12 Environmental Science Programs for High School Students in South Carolina

If you’re a high school student interested in topics like climate change and sustainability, consider participating in an environmental science program. These programs are often structured educational experiences that combine classroom learning with hands-on fieldwork, research opportunities, and professional mentorship. As a participant, you will delve into diverse environmental topics, from coastal ecology and wildlife conservation to sustainable practices and ecosystem restoration, all while gaining practical experience in a dynamic and increasingly important field.

Why should you choose a program in South Carolina?​​

South Carolina’s unique geography and environmental landscape make it an exceptional location for your environmental science education. The state encompasses diverse ecosystems, including coastal wetlands, maritime forests, freshwater swamps, and river systems that serve as living classrooms for field-based learning. You’ll get to participate in programs that let you study ecosystems and environmental issues firsthand while building professional networks in the state’s growing environmental sector. 

You can also check out these guides on college summer programs or data science programs for high school students in South Carolina!

Key Takeaways

• South Carolina’s coastal geography is a major asset here. Several programs, including the College of Charleston’s Exploring Charleston’s Ecosystems and the South Carolina Aquarium’s various offerings, use the state’s wetlands, marshes, and marine habitats as direct field study sites rather than relying on classroom simulation.
• Age and grade eligibility differ significantly across programs. Some, like the South Carolina Aquarium’s Teen Conservation Crew, are aimed specifically at 9th- and 10th-graders, while others, like the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program, are reserved for rising seniors, so students should check eligibility carefully before applying.
• Virtual and self-paced options make several of these programs accessible regardless of location within the state. USC, Washington University in St. Louis, Terp Young Scholars, and Excel High School all offer online courses, which is useful for students without easy access to Charleston or Columbia.
• Environmental science programs are a strong way to explore fieldwork and conservation, but they are not the only path for a research-minded student. Those who want to pursue an independent research project in a different field might consider Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs, a mentored virtual research program with 600+ specializations across subjects like political reporting, media studies, and data journalism.

12 Environmental Science Programs for High School Students in South Carolina

1. Charleston County Summer Youth Internship Program

The Charleston County Summer Youth Internship Program offers an opportunity to develop workplace-readiness skills while gaining practical experience in county government operations. You will work in various departments across county government, learning how public agencies function and how they address community needs, including environmental management. The program offers exposure to diverse career paths and helps you understand how government agencies contribute to environmental protection, sustainability, and resource management. You will develop professional skills, including communication, time management, problem-solving, and teamwork, that apply across all sectors, including environmental science programs for high school students. This experience often leads to continued employment or referrals to other environmental science programs and professional opportunities in the public sector.

2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)

Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students in subjects such as data science, machine learning, political theory, and more! Horizon is one of the few research programs for high school students that offers you the choice to engage in either quantitative or qualitative research. Once you select a particular subject track, Horizon pairs you with a professor/PhD scholar who acts as a mentor throughout your research journey. As a participant, you will be expected to develop a 20-page research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student and detailed project feedback you can use to improve future projects. Apply here!

3. South Carolina Aquarium: Teen Conservation Crew

During the Teen Conservation Crew program, you will get to explore your interest in marine science through the South Carolina Aquarium’s Teen Conservation Crew, a dedicated program focused on environmental advocacy. As a participant, you’ll gain hands-on experience working alongside aquarium professionals to support local marine ecosystems. You’ll actively develop practical leadership abilities and workplace skills by engaging in interactive environmental science and climate resilience projects. Your responsibilities include participating in educational outreach and learning about sustainable practices that protect aquatic habitats. By completing this program, you’ll build a strong, objective foundation for future academic and professional endeavors in the conservation field.

4. Carolina Master Scholars Summer Adventures Series

The Carolina Master Scholars Summer Adventures Series provides innovative, week-long educational courses for academically talented students from across the country. You will join peers from diverse backgrounds to take courses taught by USC’s most renowned faculty, staff, and community experts in specialized topic areas. These immersive experiences will introduce you to university resources, campus life, and advanced academic content not typically available in high schools. You will develop advanced thinking skills, make meaningful peer connections with other motivated students, and gain exposure to potential academic interests. Environmental science, marine biology, and other courses are among the available offerings, allowing you to explore ecological topics in depth. 

5. South Carolina Aquarium: Job Shadowing Program

During the Job Shadowing Program, you can expect an immersive, observation-based introduction to marine science careers. You’ll spend a designated period directly observing aquarium professionals as they manage daily operations, animal husbandry, and facility maintenance. You’ll shadow experts across various departments, which allows you to ask targeted questions about their educational backgrounds and the realities of their roles. This experience provides you with a realistic, behind-the-scenes look at the workflow required to maintain large-scale aquatic habitats and support environmental initiatives. You’ll learn firsthand about the rigorous protocols, such as water quality testing and nutritional preparation, necessary for optimal animal welfare.

6. College of Charleston Honors Pre-College Summer Institute

The Honors College Summer Institute offers pre-college courses taught directly by College of Charleston faculty on the downtown campus, including “Exploring Charleston’s Ecosystems,” which provides an immersive, field-based exploration of coastal environmental science. You will discover the wild side of Charleston by visiting wetlands, carnivorous plant bogs, pine forests, salt marshes, and beaches – some of the most biologically rich ecosystems in coastal South Carolina. During this five-day course, you will practice scientific observation and data collection techniques, learn how plants and animals adapt to their environments, and understand ecosystem services such as clean water provision and coastal protection. You will build confidence working outdoors in authentic research settings while engaging with faculty who are passionate about environmental topics. 

7. South Carolina Aquarium High School Intern Program

The South Carolina Aquarium High School Intern Program offers you a paid opportunity to gain exposure to marine science, animal care, and aquarium operations. You will begin with training classes held one Saturday monthly from January through April, where you learn about animals, ocean science, career development, and team-building skills while being evaluated on your interest, commitment, and progress. From the initial cohort, ten students are selected to continue as paid interns throughout the summer and fall, working twenty hours per week alongside Aquarium educators and marine biologists. You will develop skills in animal handling, education program delivery, and marine science while directly contributing to the Aquarium’s mission. From the group of paid interns, five students are selected to mentor the incoming cohort the following year, providing you with leadership opportunities and deeper engagement with the organization. 

8. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program

This eight-week paid summer internship places you with a fisheries professional mentor at a site close to your home. The program is specifically designed to bring more underrepresented students into the fisheries and aquatic sciences field through direct, hands-on experience. Depending on your placement, you might conduct fish population surveys, support habitat restoration efforts, work in a lab, or help run educational programs. Along the way, you’ll build genuine professional relationships with mentors and fellow interns who share your passion for conservation, creating connections that can meaningfully shape your academic path and career decisions for years to come.

9. USC Pre-College Programs: Environmental Science

USC’s Environmental Studies: Sustainability and Your World is a self-paced online pre-college course that introduces you to the interdisciplinary world of environmental science, from ecology and biodiversity to renewable energy and coastal pollution. You’ll examine real case studies on innovations shaping conservation, including advances in aquaculture, renewable energy sources, and strategies for addressing climate change. The course is taught by David Ginsburg, a USC Dornsife professor of environmental studies, through a mix of recorded lectures, scientific readings, and hands-on activities that connect theory to real-world sustainability challenges. 

10. Washington University at St. Louis: Introduction to Environmental Science

Washington University in St. Louis’s Introduction to Environmental Science is a self-paced online pre-college program that allows you to explore the intersection of multiple disciplines like biology, chemistry, geography, geology, economics, and sociology, how the natural world works, and how human activity shapes it. Core topics include human population growth, energy and land resources, water systems, air pollution, global climate change, and human health and toxicology, all unified by sustainability as a recurring theme. The course is delivered through recorded lectures, asynchronous assignments and discussions, short videos, and optional live office hours, giving you flexibility while still maintaining structured engagement.

11. Terp Young Scholars Program

The University of Maryland’s Terp Young Scholars program lets you earn three transferable college credits over three weeks, while getting a genuine preview of what university-level coursework feels like. Through the AI for Environmental Good course, you’ll investigate how generative artificial intelligence serves as a powerful tool for learning, communication, and design in the environmental sector. In the People, Planet and Profit: Building Sustainable Places course, you’ll study how industry professionals solve practical problems by applying a comprehensive sustainability framework that integrates social, cultural, environmental, economic, and design factors. 

12. Excel High School Environmental Science Course 

The Excel High School Environmental Science Course takes you through Earth’s major ecosystems while grounding scientific concepts in real-world environmental issues. You’ll examine how natural systems are connected through energy flow and how human activity disrupts these relationships. The course uses real-world modeling exercises to help you understand how specific behaviors and decisions affect ecosystem health. You’ll also investigate patterns in human population growth and the environmental consequences that follow. By the end of the course, you will have developed and strengthened skills in data analysis, critical thinking, and problem-solving within an environmental context.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do any of these programs pay students rather than charge tuition?
Yes. The Charleston County Summer Youth Internship Program pays $15.00 per hour, the South Carolina Aquarium High School Intern Program pays $10 per hour, the Teen Conservation Crew offers a stipend of up to $150, and the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program provides a $3,000 stipend for its eight-week summer placement.

Which programs are open to students outside of South Carolina?
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program places students nationwide, including Florida, near their own homes. The virtual courses through USC, Washington University in St. Louis, Terp Young Scholars, and Excel High School are also open to students regardless of location, since they are entirely online.

What is the age or grade range needed to apply?
It varies by program. The South Carolina Aquarium’s Teen Conservation Crew is limited to 9th and 10th graders, while the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program requires students to be rising seniors and at least 16 years old. Carolina Master Scholars is open more broadly to rising 6th through 12th graders, and the Excel High School course has no stated grade restriction.

Can I get hands-on fieldwork experience without leaving the classroom entirely?
Programs like the College of Charleston’s Exploring Charleston’s Ecosystems course combine faculty-led instruction with direct field visits to wetlands, salt marshes, and forests, so students get structured teaching alongside outdoor research experience. This differs from the fully virtual options like USC and Washington University in St. Louis, which are lecture and reading based.

What if I am interested in research outside of environmental science?
These programs are focused specifically on ecology, conservation, and sustainability fieldwork, but students looking for a research based credential in a different subject area might consider Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs, a selective virtual research program that has worked with over 1,000 high school students and offers 600+ specializations, including subjects like investigative journalism, political reporting, and the ethics of news and information.

Image source: Univerity of South Carolina