Sustainability programs for high schoolers.

All sustainability programs

1. 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
2. Audubon Connecticut

   Audubon Sharon Summer Internships (Youth)

   Research and education internship at a wildlife sanctuary focusing on birds and habitat health.

   📍 Sharon, CT⏱ 8 weeks📅 March 15🎓 11, 12

   Selective
3. CEI

   Caretakers of the Environment International

   Annual international youth conference on environmental research and projects.

   📍 Varies (International)⏱ 1 week📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

   Moderate
4. 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
5. 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
6. DoSomething.org

   DoSomething Campaigns

   Volunteer campaigns with scholarship sweepstakes for participants.

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

   Selective
7. NCF-Envirothon

   Envirothon

   North America's largest high school environmental education competition.

   📍 North America⏱ 1 week📅 Spring🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

   Moderate
8. 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
9. US EPA

   EPA P3 Student Design Competition

   Sustainability design competition (mostly college, some K-12 partner tracks).

   📍 United States⏱ Year-long📅 Fall🎓 11, 12

   Selective
10. 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
11. United Nations / WHO

    Global Youth Mobilization Fellowship

    An online-based global youth leadership accelerator focused on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

    📍 Online⏱ 3 months (Learning)📅 May (Annual)🎓 10, 11, 12

    Selective
12. City of Boston

    Greenovate Boston Youth Leaders

    Students work on local environmental justice and climate resilience projects in the Boston area.

    📍 Boston, MA⏱ 6 weeks📅 February 1🎓 10, 11, 12

    Moderate
13. 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
14. 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
15. 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
16. 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
17. 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
18. Michigan State University

    MSU ANR Technology & Science Program

    Michigan State program focused on the intersection of agriculture, engineering, and technology.

    📍 East Lansing, MI⏱ 1 week📅 April 30🎓 10, 11

    Selective
19. 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
20. National Geographic

    National Geographic Slingshot Challenge

    Annual video competition for ages 13-18 on environmental solutions with cash prizes.

    📍 Online⏱ Self-paced📅 Winter🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
21. National Center for Atmospheric Research

    NCAR Atmospheric Research Internship

    Paid climate/atmospheric science research in Boulder.

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

    Selective
22. 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
23. 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
24. 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
25. Purdue University

    Purdue Extension Urban Agriculture Interns

    Paid positions for Indianapolis youth to maintain urban gardens and learn about food justice.

    📍 Indianapolis, IN⏱ 8 weeks📅 March 1🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
26. Rise

    Rise (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🎓 9, 10

    Selective
27. 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
28. Sierra Club ICO

    Sierra Club Inspiring Connections Outdoors

    Outdoor leadership and conservation volunteer service.

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

    Selective
29. Surfrider Foundation

    Surfrider Youth Volunteer

    Coastal cleanup and ocean advocacy chapters across US.

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

    Selective
30. 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
31. University of Georgia

    UGA 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🎓 11, 12

    Selective
32. 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
33. 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
34. University of Wisconsin-Madison

    UW 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🎓 12

    Selective
35. 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
36. Center for World Affairs / Bezos Academy

    World Affairs Challenge

    Project-based competition tackling UN Sustainable Development Goals.

    📍 Denver, CO⏱ Academic year📅 May🎓 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
37. World Food Prize Foundation

    World Food Prize Global Youth Institute

    Research and conference program on global food security for high schoolers.

    📍 Des Moines, IA⏱ 3 days📅 Winter🎓 9, 10, 11, 12

    Selective
38. University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources

    Wyoming 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🎓 10, 11, 12

    Selective
39. Various

    Youth Climate Leaders

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

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

    Selective
40. 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

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