14 Summer Climate Internships for High School Students
If you are a high school student interested in exploring climate issues and science, a summer internship can be a worthwhile way to explore the field. Summer climate internships for high school students offer experience in fields such as environmental conservation, sustainability research, climate advocacy, and ecological restoration. These programs offer meaningful responsibilities, professional mentorship, and insight into how environmental organizations address climate-related challenges. Through structured internships, you can develop research, communication, and project management skills while contributing to climate action.
Why should I participate in a summer climate internship in high school?
If you're interested in strengthening your resume and exploring environmental career pathways, a summer climate internship can help you identify the causes that matter most to you while enhancing your college applications. An internship shows college admissions officers that you’re invested in climate issues and have the drive to contribute to change. Many summer climate internships for high school students are hosted by conservation organizations, research institutions, and nonprofits, giving you the opportunity to work alongside professionals who can provide mentorship and guidance.
To help you get started, we've put together 14 summer climate internships for high school students, featuring both remote and in-person options across the United States.
1. Alliance for Climate Education (ACE) Internships
Location: Remote
Cost/Stipend: Varies; stipend often provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Year-round with dedicated summer projects
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 - 18 years
The Alliance for Climate Education offers internships focused on climate communication, advocacy, and digital youth engagement. Internships often involve researching climate topics and drafting educational materials that connect science to issues of justice and equity. As an intern, you may contribute to projects such as social media content creation, digital storytelling, and community outreach campaigns. These roles place you at the intersection of climate science and public engagement, where your work supports campaigns designed to create awareness. You develop your unique voice as an advocate and learn how to mobilize communities for climate action.
2. Ladder Internship Program
Location: Remote (you can work from anywhere in the world)
Cost/Stipend: Varies according to program (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive selection process
Dates: Multiple cohorts throughout the year, including spring, summer, fall, and winter.
Application Deadline: Deadlines vary depending on the cohort – spring (January), summer (May), fall (September), and winter (November).
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 8 - 12 weeks, devoting 10 - 20 hours/week
Ladder Internships is a selective start-up internship program that places ambitious high school students with high-growth startups across a variety of industries, including tech/deep tech, AI/ML, health tech, marketing, journalism, consulting, and more. Ladder’s start-ups are high-growth companies raising over a million dollars in funding. In the program, interns work closely with their managers and a ladder coach on real-world projects. The virtual internship runs for 8 weeks and concludes with a final presentation where students present their work to the company. Apply now!
3. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Various sites across the U.S. (within commuting distance)
Cost/Stipend: $3,000 as stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; 32 - 33 students
Dates: 8 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: January 19
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors or seniors | 16+ years old
In the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program, students spend eight weeks working directly with a fisheries professional mentor. Your work may include fish population surveys, habitat assessments, water quality monitoring, and restoration projects in freshwater or marine environments. You will learn how fisheries science is applied in the field and how aquatic ecosystems are managed during times of environmental stress. Many projects address how climate change affects water temperatures, river flows, and the aquatic species distribution. You learn how scientific data is used to make conservation and management decisions.
4. Conservation Corps North Carolina Youth Crews
Location: Various sites across North Carolina
Stipend: $15 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified; 4 - 6 youth members per crew
Dates: 3 - 6 weeks during June, July, and August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 15 - 18 years who are residents of North Carolina
Through Youth Conservation Crews at Conservation Corps North Carolina, students spend the summer working on projects that improve parks, forests, and community green spaces. You join a small team of peers led by a crew leader to complete tasks such as trail building, invasive plant removal, and habitat restoration. The work supports healthier ecosystems and helps landscapes adapt to climate change by improving forest resilience and maintaining carbon-absorbing spaces. Alongside fieldwork, you gain hands-on experience with conservation practices and learn how land management connects to broader global climate challenges. Some crews camp at project sites while others operate as day crews.
5. NASA OSTEM Gateway Internships
Location: Various NASA facilities across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided based on academic level
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive
Dates: 10 weeks from early June to August
Application Deadline: February 27 (for summer sessions)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens | 16+ years old | minimum GPA of 3.0
NASA's STEM Gateway offers internships focused on earth science and environmental systems. Many opportunities connect directly to climate change, such as analyzing urban heat islands, coastal impacts, and the development of climate education tools. You will work alongside NASA scientists on investigations utilizing satellite data to understand how our planet is changing over time. You gain technical skills in data analysis while contributing to national climate research. The program provides exposure to the methods researchers use to track environmental shifts and predict future climate trends.
6. Clean Water Ambassadors Internship
Location: Seattle, WA
Stipend: $20 per hour
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Approximately 30 interns
Dates: July 7 - August 7
Application Deadline: April 21
Eligibility: High school-aged youth at least 16 years old by program start
The Clean Water Ambassadors Internship is a summer program where students learn how water systems connect to broader climate and environmental challenges. During the internship, you take part in field activities such as stream monitoring, watersheds exploration, and visiting treatment facilities to understand the maintenance of clean water. You will work on communications projects, supported by interviews and educational materials that highlight the importance of protecting water resources. This combination of outdoor and office work shows how climate change affects water quality and how local communities can adapt. The program connects science with public engagement to highlight clean water as an important component of climate resilience.
7. UGA Young Scholars Internship Program (YSP)
Location: University of Georgia (Athens, Griffin, or Tifton)
Cost/Stipend: Stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: About 25 students
Dates: June 1 - July 7 (internship); July 8 - 10 (conference)
Application Deadline: January 30
Eligibility: Sophomores, juniors, or seniors who are 16+ years old and have completed one science lab course
The UGA CAES Young Scholars Internship is a summer program in agriculture, environmental science, and sustainability. Guided by faculty mentors, you conduct experiments in laboratories and field sites, analyzing data that contribute to ongoing university research projects. You will prepare professional presentations and research posters to share your findings at a final pre-collegiate conference. Through your work, you explore how climate change impacts ecosystems and agriculture, connecting scientific inquiry with modern environmental challenges. The internship combines practical research experience with critical thinking and problem-solving.
8. Environmentor – RISE Rockaway
Location: Far Rockaway, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; up to a $1,200 stipend provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 12 - 15 students
Dates: June - mid-August
Application Deadline: Typically, May
Eligibility: 9th - 11th-grade students living in NYC and attending school near Rockaway
The Environmentor program allows you to conduct scientific research along the Rockaway shoreline under the guidance of university scientists. As a participant, you design and execute projects focused on flood monitoring, microplastic pollution, or the local salt marsh health. In addition to research, you will participate in workshops and outdoor activities such as kayaking and surfing to build a deeper connection to the coastal environment. You are part of the RISE community service events and earn community service hours for your efforts. You address local climate vulnerabilities while developing professional research and data collection skills.
9. Wave Hill Forest Project
Location: Bronx, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; approx. $2,275 stipend provided through NYC SYEP
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: July 1 - August 16
Application Deadline: February 27
Eligibility: NYC residents | 16+ years old | enrolled in high school
The Wave Hill Forest Project is a paid summer internship focused on urban ecology and the role of green spaces in mitigating climate change. As part of this program, you work in woodland areas on tasks such as removing invasive species and stabilizing slopes to help urban ecosystems handle environmental stress. In addition to fieldwork, you will complete an accredited, college-level course in ecology that connects scientific concepts with the restoration work you are doing outdoors. The program includes field trips and peer collaboration, giving you a broader perspective on how cities manage natural resources. You earn a stipend while gaining both college credit and practical environmental science experience.
10. Northwest Youth Corps – Youth Community Program
Location: Oregon, Washington, and Idaho
Cost/Stipend: $200 tuition (financial aid available) | $480 per week (plus bonus potential)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective (on a first-come basis)
Dates: June - August (multiple 5-week sessions)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 15 and 18 years
The Northwest Youth Corps Community Program is a conservation initiative where you contribute to projects that address environmental challenges related to climate change. You take part in activities such as planting trees to support carbon absorption and reducing wildfire fuels to lower climate-related fire risks. Each day includes an educational session covering topics on environmental stewardship, teamwork, and natural resource management. You collaborate with peers on projects that require coordination and problem-solving. The program follows a day schedule, allowing you to return home each evening after completing hands-on service in your local community.
11. Climate Cardinals Internship
Location: Primarily remote
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not selective; large cohorts
Dates: Varies; flexible throughout the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Participants of all ages (high school students encouraged)
The Climate Cardinals program engages you in translating critical climate change information into more than 100 languages to expand scientific knowledge globally. The program emphasizes global teamwork and communication as you work with mentors and peers across different countries. You collaborate with a network of volunteers to convert complex reports and resources into clear, understandable content for diverse communities. This work helps to close language gaps that often prevent people from accessing vital information about climate challenges and local adaptation solutions. You may contribute to regional chapters that adapt materials for specific audiences, ensuring the content is culturally relevant.
12. Climate Leaders Fellowship
Location: Virtual (with an optional in-person summit)
Cost/Stipend: Pay-what-you-want model (scholarships available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Maximum 200 students worldwide
Dates: Varies; summer sessions typically from June to August
Application Deadline: Early June (for summer)
Eligibility: High school students aged 14 - 18 years
This program is designed for high school students who want to address climate change within their own communities. The fellowship emphasizes turning climate science into meaningful, community-based action. It covers topics on climate science fundamentals, environmental justice, and sustainable action strategies. Throughout the program, you engage in live group sessions and develop a capstone project that addresses an environmental issue in your hometown. You gain skills in leadership, project management, and public speaking while collaborating with peers from around the world.
13. Student Conservation Association (SCA) Conservation Crew
Location: Various agency sites across the U.S.
Cost/Stipend: None (food and housing costs are covered)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; 6 - 8 members per crew
Dates: June - August (varies depending on specific placement)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students between the ages of 15 and 19 years
The Student Conservation Association's Join the Crew program places students in conservation projects alongside peers and experienced crew leaders. You will focus on tasks such as trail maintenance, restoring habitats, and supporting community green spaces to improve local climate resilience. Depending on your specific project placement, you may work outdoors in national parks, forests, or urban areas. The program introduces you to professional environmental practices, project planning, and teamwork in rigorous conservation settings. You follow structured schedules and gain exposure to field tools and ecological knowledge commonly used in environmental careers.
14. Earthwatch Girls in Science Fellowship
Location: Various sites in California
Cost/Stipend: Free (fully funded)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive; approximately 70 students previously
Dates: July 12 - 19 or August 2 - 9
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Female/nonbinary sophomores or juniors living in CA or attending Rex Putnam HS (OR)
The Earthwatch Girls in Science Fellowship is a fully funded program that allows you to work alongside women scientists on environmental research projects addressing modern climate challenges. This program strengthens your scientific curiosity and technical abilities through hands-on data collection performed in the field. As part of a small team, you participate in research, learn how scientific data is analyzed, and gain insights into environmental careers. The program provides mentorship from women in science, giving you an opportunity to see how professional research contributes to global sustainability and conservation efforts.
Image Source - Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program logo