Sustainability programs for high schoolers.
47 programs indexed in sustainability. 40 are free or pay a stipend. 16 prioritize under-resourced or underrepresented students. This page updates whenever we add a new sustainability program.
All sustainability programs
- 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 - SelectiveAudubon ConnecticutAudubon Sharon Summer Internships (Youth)
Research and education internship at a wildlife sanctuary focusing on birds and habitat health.
📍 Sharon, CT⏱ 8 weeks📅 March 15🎓 Grades 11–12 - ModerateCEICaretakers of the Environment International
Annual international youth conference on environmental research and projects.
📍 Varies (International)⏱ 1 week📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveConrad FoundationConrad Challenge
International innovation and entrepreneurship competition addressing global grand challenges.
📍 USA finals + global teams📅 November🎓 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 - SelectiveDoSomething.orgDoSomething Campaigns
Volunteer campaigns with scholarship sweepstakes for participants.
📍 Online⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12 - ModerateNCF-EnvirothonEnvirothon
North America's largest high school environmental education competition.
📍 North America⏱ 1 week📅 Spring🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUS EPAEPA Citizen Science Programs
Hands-on environmental citizen science projects for students.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 7–12 - SelectiveUS EPAEPA P3 Student Design Competition
Sustainability design competition (mostly college, some K-12 partner tracks).
📍 United States⏱ Year-long📅 Fall🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveFIRST GlobalFIRST Global Challenge
Annual olympics-style robotics event with one team per country tackling a global grand-challenge theme (energy, oceans, food).
📍 Rotates by host country⏱ 1 week (fall)📅 Team applications open winter🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUniversity of Georgia / GOSAGeorgia 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🎓 Grades 10–11 - SelectiveThe Climate Reality ProjectGlobal Youth Climate Network
International youth climate leadership and action network.
📍 Global📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUnited Nations / WHOGlobal Youth Mobilization Fellowship
An online-based global youth leadership accelerator focused on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
📍 Online⏱ 3 months (Learning)📅 May (Annual)🎓 Grades 10–12 - ModerateCity of BostonGreenovate Boston Youth Leaders
Students work on local environmental justice and climate resilience projects in the Boston area.
📍 Boston, MA⏱ 6 weeks📅 February 1🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveUniversity of Hawai'i at MānoaImi Hoʻōla Pathway / UH Manoa SHARE
Free research program for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students.
📍 HI⏱ 5 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12 - ModerateIYNCInternational Youth Nuclear Congress
Biennial international conference for young professionals and students in nuclear science.
📍 Rotates by host country📅 Biennial🎓 Grades 11–12 - ModerateIowa State UniversityISU Freshman-Sophomore Research Initiative
STEM research at Iowa State. In-state scholarships available.
📍 IA⏱ 2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveMatter of TrustMatter of Trust Citizen Science
Free citizen-science volunteer projects in oil-spill remediation and sustainability.
📍 Nationwide⏱ Flexible📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveMississippi Department of EducationMississippi FFA Association
A leadership and career development organization focused on agricultural education for students in Mississippi.
📍 Mississippi State, MS⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveMontana State UniversityMontana Apprenticeship Program (MAP)
Paid research apprenticeships at MSU for Montana Native American students.
📍 MT⏱ 6 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveMichigan State UniversityMSU ANR Technology & Science Program
Michigan State program focused on the intersection of agriculture, engineering, and technology.
📍 East Lansing, MI⏱ 1 week📅 April 30🎓 Grades 10–11 - SelectiveNCF-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🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveNational GeographicNational Geographic Slingshot Challenge
Annual video competition for ages 13-18 on environmental solutions with cash prizes.
📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Winter🎓 Grades 7–12 - SelectiveNational Center for Atmospheric ResearchNCAR Atmospheric Research Internship
Paid climate/atmospheric science research in Boulder.
📍 CO⏱ 10 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveNOAANOAA Hollings Scholarship
Undergraduate scholarship + paid summer internship at NOAA (apply 2nd year of college; pipeline awareness for HS).
📍 Multiple sites⏱ Multi-year📅 January🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveOregon State UniversityOregon 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🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectivePurdue UniversityPurdue Extension Urban Agriculture Interns
Paid positions for Indianapolis youth to maintain urban gardens and learn about food justice.
📍 Indianapolis, IN⏱ 8 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveSchmidt Futures × Rhodes TrustRise
A lifetime program for 15- to 17-year-olds worldwide; the top ~500 finalists receive scholarships, mentorship, and career support to work on problems that matter.
📍 Remote application + summer residency⏱ Ongoing📅 Late January🎓 Grades 10–11 - SelectiveRiseRise (Schmidt Futures × Rhodes Trust)
Global program identifying brilliant young people who need support. Scholarships, mentorship, funding.
📍 Multiple + Remote (nationwide eligibility)⏱ Lifetime support starting at age 15-17📅 January🎓 Grades 9–10 - SelectiveJane Goodall InstituteRoots & Shoots
Youth-led community action for people, animals, environment.
📍 Multiple states⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 1–12 - SelectiveSierra Club ICOSierra Club Inspiring Connections Outdoors
Outdoor leadership and conservation volunteer service.
📍 Multiple cities⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveStockholm International Water InstituteStockholm Junior Water Prize
International youth water-research prize awarded during World Water Week in Stockholm.
📍 Stockholm, Sweden (national rounds worldwide)📅 National rounds Spring🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveSurfrider FoundationSurfrider Youth Volunteer
Coastal cleanup and ocean advocacy chapters across US.
📍 Coastal states⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveThe Earth FoundationThe Earth Prize
Global environmental sustainability competition with $200k in prizes for student teams.
📍 Global📅 January🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveThe NSHSS FoundationThe NSHSS Foundation
Fosters the growth of students pursuing the STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math), business, economics, public policy, and environmental science and sustainability fields. Connects young scholars with additional opportunities to advance their education, personal growth and career interests.
📍 US🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveConsortium for Ocean Leadership / NCF-EnvirothonU.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)🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUniversity of GeorgiaUGA Young Scholars Program (CAES)
Laboratory-based research for high school students in agricultural and natural resource sciences.
📍 Athens, GA/Tifton, GA⏱ 6 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveUniversity of Oregon / Saturday AcademyUO Saturday Academy ASE
Paid 1:1 research apprenticeships across Oregon. Strong equity focus.
📍 OR⏱ 8 weeks (summer)📅 February🎓 Grades 11–12 - ModerateUniversity of VermontUVM Summer Academy
Pre-college academic programs at UVM. Need-based scholarships.
📍 VT⏱ 1-2 weeks (summer)📅 May🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveUniversity of Wisconsin-MadisonUW Trout Lake Station Internships (High School)
Assist scientists with research on lake ecology and water quality at the Trout Lake Station.
📍 Boulder Junction, WI⏱ 6-8 weeks📅 March 1🎓 Grade 12 - SelectiveUniversity of WyomingUWyo High School Institute
Free residential STEM camps at UWyo for Wyoming students.
📍 WY⏱ 1-2 weeks (summer)📅 March🎓 Grades 11–12 - SelectiveCenter for World Affairs / Bezos AcademyWorld Affairs Challenge
Project-based competition tackling UN Sustainable Development Goals.
📍 Denver, CO⏱ Academic year📅 May🎓 Grades 7–12 - SelectiveWorld Food Prize FoundationWorld Food Prize Global Youth Institute
Research and conference program on global food security for high schoolers.
📍 Des Moines, IA⏱ 3 days📅 Winter🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveUniversity of Wyoming School of Energy ResourcesWyoming Youth Energy Leadership Program
A year-long series of workshops and mentorship sessions for Wyoming high school students focused on leadership in energy and natural resources.
📍 Laramie, WY⏱ Year-round📅 Rolling🎓 Grades 10–12 - SelectiveVariousYouth Climate Leaders
Free youth climate summits and competitions. Project-based environmental advocacy.
📍 Online + regional⏱ Self-paced📅 Varies🎓 Grades 9–12 - ModerateNational Park ServiceYouth Conservation Corps (YCC)
A summer employment program that engages young people in meaningful work projects on public lands.
📍 Nationwide⏱ 8-10 weeks📅 Mid-April🎓 Grades 9–12 - SelectiveU.S. Department of StateYSEALI Academic Fellows
Fully-funded five-week academic residency in the US for outstanding students from Southeast Asian countries; tracks in civic engagement, environment, and social entrepreneurship.
📍 United States (SE Asian applicants)⏱ 5 weeks📅 Country-specific (fall)🎓 Grades 11–12