If you’re a high school student interested in environmental science, joining a free program can be a good way to build skills and explore different topics in the field. These programs focus on areas like climate change, ecology, conservation, and renewable energy.
You will work with real data, conduct research, and learn about solutions to environmental challenges. Some programs include hands-on projects, lab work, or field studies, while others focus on policy, sustainability, and environmental technology.
To help you find the right opportunity, here are 10 free environmental science programs for high school students!
11 Free Environmental Science Programs for High School Students
1. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: U.S., Canada, and Mexico (local placements)
Stipend: $3,000
Application Deadline: January 19
Program Dates: 8 weeks in the summer
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week paid summer internship for high school students, run by the American Fisheries Society. You’ll be paired with a fisheries professional in your local area and get hands-on experience in marine or freshwater environments.
You’ll also work on habitat restoration, fish population studies, and conservation projects while learning field research techniques like using electrofishing equipment and GIS mapping.
2. Rockaway Initiative for Sustainability and Equity (RISE) | Environmentor Internship
Location: Rockaway, NY
Stipend: Up to $1,200
Application Deadline: Applications open in late February
Program Dates: June to mid-August
Eligibility: 9th-11th grade students. (Preference may be given to students residing near Rockaway.)
The RISE Environmentor Internship lets you work with scientists on environmental research along the Rockaway shoreline. You will do fieldwork, collect and analyze data, and work on projects like salt marsh restoration and air quality monitoring.
You will use tools like water quality sensors and GPS for mapping while also learning how to write technical reports and create research posters. This experience helps you develop skills for future studies or careers in environmental science.
3. Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation
Location: Remote — you can participate in this program from anywhere in the world!
Cost: The program is fully funded!
Application Deadline: Spring (January), Summer (May), Fall (September) and Winter (November).
Program Dates: Vary based on yearly cohort. Multiple 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter.
Eligibility: You must be currently enrolled in high school or plan to enroll as a freshman in college in the fall.
The Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation stands as a non-profit research program tailored for gifted students from low-income backgrounds. Stemming from the Lumiere Research Scholar Program, renowned for its extensive one-on-one research opportunities for high school students, the foundation provides the same access to independent research experiences at zero cost.
The Lumiere Breakthrough Scholar Program is the equivalent of the Individual Research Scholar Program at Lumiere Education. In the flagship program, talented high-school students are paired with world-class Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll develop an independent research paper. You can choose topics from subjects such as environmental science, marine biology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can apply here!
This program is a solid option if you are interested in interdisciplinary research and want to create an individual research paper.
4. Northwest Youth Corps – Youth Community Program
Location: Oregon, Washington, and Idaho
Stipend: Up to $2,500
Application Deadline: Application deadlines vary by location. Please click here for specific deadlines and information.
Program Dates: June – August
Eligibility: Students aged 15 – 18
The Northwest Youth Corps – Youth Community Program gives you hands-on experience in conservation projects like tree planting, removing invasive species, and building trails. You will learn skills in environmental monitoring, ecological restoration, and outdoor safety. You will also use tools like GPS to track plant growth and GIS software to map conservation efforts.
5. UPenn’s Teen Research and Education in Environmental Science (TREES) Program
Location: Philadelphia
Program Dates: 4 weeks between July and August
Application Deadline: February 28
Eligibility: 10th – 12th grade students from the Philadelphia area.
The TREES program gives you hands-on experience in environmental research. You will work with mentors to design and carry out your project, sharpening skills in scientific methods, library research, and fieldwork. The program starts with two weeks of lab training, where you learn essential techniques. After that, you focus on independent research, analyzing data, addressing real environmental challenges, and developing solutions. You will complete the program with a formal report and project presentation.
6. Young Innovators Climate & Energy Program
Location: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
Cost: $2,500 (Financial aid is available)
Application Deadline: March 5
Program Dates: July 13 – 18
Eligibility: Rising 11th graders, 15+ years old
The Young Innovators Climate & Energy Program is a one-week course on climate science, energy policy, and technology. You will analyze energy systems, study sustainability strategies, and work on projects. You will also develop skills in policy analysis, system modeling, and communicating scientific data. The program includes hands-on training with energy simulation tools and site visits to understand real-world applications.
7. EnergyMag Research Internship
Location: Remote
Cost: Free
Application Deadline: Applications are open year-round
Program Dates: Flexible
Eligibility: High school and college students with a 3.25+ GPA
EnergyMag offers virtual internships to high school and college students interested in renewable energy and energy storage. As an intern, you’ll conduct research on emerging technologies, analyze data, and prepare comprehensive reports.
You’ll also work with industry professionals, explore case studies on energy policy, and use energy modeling tools to assess real-world applications. This experience will help you develop skills in research, data analysis, and scientific communication. You’ll also gain insights into the challenges and opportunities in the transition to clean energy.
8. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP) – Environmental Science Track
Location: Virtual
Application Deadline: Spring 2025: February 16, 2025; Summer 2025: February 16 (early), March 23 (priority), April 20 (regular-I), May 18 (regular-II)!
Program Dates: Spring 2025: March 3, 2025; Summer 2025: June 16, 2025! Lab dates are flexible, but you must apply 4 weeks in advance.
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th/11th graders! Only a couple of tracks require formal prerequisites, more details of which can be found here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students across subject areas such as data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, psychology, and more! It is one of the very few research programs for high school students that offers a choice between quantitative and qualitative research!
Once you select a particular subject track and type of research you’ll be paired with a professor or Ph.D. scholar (from a top university) who will mentor you throughout your research journey. You’ll work to create a 20-page, university-level research paper that you can send to prestigious journals for publication as a high school student.
This program is a solid opportunity for you to pursue a research program in highly specialized fields, under the guidance of a top scholar. The program also provides a letter of recommendation for each student, as well as detailed project feedback that you can use to work on future projects and college applications. Apply here!
9. Lumiere Research Program – Environmental Science Track
Location: Remote
Application Deadline: Varying deadlines based on cohort. The Spring Cohort application deadline is February 9, 2025!
Program Dates: Summer: June – August, fall: September – December, winter: December – February, spring: March – June.
Eligibility: Open to high school students with a minimum 3.3 GPA; no prior experience needed.
The Lumiere Research Scholar Program is a rigorous research program tailored for high school students. The program offers extensive 1-on-1 research opportunities for high school students across a broad range of subject areas that you can explore as a high schooler.
The program pairs high school students with PhD mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project. At the end of the 12-week program, you’ll have developed an independent research paper! You can choose research topics from subjects such as psychology, physics, economics, data science, computer science, engineering, chemistry, international relations, and more. You can find more details about the application here.
10. Penn State Scranton Environmental Science Program
Location: Penn State Scranton, Dunmore, PA
Application Deadline: May 1
Program Dates: June 15 – July 10
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
Penn State Scranton’s free environmental science program helps you build practical skills in ecological research, environmental data analysis, and conservation strategies – all while earning college credit. You’ll conduct field surveys, analyze environmental samples in the lab, and work on real-world conservation projects. The program also sharpens your problem-solving and critical-thinking skills as you explore solutions to environmental challenges.
11. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry Summer Research Opportunity
Location: SUNY-ESF, Syracuse, NY
Application Deadline: April 1
Program Dates: July 6 – 31
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors
SUNY-ESF’s summer research program gives you hands-on experience in environmental science through faculty-mentored research projects. You’ll develop skills in field data collection, laboratory analysis, and environmental modeling while exploring topics like forest ecology, environmental chemistry, and conservation biology. The program focuses on scientific research techniques, data interpretation, and problem-solving, preparing you for advanced studies in environmental science.
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