15 Prestigious Environmental Science Internships for High School Students
Environmental science internships give high school students a chance to move beyond the classroom and engage directly with some of the most pressing challenges of our time, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, sustainable energy, and environmental policy. These experiences help you develop critical research, data analysis, and problem-solving skills while working alongside scientists, conservationists, and policymakers.
What do environmental science internships for high school students include? What will I do as an intern?
Across the U.S., many organizations, universities, and research centers offer prestigious environmental science internships that allow you to explore fields like ecology, marine biology, environmental engineering, and sustainability. Whether you’re collecting water samples, designing eco-tech solutions, or analyzing satellite data, these programs immerse you in hands-on projects that make a real impact.
To help you get started, here’s a curated list of 15 prestigious environmental science internships for high school students.
P.S. If you want to explore more in this space, 15 Paid Environmental Science Internships for High School Students is a direct companion — especially useful if getting paid matters to you. And 14 Prestigious STEM Internships for High School Students is worth a look if you want to widen your search across STEM fields.
1. Student Conservation Association (SCA) Internships
Location: Various sites across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Some positions are paid or offer stipends; some include room & board
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by specific opportunity
Dates: Duration varies—many sessions span 2–5 weeks in summer; some opportunities are year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling basis
Eligibility: For the paid internship, you have to be at least 18 years old; there are youth programs (for those 18 and younger) available as well
The SCA Join the Crew initiative offers high school students meaningful, hands-on conservation experiences in natural and urban environments across the U.S. You will work with crews on projects such as habitat restoration, trail building, invasive-species removal, wildlife monitoring, and community-based green initiatives. Under the supervision of experienced leaders, interns develop skills in outdoor work, teamwork, environmental stewardship, and job readiness. Some placements include fully funded field expeditions, housing, and stipend support, while others provide academic credit or community service hours.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies by program type
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort. Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November)
Eligibility: Students who can work for 10-20 hours/week, for 8-12 weeks. Open to high school students, undergraduates, and gap year students
Ladder Internships connects students with fast-growing startups across sectors like clean energy, health tech, AI/ML, marketing, and more. Many of these startups are led by founders from top accelerators such as Y Combinator or from companies like Google, Microsoft, and Meta, and have raised significant funding. During the internship, you’ll work on real-world projects under the supervision of a startup manager and with additional mentorship from a Ladder Coach. The program offers firsthand experience in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment, helping you build skills in research, communication, and project management. Designed to balance learning with impact, it provides insight into how startups innovate and scale while emphasizing collaboration and mentorship.
3. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Various sites across the U.S., Canada, Mexico & Puerto Rico
Cost/Stipend: $3,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Typically June-August
Application Deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors who will be 16+ by internship start
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program offers high school students a paid, 8-week summer internship under the mentorship of a professional fisheries scientist. You will work on real field or laboratory projects in marine or freshwater settings, tasks might include fish population surveys, habitat restoration, snorkeling, electrofishing, data processing, and public-education assistance. Through the experience, you’ll gain exposure to aquatic science, build research and teamwork skills, and deepen your understanding of careers in environmental and fisheries biology.
4. Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area | Clean Water Ambassadors Internships
Location: Seattle, WA
Cost/Stipend: $20/hour stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: July 7–August 7
Application Deadline: April 21
Eligibility: High school students at least 16 years old by program start
The Clean Water Ambassadors Internship trains high-school students in watershed science and community outreach. During the term, you will learn sampling methods, water-quality testing, and habitat assessment techniques while working alongside environmental scientists and field staff. You’ll spend most days in the field collecting data from streams and urban waterways, then analyze results and help translate findings into public-facing materials like presentations or outreach events. At the end of this prestigious environmental science internship for high school students, you’ll present your data and recommendations to partner agencies, gaining real experience in applied conservation and civic environmental stewardship.
5. Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity (RISE) Research Mentorship Program| Environmentor
Location: 58-03 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Far Rockaway, NY
Cost/Stipend: $1,200
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Offered from January (after-school program) then full-time summer research from June through mid-August
Application Deadline: Generally in May
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9-11, residing in or attending school near the Rockaway peninsula in New York City
The Environmentor Internship at RISE engages high school students in authentic environmental research on the Rockaway shoreline and Jamaica Bay ecosystem. Beginning with after-school sessions during the spring semester, you will participate once a week to learn field research techniques and ecological monitoring. During the summer, you will do full-time field and lab work, four days a week, under the mentorship of scientists and researchers. Activities include water quality monitoring, salt-marsh ecology studies, kayaking, biking, surfing, and preparing a formal research presentation or poster at the end of the internship.
6. University of Chicago – Young Innovators Climate & Energy Program
Location: Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: $2,500 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: July 13–18
Application Deadline: April 15- May 15 (Rolling applications after this date)
Eligibility: 11th grade students, who are at least 15 years old
This 1-week residential program brings high school juniors to the University of Chicago for an intensive deep-dive into climate science, energy policy, and sustainable growth. You’ll attend lectures and seminars from leading faculty in the university’s Energy Policy Institute (EPIC), participate in group projects tackling real-world climate and energy challenges, and visit industry partners like Invenergy in Chicago for panel discussions and site tours. The residential format includes campus life, excursions around Chicago, and mentorship designed to spark careers in climate and energy innovation. Throughout the week, you’ll build critical thinking, teamwork, and communication skills while exploring how STEM, policy and business intersect in the energy transition.
7. Conservation Corps North Carolina – Youth Conservation Crews
Location: Sites across North Carolina
Cost/Stipend: No cost to apply, stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Crews consist of 4-6 members and 2 leaders, typically
Dates: Sessions run from June through August, typically lasting 3-6 weeks
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 15-18, North Carolina residents
The CCNC Youth Conservation Crews program engages students in hands-on environmental work across North Carolina. Through small team projects, you will gain field-based conservation training while working on trail construction, erosion control, invasive species removal, and habitat restoration. Depending on the crew, you may return home each day or camp overnight in locations such as Uwharrie National Forest. This prestigious environmental science program for high school students emphasizes teamwork, environmental stewardship, and practical skill-building, offering an immersive outdoor experience that fosters both personal growth and a deeper connection to nature.
8. Wildlife Conservation Society – Bronx Zoo Project TRUE
Location: Bronx, NY
Cost/Stipend: $750 or $16/hour via SYEP if eligible to work with WCS’s authorized provider; $350 stipend in fall
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Summer and Fall programs available
Application Deadline: Typically in March
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors who are Bronx residents
Project TRUE is a paid summer research and youth development program led by the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo in collaboration with Fordham University. Designed for high school students, this prestigious environmental science internship for high school students teaches urban ecology through hands-on fieldwork in New York City parks. You will collect and analyze data on local wildlife, vegetation, and water quality using professional research methods. The summer focuses on active field research, while the fall term shifts to data analysis and presentation. In addition to research experience, participants also explore potential careers in environmental science and conservation.
9. Alley Pond Environmental Center – Field Biology Internship (FBI)
Location: Queens, NY
Cost/Stipend: $150 participation fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Fall: September 27–November 1 | Spring: March 14–May 2 | Summer: June 30–August 4
Application Deadline: Fall - August 1st | Spring - January 2nd | Summer - May 1st
Eligibility: High school students aged 14+; able to commit minimum 2 hours in outdoor activities
This5 -week internship introduces students to field biology and ecological monitoring within New York City’s park systems – some of the most biodiverse urban habitats in the region. You will conduct biodiversity surveys, test soil and water samples, and assist with habitat restoration projects. You’ll learn standard ecological sampling techniques while contributing to real conservation efforts like planting native species and removing invasives. The experience provides a strong foundation for students interested in pursuing environmental science or ecology in college.
10. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health – Summer Institute in Environmental Health and Engineering
Location: East Baltimore, MD
Cost/Stipend: $1,429 per credit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 1 day to 2-week sessions in late May to June
Application Deadline: May 22
Eligibility: All high school students and non-degree learners
This academic program from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health gives students an in-depth introduction to environmental science, health, and engineering. You’ll take short, intensive courses—such as Environmental Health or Drinking Water and Water Policy—taught by university faculty. Coursework examines how environmental exposures affect health on individual and societal levels, while integrating engineering approaches to prevention and safety. You can choose between credit and non-credit options, and you will receive a transcript or certificate upon completion. The program’s short format allows for focused study of specialized environmental health topics.
11. 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 $4,708 to $7,642
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
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 offers a fully immersive summer experience for high school students interested in environmental issues and leadership development. Blending academic study with outdoor exploration, the program covers key themes like climate science, sustainability, environmental policy, and social justice. You’ll take part in hands-on activities such as ecological fieldwork, group sustainability projects, guided hikes, and workshops led by local experts. A major component of the program is creating and presenting an action plan that addresses a real environmental challenge. By the end, you’ll gain practical skills and confidence to lead environmental initiatives in your own community.
12. NOAA Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassador Program
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Year-long program, January through December, with monthly virtual meetings.
Application Deadline: January 4
Eligibility:Youth aged 13–18 from anywhere in the United States or U.S. territories.
As an Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassador, you join a national network of 13–18-year-olds committed to ocean conservation and climate awareness. Over the course of the year, you participate in monthly virtual webinars led by experts, learning about marine ecosystems, climate threats, the U.S. marine sanctuary system, and how human actions impact oceans. You then design and lead a conservation or stewardship project in your community – from beach cleanups and plastic-reduction campaigns, to school-based awareness drives or environmental clubs – with support and resources provided by program staff. Throughout the program you track your project’s impact, engage with peers across the U.S., and build skills in leadership, communication, environmental science, and project management.
13. Environmental Studies Summer Youth Institute (ESSYI)
Location: Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY
Cost/Stipend: ESSYI tuition costs $3000 + $500 deposit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 50
Dates: July 12–25
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions until filled
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Environmental Studies Summer Youth Institute is a 2-week, college-level program that takes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding environmental challenges. You will earn one college credit while exploring the scientific, social, political, and ethical dimensions of sustainability. This prestigious environmental science internship for high school students features field excursions to the Adirondacks, where you will document biodiversity, monitor natural systems, and analyze environmental issues. Collaboration is central to ESSYI, you will work closely with peers, faculty, and mentors on research, group projects, and problem-solving exercises. The curriculum emphasizes systems thinking and prepares participants for advanced college studies in ecology and environmental science.
14. Northwest Youth Corps – Youth Community Program
Location: Various community sites in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.
Cost/Stipend: $200 tuition fee, you can earn up to $2,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June–August
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis
Eligibility: Youth who are between the ages of 15 and 18
The Youth Community Program is a non-residential, day program for teens aged 15 to 18, focused on conservation and community service. Under the supervision of trained field staff, you will complete daily service projects such as trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and urban greening, while returning home each evening. Crews meet Monday through Friday, working about 6.5 hours per day and spending an additional hour in educational lessons. You will earn a stipend and may also receive high school credit. The program fosters teamwork, leadership, and environmental awareness while encouraging civic engagement and stewardship of local ecosystems.
15. College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences - Young Scholars Internship Program (YSP)
Location: University of Georgia (Athens, Griffin or Tifton campus)
Cost/Stipend: Stipend paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1–July 7: Internship Program | July 8–10: Young Scholars Pre-Collegiate Research Conference
Application Deadline: January 23
Eligibility: Completion of sophomore year in high school and be a first-time participant in the program, 16 years old by the program start dat
The Young Scholars Program is a 5-week, paid summer research internship for high school students interested in agriculture, food, or environmental sciences. You will work 30 hours per week on faculty-led research projects at UGA’s Athens, Griffin, or Tifton campuses. In addition to lab and field work, you will attend workshops and tour agricultural facilities to explore related careers. The program concludes with the Young Scholars Pre-Collegiate Research Conference, where students present their findings during a poster session, gaining professional experience in scientific communication and research.
Image source - Student Conservation Association logo