
If you’re a high school student interested in environmental science, summer is the perfect time to dive deeper into science, sustainability, and policy. Many of the best environmental science summer programs for high school students combine lab research, fieldwork, and mentorship, empowering you with skills that go beyond the classroom.
You can explore water quality, restore habitats, or study the effects of climate change on local ecosystems. The best environmental science summer programs for high school students help you practice critical skills like scientific writing, teamwork, and data analysis.
Some of the best environmental science summer programs for high school students focus on ecological field studies, while others emphasize technology, public health, or engineering. Below, we’ve compiled 15 of the best environmental science summer programs for high school students to help you choose the right fit.
15 Best Environmental Science Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Brown Environmental Leadership Labs (BELL)
Location: Multiple sessions in Alaska, Florida Keys, Eastern Sierras (California) and the Brown University campus in Rhode Island
Cost: Varies as per program between $4,504 to $7,306 + $65 -$100 application fee; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate: Competitive
Dates: Varies as per location; more details here
Application Deadline: May 9
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Brown Environmental Leadership Labs (BELL) program is an immersive summer experience designed for high school students passionate about the environment and leadership. BELL weaves together coursework and outdoor fieldwork, focusing on pressing topics such as climate science, ecological sustainability, environmental policy, and social justice. You will participate in hands-on activities such as ecological field research, team-based sustainability projects, guided hikes through diverse ecosystems, and interactive workshops with local experts. You will also have an opportunity to develop and present an action plan for a real-world environmental issue. The program equips you with the tools to become change agents in your communities.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies depending on program type; financial aid is available / no stipend
Acceptance rate: Around 10-25%
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Summer (June–August)
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort; apply here
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can commit 10–20 hours/week
Ladder Internships places you with start-ups across industries such as clean energy, health tech, AI/ML, marketing, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are dynamic, often having raised substantial funding, with founders from top accelerators like YCombinator and companies like Google, Microsoft, and Facebook. You’ll work on real projects with direct guidance from your manager and support from a dedicated Ladder Coach. You’ll gain internship experience in a fast-paced start-up environment while developing professional skills in research, communication, and project execution. Each placement is designed to give you exposure to industry practices while allowing you to make meaningful contributions to the company. The program also emphasizes mentorship and collaboration, helping you understand how start-ups operate and scale.
3. University of Pennsylvania – Teen Research and Education in Environmental Science (TREES)
Location: Philadelphia, PA – In-person
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate: Extremely selective
Dates: June 30 – August 8
Application Deadline: Typically February
Eligibility: Local high school students in grades 9–11 | Minimum 3.0 GPA
TREES is a six-week program combining lab instruction, fieldwork, and independent research in environmental science and public health. You will design a research project under the guidance of a mentor, learning how to plan experiments, collect data, and present findings. You will complete a full research project from start to finish and present your results at a final showcase. The curriculum covers toxicology, water quality, and environmental monitoring, along with field trips for hands-on sampling. This mix of lab and field experience helps you build both technical and analytical skills while working directly with faculty and graduate students. The program encourages students from underrepresented groups to apply.
4. Lumiere Research Scholar Program – Environmental Studies Track
Location: Remote
Cost: Varies as per program type; full financial aid is available
Acceptance rate: Highly selective
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year; Summer I: June 2; Summer II: July 14
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort; Summer I: May 11; Summer II: June 23
Eligibility: Currently enrolled in high school | Must demonstrate a high level of academic achievement (Note: accepted students have an unweighted GPA of 3.3 out of 4)
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program pairs you one-on-one with a Ph.D. mentor to guide you through a 12-week independent project. The Environmental Studies track lets you work one-on-one with a PhD mentor to explore topics like climate policy, conservation, and sustainability. You’ll design a research question, conduct literature reviews, and draft a paper that could be submitted to a journal or competition. You will produce an independent research project that demonstrates both academic depth and practical application. Alongside your mentor, you’ll gain exposure to research methodology, data interpretation, and academic writing. The program isn’t run by a university, but completing it may make you eligible to receive UCSD credit. Apply here.
5. University of Chicago – Young Innovators Climate & Energy Program
Location: Chicago, IL – In-person
Cost: $2,500; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate: Extremely selective
Dates: July 13 – 18
Application Deadline: April 15 (Rolling applications after this date)
Eligibility: Current high school students who are in the 11th grade | Must be at least 15 years old
This one-week residential summer program is designed for high school students passionate about addressing climate change and energy sustainability. It introduces you to the science and economics of energy and climate challenges through lectures, case studies, and team projects. You’ll learn how policies like carbon taxes or renewable energy credits shape energy use and emissions. You’ll collaborate in small teams to design your own policy proposal or technical solution for a climate-related issue. The program also provides exposure to energy datasets, climate models, and regulatory frameworks. By the end, you’ll not only understand climate science but also see how data and policy interact in decision-making.
6. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Local placements across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico
Stipend: $3,000 + travel expenses for summit
Acceptance rate: Highly competitive
Dates: June – August (8 weeks)
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are at least 16 years old
The Hutton Program is an eight-week paid internship where you’ll work alongside fisheries scientists to study aquatic ecosystems. You’ll collect field data, analyze water quality, and learn techniques such as electrofishing and habitat surveys. You’ll gain fieldwork experience while contributing to real conservation and fisheries management efforts. This program also enables you to understand how fisheries scientists measure the effects of climate change on aquatic life. You will also attend the Hutton Scholars Summit, where you will present projects and connect with professionals. This program is especially valuable if you’re considering careers in environmental science, aquatic biology, or natural resource management.
7. Student Conservation Association (SCA) Internships
Location: Various sites across the U.S.
Stipend: Travel allowance + weekly living stipend; some positions include housing
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: Varies by role (typically 3–5 weeks in summer)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students between ages 15 and 19
The Student Conservation Association (SCA) is a non-profit organization that offers a wide range of hands-on, conservation-focused internships and service opportunities for high school and college students, as well as young adults. They place you on conservation projects in national parks, forests, and community green spaces. Depending on your assignment, you might restore habitats, monitor species, or lead sustainability-focused education activities. You’ll work directly on conservation initiatives while building teamwork and leadership skills. Each placement emphasizes practical fieldwork and ecological stewardship. For younger students, shorter youth programs offer similar experiences adapted to high school schedules.
8. RISE Environmentor Research Mentorship Program
Location: Rockaway Beach, Far Rockaway, NY
Stipend: Up to $1,200
Acceptance rate: Extremely selective
Dates: June – mid-August
Application Deadline: Typically May
Eligibility: 9th–11th grade students living in NYC and attending school in or near the Rockaway peninsula | Students who attended Shore Corps in the fall and spring will be prioritized
The Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity (RISE) Research Mentorship Program is a paid, hands-on research opportunity for high school students in New York City's Rockaway Peninsula and adjacent neighborhoods. It pairs high school students with environmental scientists to study coastal ecosystems in New York. You’ll design and complete a mentored research project on issues such as erosion, marine pollution, or stormwater runoff. You’ll present your findings at a final showcase while gaining experience in scientific research and fieldwork. The program also includes outdoor exploration, water safety training, and CPR certification. With its local focus, RISE helps you understand how sustainability challenges affect coastal communities.
9. Conservation Corps North Carolina – Youth Conservation Crews
Location: Sites across North Carolina
Stipend: $15/hour
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: 3–6 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: North Carolina high school students ages 15–18
The Conservation Corps North Carolina (CCNC) Youth Conservation Crews is a program that engages young people in meaningful, hands-on conservation work across North Carolina. It offers field-based training in conservation through small crew projects across the state. You’ll work on trail construction, invasive species removal, erosion control, and habitat restoration. You’ll spend your summer outdoors applying ecological knowledge to hands-on conservation projects. Some crews are day-based, while others camp overnight in forest sites such as Uwharrie National Forest. The experience emphasizes both environmental stewardship and collaboration within small teams, and is designed to empower youth by giving them practical skills and fostering a connection to the environment.
10. Alley Pond Environmental Center – Field Biology Internship (FBI)
Location: Alley Pond Park, Douglaston, NY
Cost: $150 participation fee; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate: Low selectivity
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year such as Fall, Spring, Summer; Summer cohort: July 3 – August 7
Application Deadline: Varies as per cohort; Summer - May 1
Eligibility: Currently enrolled high school students | At least 14 years old
This five-week internship introduces you to field biology and ecological monitoring within one of New York City’s most biodiverse park systems. You’ll conduct biodiversity surveys, analyze soil and water samples, and support habitat restoration. You’ll gain direct experience in ecological research and conservation practices within an urban environment. The program also teaches standard sampling techniques, giving you skills applicable to both academic and community-based environmental work. You will contribute to ongoing restoration projects such as planting native species and removing invasives. These hands-on experiences make the program especially valuable for students considering environmental science or ecology in college.
11. Wildlife Conservation Society – Bronx Zoo Project TRUE
Location: Bronx, NY
Stipend: $750 + MetroCard or $16/hour via SYEP in summer; approximately $350 in fall
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: Summer and Fall programs available; Summer: Late June – August
Application Deadline: Typically early March
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors who are Bronx residents
Project TRUE (Teens Researching Urban Ecology) is a paid, summer research and youth development program for high school students run by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) at the Bronx Zoo in partnership with Fordham University. It trains students in urban ecology research through fieldwork in New York City parks. You’ll collect data on wildlife, conduct vegetation surveys, and study water quality using professional field protocols. You’ll develop research and analysis skills while working alongside scientists and university partners. In summer, the focus is on active fieldwork, while fall emphasizes data interpretation and presentations. The program also includes career exploration in environmental science.
12. UCLA Environmental Engineering Summer Institute
Location: Los Angeles, CA – In-person (commuter only)
Cost: $2,741; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: June 23 – July 3
Application Deadline: June 13
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 | At least 15 years old by the program’s start
The UCLA Environmental Engineering Summer Institute is a two-week, commuter-based program for high school students that offers research experience focused on the intersection of environmental justice and community health. It examines how environmental exposures affect communities through lab and field-based projects. You might test coastal water for antimicrobial resistance or analyze soil from urban gardens. You’ll learn environmental sampling techniques and explore connections between pollution, poverty, and public health. The program highlights environmental justice while providing training in laboratory methods and data analysis. Projects emphasize both scientific investigation and their impact on communities.
13. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health – Summer Institute in Environmental Health and Engineering
Location: East Baltimore, MD (housing available)
Cost: $1,429 per credit
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: Late May – Mid June (courses range from 1 day to 2 weeks)
Application Deadline: May 24
Eligibility: All high school students and non-degree learners
The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health – Summer Institute in Environmental Health and Engineering is an academic program designed to provide students with in-depth exposure to critical environmental health topics and engineering principles. It offers intensive courses in environmental science, occupational health, and public safety. You’ll take classes such as “Environmental Health” or “Drinking Water and Water Policy” led by faculty from the Bloomberg School. You’ll study how environmental exposures affect human health at both individual and population levels. You can choose credit or non-credit formats and receive transcripts or certificates. The short course structure allows you to explore specialized topics in depth.
14. Stanford Pre-College Summer Institute – Chemical & Environmental Engineering
Location: Remote
Cost $3,080; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate: Not specified
Dates: Session 1: June 17 – 28 | Session 2: July 8 – 19
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-11 at time of application
The Stanford Pre-College Summer Institute – Chemical & Environmental Engineering is an online program for high school students that provides an interactive and in-depth exploration of fundamental engineering principles. This online course introduces you to engineering principles applied to sustainability and chemical processes. You’ll learn how to model energy systems, apply mass balances, and design processes for environmental challenges like CO₂ reduction or wastewater treatment. You’ll complete collaborative problem-solving projects that connect engineering theory with real sustainability applications. Classes include live sessions, group work, and a final project presentation. By the program’s end, you’ll understand how chemical and environmental engineering contribute to solving global issues.
15. Environmental Studies Summer Youth Institute (ESSYI)
Location: Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY
Cost: $3,900; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate: Selective
Dates: July 13 – 26
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until filled
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Environmental Studies Summer Youth Institute (ESSYI) is an intensive two-week college-level program that offers an interdisciplinary approach to tackling environmental issues. You will earn one college credit while exploring scientific, social, political, and ethical dimensions of environmental topics. The program includes field trips to the Adirondack region, where you will engage in activities like biodiversity documentation, natural system monitoring, and environmental problem analysis. Collaboration is a key aspect, with students working closely alongside peers, faculty, and college mentors through research methodologies, group projects, and problem-based learning exercises. ESSYI’s curriculum focuses on environmental systems thinking and prepares you for advanced college coursework in sustainability and ecology.
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