If you’re a high school student interested in biology, environmental science, or even sustainable development, consider a program in forestry!
Forestry summer programs for high schoolers provide hands-on experience in forest management and conservation. You’ll learn skills such as tree identification, forest ecology, and land management techniques. Activities may include measuring tree growth, collecting soil samples, and mapping using tools like compasses and GPS.
Working alongside professionals, you’ll see how forestry principles apply in real-world settings, offering insight into careers in conservation and environmental science.
To help get you started, here are 10 forestry summer programs for high school students!
1. U.S. Department of Agriculture Youth Conservation Corps
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Youth Conservation Corps program offers a paid summer opportunity where you work as part of a team on conservation projects in national forests and public lands. You will gain hands-on experience in environmental stewardship while learning about various green careers. The program provides pay at the Federal minimum wage rate, or the state minimum wage if it is higher.
Through team-based projects, you will learn about environmental responsibility and civic engagement. You will also have the chance to explore potential career paths in natural and cultural resource management, urban forestry, and other related fields. Project activities may include constructing and repairing trails, preserving historic buildings, removing invasive species, assisting with wildlife and land research, and leading environmental education programs. The program lasts between 1 to 3 months during the summer.
Location: YCC programs are offered by National Forests across the U.S. Use their interactive map to learn about opportunities near you.
Cost: Free; stipend provided
Application Deadline: Varies. More information here.
Program Dates: 1–3 months in the summer. Specific dates vary based on location.
Eligibility: Applicants must be at least 15 years old at the start of enrollment and 18 or younger on the final day, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, have a valid Social Security Number, and be able to obtain a state work permit.
2. Canopy’s Teen Urban Foresters Program
The Teen Urban Foresters (TUF) Program is a paid internship that connects high school students to urban forestry. The program emphasizes intersectionality, environmental justice, and tree equity and is specifically targeted at students from East Palo Alto, eastern Menlo Park, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) applicants. Students in the TUF Program work part-time during the school year and summer, engaging in various aspects of Canopy’s tree planting and care initiatives.
This includes planting, pruning, and maintaining trees, leading volunteer groups, assisting with events, and more. Each spring, the TUFs focus on a specific urban forestry project that addresses a particular community issue. The project-based learning model allows them to work on this project for 6–10 weeks, culminating in the creation of a public product or presentation that showcases their knowledge and skills.
Location: Palo Alto, CA
Cost: Free, stipend provided
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: Part-time internship offered during summer or the school year.
Eligibility: Applicants must be high school students living in East Palo Alto or Menlo Park. During the academic year, Canopy recruits students from Eastside College Preparatory School, Kipp Esperanza, Oxford Day Academy, and East Palo Alto Academy. For the summer session, recruitment is open to all high school students in East Palo Alto or eastern Menlo Park.
3. NC State University High School Summer Research Program: Forestry
The High School Summer Research Program, supported by the Weyerhaeuser Giving Fund, is designed to help high school students explore careers in forestry and natural resources. The program offers students the chance to learn about career paths directly from undergraduate and graduate students as well as professionals in the field.
Participants will also connect with mentors from the forestry and natural resources community, gaining advice and support as they plan for college and future careers. The program includes seminars hosted by NC State’s Office of Undergraduate Research and participation in the annual Research and Creativity Symposium, where students present their work in the fall or spring. Additionally, students will build a supportive community with peers who share similar career interests.
Location: North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Cost: Free, stipend of up to $1000 provided
Application Deadline: April
Program Dates: July 7 — August 1
Eligibility: Open to high school students.
4. Tuskegee University Forestry and National Resources Summer Program
Tuskegee University’s College of Agriculture, Environment, and Nutrition Sciences is committed to environmental stewardship and sustainability. The Forestry and Natural Resources Tuskegee Research Enrichment Kamp Summer Institute (FNR-TREK) is designed to raise awareness of educational and career opportunities in forestry and related STEM fields, emphasizing climate change and sustainability.
This two-week program offers high school students hands-on experience in forestry, including research, leadership development, and personal enrichment activities. You will also explore the critical roles forestry professionals play in managing and protecting forests, wildlife, and ecosystems. The program also provides insight into sustainable forestry practices and ecosystem management in an interactive and engaging environment.
Location: Tuskegee University, AL
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: March 31
Program Dates: June 15 – 28
Eligibility: Students in grades 9 through 12 who will return to high school in the fall after the program are eligible to apply.
5. SUNY Environmental Science and Forestry Summer Research Program
The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry offers a research opportunity for high school students interested in forestry. You can enroll in the free ESF296 course and collaborate with undergraduate and graduate students on the Multiple Element Limitation in Northern Hardwood Ecosystems (MELNHE) project, led by Dr. Ruth Yanai.
Through the ESF in the High School program, you can earn up to 3 college credits for the 45-hour course. During the summer, the schedule varies based on availability and supervision. If you’re interested in volunteering but are unsure about the schedule, feel free to ask for more details.
Location: State University of New York College, NY
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: TBA
Program Dates: Varies based on individual schedules. Takes place during the summer.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible to apply. If you wish to earn credits, you must be registered for the ESF in the High School program.
6. UPenn’s Teen Research and Education in Environmental Science (TREES) Program
The TREES Program is a summer research and mentorship opportunity for high school students interested in environmental sciences including aspects like forestry. You will have the chance to work one-on-one with a mentor of your choice on a self-designed project related to the sustainability field of your choice. The program includes hands-on workshops, field trips, and seminars focused on careers in environmental science, environmental studies, and college admissions.
The program begins with two weeks of instruction in basic lab skills, followed by time spent conducting your own independent research. Through your project, you will learn how to approach environmental issues from a scientific perspective, conduct library research, apply scientific methods, and engage in fieldwork when possible. At the end of the program, you will submit a research report and present your findings.
Location: University of Pennsylvania, PA
Cost: Free
Application deadline: February 28
Program dates: 4 weeks during the summer
Eligibility: Students in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades who live in the Philadelphia area and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Candidates from underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
7. Wave Hill’s Forest Project Summer Internship
The Forest Project offers high school students a paid summer internship focused on urban ecology and ecological restoration. Since 1981, the program has provided hands-on field experience, with interns working on tasks such as building and maintaining woodland trails, removing invasive plants, and restoring eroded slopes. The internships support Wave Hill’s restoration efforts.
Interns participate in field-based coursework, including the accredited college course “Restoration of New York City’s Natural Areas,” which covers ecology and environmental management. The program also includes group projects, data collection, and research. Additionally, interns have the opportunity to meet peers from other organizations, participate in exchanges, and go on field trips related to their work.
Location: Wave Hill, NY
Cost: Free with an approximate stipend of $2,275 and credit for one college course.
Application Deadline: February 28
Program Dates: July 7 — August 15
Eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in high school, 16 years old by May 1, 2025, a New York City resident eligible to work in the U.S., interested in urban environmental issues, and able to complete rigorous fieldwork and academic study. They must also be able to use heavy tools, work in natural areas, travel off-site for field trips, and commit to the entire program.
8. University of Kentucky Forest Leadership Program
The Kentucky Forest Leadership Program is a week-long, residential program for high school students interested in learning about Kentucky’s natural resources, including forests, trees, insects, water, and wildlife. The program offers three educational tracks: Forestry, Entomology, and Wildlife. While each track focuses on a specific area, all tracks work together throughout the week, allowing you to gain a broader understanding of natural resource management.
This program involves practical learning, where you’ll participate in activities such as tree and plant identification, forest management, insect collection, and wildlife sampling. It’s not a recreational camp, but a full schedule of practical fieldwork that will deepen your knowledge of Kentucky’s ecosystems and the challenges they face.
Location: University of Kentucky, KY
Cost: $500
Application Deadline: April 18
Program Dates: June 1 – 6
Eligibility: Open to high school students.
9. Maryland Forestry Foundation Natural Resources Careers Camp
The Natural Resources Careers Camp is a week-long program in Garrett County, Maryland, designed for high school students interested in natural resources careers and college opportunities. If you’re 16 or older by the end of the camp, you can earn two college credits from Allegany College of Maryland (fees apply), which are transferable to many Maryland community colleges and some four-year institutions.
The camp includes hands-on activities in forestry, wildlife ecology, fisheries, watershed management, GIS/GPS technology, and conservation. You’ll also connect with professionals in the field who will share insights into college programs and career paths in natural resources management.
Location: Garrett County, MD
Cost: $500
Application Deadline: Unspecified. Applications are currently open.
Program Dates: July 20 — 26
Eligibility: Open to high school students.
10. The University of the South Sewanee Environmental Institute
The Sewanee Environmental Institute (SEI) is a ten-day summer program for high school students interested in environmental studies. Hosted by the University of the South, SEI takes place on the university’s 13,000-acre campus on the Cumberland Plateau, providing hands-on learning about the region’s diverse ecosystems.
Students will explore forests, streams, wetlands, and caves while studying the local plant and animal species. The program focuses on how human activity has impacted these ecosystems and current conservation efforts to protect them. SEI is field-based, with activities such as hiking, canoeing, swimming, and caving. Students also receive bicycles to use for transportation during the program.
Location: The University of the South, Cumberland Plateau, Sewanee, TN
Cost: $1,700
Application Deadline: May 1
Program Dates: Session 1: June 24 — July 3 | Session 2: July 6 — July 15
Eligibility: Open to high school students.
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like biology, environmental science, and physics consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs!
This is a selective virtual research program that lets you engage in advanced research and develop a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1000+ high school students so far and offers 600+ research specializations for you to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image source: The University of the South Sewanee
