Environmental Science programs for high schoolers.

All environmental science programs

1. Alaska Native Science & Engineering Program

   ANSEP Acceleration High School

   Free year-round STEM acceleration for Alaska Native students.

   📍 AK⏱ School year + summer📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

   Selective
2. Arizona State University

   ASU SCENE

   Free science club + research opportunities for AZ high schoolers, with focus on first-gen students.

   📍 AZ⏱ Year-round📅 March🎓 10, 11, 12

   Selective
3. Auburn University

   Auburn Summer Science Institute

   Hands-on STEM research at Auburn — Alabama residents prioritized; in-state tuition aid available.

   📍 AL⏱ 1 week (summer)📅 March🎓 10, 11, 12

   Moderate
4. Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs

   Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest

   Creative arts contest on ocean and climate themes; visual art, film, poetry, music.

   📍 Online⏱ Annual📅 June🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

   Selective
5. Clemson University

   Clemson 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🎓 10, 11, 12

   Selective
6. University of California

   COSMOS

   UC residential STEM program. Need-based fee waivers cover full cost for qualifying families.

   📍 CA⏱ 4 weeks (summer)📅 Early February🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

   Highly Selective
7. U.S. Department of Energy

   DOE STEM Rising / SCEP

   Paid internships across the 17 DOE national laboratories.

   📍 Multiple national labs (nationwide eligibility)⏱ 8-10 weeks (summer)📅 January🎓 11, 12

   Selective
8. Doris Duke Charitable Foundation

   Doris Duke Conservation Scholars

   Paid two-summer conservation research program for college students; pipeline awareness.

   📍 Multiple universities⏱ 2 summers📅 February🎓 12

   Selective
9. Duke University

   Duke 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📅 March 1🎓 10, 11

   Highly Selective
10. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP) / NSTA

    eCYBERMISSION Competition

    The world's largest youth-led STEM competition focusing on community service and solving problems using the scientific method.

    📍 Online / Nationwide⏱ Year-round📅 December 15🎓 7, 8, 9

    Selective
11. US EPA

    EPA Citizen Science Programs

    Hands-on environmental citizen science projects for students.

    📍 Multiple states⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
12. University of Georgia / GOSA

    Georgia GHP - Agriscience Research

    A residential summer academy for Georgia students focusing on agricultural and environmental sciences through hands-on research.

    📍 Athens, GA⏱ 2 weeks📅 May 1🎓 10, 11

    Selective
13. NASA / University of Toledo

    GLOBE Mission EARTH (GME)

    A year-long club-based program where students engage in data-driven environmental justice projects and present to scientists.

    📍 Online / Various⏱ Year-round📅 October 31🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
14. Grassroots Ecology

    Grassroots Ecology Youth Internships

    Paid summer employment for high schoolers working on habitat restoration in San Jose area parks.

    📍 San Jose, CA/South Bay⏱ 6-8 weeks📅 March 15🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
15. American Fisheries Society

    Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program

    Paid mentorship for high school students interested in fisheries science.

    📍 Multiple states⏱ 8 weeks📅 February🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
16. University of Hawai'i at Mānoa

    Imi Hoʻōla Pathway / UH Manoa SHARE

    Free research program for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.

    📍 HI⏱ 5 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 11, 12

    Selective
17. Iowa State University

    ISU Freshman-Sophomore Research Initiative

    STEM research at Iowa State. In-state scholarships available.

    📍 IA⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 11, 12

    Moderate
18. JEI (Harvard)

    Journal of Emerging Investigators

    Free peer-reviewed publication venue for middle/high school STEM research. Real PhD reviewers.

    📍 Remote (nationwide)⏱ Self-paced📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
19. JEI

    Journal of Emerging Investigators

    Peer-reviewed open-access journal for middle and high school scientists.

    📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
20. University of Kentucky Extension

    Kentucky Forest Leadership Program

    An outdoor learning experience focusing on forestry, wildlife, and natural resource management in Kentucky.

    📍 Jackson, KY⏱ 1 week📅 May 1🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
21. Louisiana State University

    LSU HSSR (High School Summer Research)

    Paid research at LSU for Louisiana students.

    📍 LA⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 11, 12

    Selective
22. Matter of Trust

    Matter of Trust Citizen Science

    Free citizen-science volunteer projects in oil-spill remediation and sustainability.

    📍 Nationwide⏱ Flexible📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
23. Mississippi Department of Education

    Mississippi FFA Association

    A leadership and career development organization focused on agricultural education for students in Mississippi.

    📍 Mississippi State, MS⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
24. Montana State University

    Montana Apprenticeship Program (MAP)

    Paid research apprenticeships at MSU for Montana Native American students.

    📍 MT⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 11, 12

    Selective
25. Michigan State University

    MSU High School Honors Science Program

    Research immersion at MSU labs. Aid available for Michigan students.

    📍 MI⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 11, 12

    Highly Selective
26. Michigan State University

    MSU School of Planning, Design & Construction Academy

    High school program focusing on sustainable landscape design and urban ecology at Michigan State.

    📍 East Lansing, MI⏱ 1 week📅 March 15🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
27. NASA

    NASA Citizen Science

    Dozens of free NASA citizen-science projects. Your contributions co-author published papers.

    📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Anytime🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
28. NASA / UT Austin

    NASA SEES Internship

    Earth and space science research mentored by NASA scientists.

    📍 TX / Remote (nationwide eligibility)⏱ Virtual spring + 2-week onsite📅 February🎓 10, 11

    Selective
29. University of Texas / NASA

    NASA STEM Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES)

    Free virtual + onsite NASA research internship for HS students.

    📍 Austin, TX⏱ 8 weeks📅 February🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
30. NASA / Future Engineers

    NASA TechRise Student Challenge

    Teams design space-bound experiments. Winners receive USD 1500 and their payload flies on a high-altitude balloon.

    📍 Online⏱ School year📅 November🎓 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
31. NCF-Envirothon / Canon U.S.A.

    National Envirothon (NFC-Envirothon)

    A national environmental science competition where students study forestry, wildlife, and aquatic ecology on-site.

    📍 Various Locations (Rotate Annually)⏱ 3 days📅 April 15🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
32. National Center for Atmospheric Research

    NCAR Atmospheric Research Internship

    Paid climate/atmospheric science research in Boulder.

    📍 CO⏱ 10 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 11, 12

    Selective
33. NOAA

    NOAA Hollings Scholarship

    Undergraduate scholarship + paid summer internship at NOAA (apply 2nd year of college; pipeline awareness for HS).

    📍 Multiple sites⏱ Multi-year📅 January🎓 12

    Selective
34. Oregon State University

    Oregon State Environmental Science Internship

    A program for high school students from underrepresented backgrounds to participate in environmental research and data science.

    📍 Corvallis, OR⏱ 6 weeks📅 March 15🎓 11, 12

    Selective
35. Penn State University

    Penn State Conservation Leadership School

    A residential program for high school students interested in forestry, fishery, and wildlife management.

    📍 University Park, PA⏱ 1 week📅 May 1🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
36. Society for Science

    Regeneron ISEF

    The largest international pre-college science fair. Qualify through an affiliated regional or state fair. Travel and lodging covered for finalists.

    📍 Rotating US city⏱ 1 week📅 Regional Jan-Mar🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
37. Society for Science

    Regeneron ISEF / Science Talent Search

    The two biggest US high school science competitions. Free to enter.

    📍 Multiple (nationwide eligibility)⏱ Year-long competition📅 November (STS)🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
38. Jane Goodall Institute

    Roots & Shoots

    Youth-led community action for people, animals, environment.

    📍 Multiple states⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
39. University of Alaska Fairbanks

    Rural Alaska Honors Institute (RAHI)

    Free college-prep and research program for rural Alaska Native and rural Alaska students.

    📍 AK⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 11, 12

    Selective
40. Science Olympiad

    Science Olympiad

    Team-based STEM competition with 23 events spanning earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Regional through national rounds.

    📍 School team + regional⏱ School year📅 Aug-May season🎓 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
41. NASA / UT Austin CSR

    SEES High School Summer Intern Program

    An intensive research-based program where students work on projects in earth and space sciences using NASA satellite data.

    📍 Austin, TX⏱ 2 weeks📅 March 1🎓 11

    Selective
42. Sierra Club ICO

    Sierra Club Inspiring Connections Outdoors

    Outdoor leadership and conservation volunteer service.

    📍 Multiple cities⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
43. Surfrider Foundation

    Surfrider Youth Volunteer

    Coastal cleanup and ocean advocacy chapters across US.

    📍 Coastal states⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
44. San Francisco State University

    The Great Sunflower Project (Citizen Science)

    A massive collaborative project where students collect soil samples and perform data analysis for ecological research. Hybrid model.

    📍 Nationwide⏱ Ongoing📅 Early March🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
45. Consortium for Ocean Leadership / NCF-Envirothon

    U.S. National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) / Envirothon

    The world's largest Earth Science competition where teams solve challenges in geology, meteorology, and oceanography.

    📍 Nationwide⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling (Feb-April)🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
46. University of Arizona

    UA KEYS Research Internship

    Paid bioscience research at the UA — Arizona students only.

    📍 AZ⏱ 7 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 11, 12

    Selective
47. University of Delaware College of Earth, Ocean, and Environment

    UD Marine Science Summer Camp (Advanced Track)

    High school students conduct marine science and oceanography experiments at the University of Delaware's coastal campus.

    📍 Lewes, DE⏱ 1 week📅 February 15🎓 10, 11, 12

    Highly Selective
48. University of Nebraska-Lincoln

    UNL Young Nebraska Scientists

    Free STEM camps at UNL for Nebraska students.

    📍 NE⏱ 1-2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
49. University of Oregon / Saturday Academy

    UO Saturday Academy ASE

    Paid 1:1 research apprenticeships across Oregon. Strong equity focus.

    📍 OR⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 11, 12

    Selective
50. University of Texas at Austin

    UT Austin High School Research Academy

    Course-based research at UT Austin. Need-based aid.

    📍 TX⏱ 5 weeks (summer)📅 April🎓 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
51. University of Vermont

    UVM Summer Academy

    Pre-college academic programs at UVM. Need-based scholarships.

    📍 VT⏱ 1-2 weeks (summer)📅 May🎓 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
52. University of Washington Bothell

    UW Bothell Research Experiences

    Local UW Bothell faculty research opportunities — great for North Seattle students.

    📍 WA⏱ Variable📅 Rolling🎓 10, 11, 12

    Selective
53. University of Wyoming

    UWyo High School Institute

    Free residential STEM camps at UWyo for Wyoming students.

    📍 WY⏱ 1-2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 11, 12

    Selective
54. UC Davis

    Young Scholars Program (YSP)

    A high-level research internship where students work in labs at UC Davis on environmental and biological projects.

    📍 Davis, CA⏱ 8 weeks📅 February 15🎓 11, 12

    Selective
55. Various

    Youth Climate Leaders

    Free youth climate summits and competitions. Project-based environmental advocacy.

    📍 Online + regional⏱ Self-paced📅 Varies🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
56. National Park Service

    Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)

    A summer employment program that engages young people in meaningful work projects on public lands.

    📍 Nationwide⏱ 8-10 weeks📅 Mid-April🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
57. Zooniverse

    Zooniverse Citizen Science

    Free crowdsourced research platform. Contribute to active university research projects in any field from your laptop.

    📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Anytime🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Highly Selective

Other research areas