If you want your summer to count for something real, an ecology program is one of the smarter ways to spend it. You develop genuine skills, engage with the natural world in a hands-on way, and come back with experiences that stay with you long after the program ends.
Ecology is a subject that rewards students who engage with it outside the classroom. The concepts that feel abstract on paper, biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics, species interaction, and environmental change, become much clearer when you are actually studying them in the field. These programs give you that clarity in a focused and enjoyable way.
What do ecology summer programs for high schoolers include?
Depending on the program, you might spend your time doing fieldwork, collecting environmental data, studying local ecosystems, or working on conservation research alongside professional ecologists. The learning is active and specific, building field research skills, analytical thinking, and scientific communication in ways that a regular school curriculum simply does not reach.
These programs also carry real weight in college applications. A rigorous ecology program tells admissions committees that your interest in environmental science is grounded in actual fieldwork experience, which is a genuinely difficult thing to replicate through coursework alone.
With that, here are 15 ecology summer programs for high school students worth considering! If you’re looking for environmental science summer programs, you can find them here. You can also check out marine biology summer research programs for high school students here.
Key Takeaways
- Ecology summer programs for high school students place you in real field and lab research settings, studying coastal ecosystems, urban wildlife, freshwater lakes, bird populations, and primate behavior under the guidance of professional ecologists
- Several programs offer paid stipends, including SUNY Oneonta ($3,500), the Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program ($3,000), the Anson L. Clark Scholars Program ($750), and Bronx Zoo Project TRUE ($750), making field research financially accessible
- Programs range from highly selective placements with single-digit acceptance rates, like Simons Summer Research (5%) and SUNY Oneonta (1–3 spots), to more accessible options like Summer@Brown Online and UMass Amherst’s primate ecology course
- Most programs culminate in a tangible research output, including poster presentations, technical reports, or conference-style talks, giving you direct practice translating field data into scientific communication
15 Ecology Summer Programs for High School Students
1. Pre-College Marine Science Program at Eckerd
Location: Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL
Cost: $2,250
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 14 – 19 | June 21 – 26
Application Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors who can pass a swim test by completing three full laps totaling 150 yards without touching the bottom, using any stroke, with no time limit
The Pre-College Marine Science Program at Eckerd College allows rising high school juniors and seniors to explore marine science as a potential major through coursework modeled on the college’s undergraduate curriculum. Working with faculty on the Gulf of Mexico, you’ll participate in marine biology, geology, and chemistry labs and gain field experience. You’ll study marine and coastal ecosystems like beaches, mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reef communities, and examine ecological balance, biodiversity, and environmental stressors. You’ll photograph wild bottlenose dolphins to study behavior and habitat use, conduct plankton tows, study shorebirds, collect sediment cores, examine plankton under microscopes, and catch and release fish, crabs, shrimp, and other invertebrates to explore species interactions, food webs, competition, and habitat use. You’ll also observe wildlife at a nature preserve and spend time with residential counselors.
2. Horizon Academic Research Program (HARP)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type. Financial aid available.
Application Date: Multiple deadlines throughout the year for the Spring, Summer, and Fall cohorts.
Program Dates: The spring and fall cohorts run 15 weeks, while the summer cohort runs 10 weeks (June-September).
Eligibility: High school students with good academic standing (>3.67/4.0 GPA) can apply. Most accepted students are 10th- or 11th-graders! A few tracks require prerequisites; see here.
Horizon offers trimester-long research programs for high school students! 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 that you can use to improve future projects. Apply here!
3. Alaska Songbird Institute’s High School Internship Program
Location: Creamer’s Field and the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF), Fairbanks, AK
Cost/Stipend: Free | Interns earn $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Spots are limited; around 10–15 students are selected each summer
Dates: April 16 – July 18
Application Deadline: March 29
Eligibility: High school students aged 14–18 from Alaska
The Alaska Songbird Institute High School Internship Program gives local high school students experience in wildlife research, ecology, conservation, and ornithology. You’ll work with biologists, interns, and volunteers on the Swallow Ecology Project and help monitor about 80 Tree Swallow nests from egg laying through fledging. Your responsibilities will include checking nest boxes, collecting biological and ecosystem data, monitoring nests, managing insect traps, maintaining weather records, and assisting with the capture, handling, and banding of birds. As you gain experience, you may also measure and band birds yourself. You’ll learn how food availability, climate, and other environmental factors affect bird survival and build skills in data management, scientific research, and database work. You’ll volunteer about 8–10 hours per week, with shifts at Creamer’s Field and UAF, and complete at least 85 hours to earn a stipend.
4. Malott Family Research Apprenticeship Program
Location: Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, IL
Cost/Stipend: Free | Paid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Competitive
Dates: June 22 – August 7; orientation is held on June 6
Application Deadline: February 1 – March 9
Eligibility: Rising 11th–12th graders and college freshmen who live in Chicago, are 16–18 years old by June 7, and are authorized to work in the United States
Lincoln Park Zoo’s Malott Family Research Apprenticeship Program pairs you with a mentor from one of the zoo’s five science centers and allows you to complete an animal-focused research project. You may observe animals at the zoo or in natural habitats and gain experience in field and computational conservation research. You’ll work with scientists from the Urban Wildlife Institute to study wildlife populations in cities, examine how urban development affects animal diet, behavior, and survival, and explore human wildlife interactions. You’ll get to analyze biological data related to stress and reproductive health in wildlife by working with the Davee Center for Epidemiology and Endocrinology. You’ll also learn how ecological research impacts conservation practices, environmental policy, and protections, develop analytical and communication skills, and present your findings at a poster session. Past projects have studied biodiversity, marmosets, and bat activity.
5. ASPIRE by Johns Hopkins University
Location: Virtual or in person at Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, Laurel, MD
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Less than 10%
Dates: June 23 – August 21 (Summer Session)
Application Deadline: January 1 – February 15
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who live in designated Maryland counties, are at least 15 years old by June 1, and have at least a 2.8 GPA
Johns Hopkins University’s ASPIRE program allows high school juniors and seniors to explore STEM careers by working on projects with mentors from the Applied Physics Laboratory. You can select areas of interest such as physical science, biology, environmental, aerospace and space-related engineering, earth and life sciences, or data analysis, as well as up to three project types like research, lab work, social impact, or public relations. If you’re interested in ecology, the Environmental, Earth, and Life Sciences area will allow you to work with environmental monitoring, weather and climate data, ocean systems, marine technology, biological and chemical sciences, sustainability challenges, or data analysis that examines interactions between organisms and their environments. Mentors and projects are assigned by the program. The summer session requires at least 190 hours of participation.
6. SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station Internships
Location: SUNY Oneonta campus, Buffalo, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; students must arrange their own housing | High school interns earn $3,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; only 1–3 positions are available for high school students, with at least one spot reserved for a student from Otsego County, New York.
Dates: 8 weeks between late May and August
Application Deadline: March 18 (high school students)
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old by June 20 and are New York State residents
SUNY Oneonta’s eight-week summer research internship gives high school students experience in field biology while working in the BFS central lab. You may assist faculty and staff with research or develop your own project, with schedules changing based on project needs. Research activities include fisheries and plant surveys, water chemistry testing, data analysis, water sampling, fish dissection, scientific writing, and zooplankton identification. The program uses Otsego Lake and its watershed as a living classroom and helps you study lake ecology, freshwater ecosystems, food web dynamics, watershed hydrology, ecosystem monitoring, vegetation and population assessments, and how water chemistry affects aquatic life and environmental health. You’ll attend weekly seminars on local hydrology and ecology. You’ll also present your research, create a large-format poster, and submit a technical report. You can read past intern publications here.
7. Summer@Brown Online Pre-College Programs — Marine Ecology: Studying and Safeguarding Our Most Vulnerable Ecosystems
Location: Online through Canvas, Brown’s learning management system
Cost: $3,364–$6,520, based on course length; some courses may have additional fees. Scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Several online courses run between June 15 and July 24, with lengths ranging from 2 to 6 weeks
Application Deadline: January 14 – May 15
Eligibility: Students finishing grades 9–12 and aged 14–18 by June 14 can apply; some courses may have extra requirements
Summer@Brown Online offers more than 35 courses in subjects such as biology, ecology, engineering, data science, psychology, computer science, and finance, as well as workshops, activities, and events outside class. In the Marine Ecology course, developed with MarineLab, you’ll study the marine ecosystems of the Florida Keys through lessons led by marine biologists. You’ll learn about seagrass beds, biodiversity, mangroves, coral reefs, habitat connections, and the effects of human activities like marine debris and protected areas. The course will help you develop leadership, communication, and active listening skills and allow you to design a community action plan and propose practical conservation solutions for marine ecosystems. You’ll also use field footage, lab demonstrations, and live specimens to explore how environmental and living components interact within ecosystems.
8. Pre-College @ UMass Amherst — Primate Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation
Location: Online (synchronous)
Cost: $1,985 + $45 non-refundable application fee; a limited number of partial, need-based scholarships are available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small class size
Dates: June 29 – July 10
Application Deadline: Varies based on the session start date; you can check here
Eligibility: Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
UMass Amherst’s Primate Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation course introduces you to primate evolution, behavior, ecology, and conservation. You’ll learn through lectures, discussions, assigned readings, videos, and electronic labs that cover topics like taxonomy, dentition, diet, anatomy, locomotion, and feeding ecology using 3D specimen models and short videos. The course helps you learn about evolution and ecology within the Primate Order, including humans, and explore how these topics connect and influence one another. You’ll attend live Zoom sessions, work individually and in teams on virtual lab activities, and complete a final project consisting of a two-page research paper on the behavioral ecology and conservation status of a primate species of your choice.
9. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: All 50 U.S. states, along with opportunities in Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico
Cost/Stipend: Free | Students earn $3,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: 8 weeks between June and August; the internship schedule is flexible and set by the mentor and the student
Application Deadline: November 21 – January 25
Eligibility: Current high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old by the internship start date
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an eight-week internship through the American Fisheries Society that gives high school juniors and seniors experience in fisheries biology, conservation, habitat restoration, and resource management. You’ll be paired with a professional mentor at a site within about 45 minutes of home, and you’ll get to set the schedule, dates, and any additional field locations. You’ll work about 32 hours per week or more and may assist with fish surveys, specimen handling, restoration projects, water testing, electrofishing, snorkeling, data analysis, and education activities. Your projects can explore topics like biodiversity, ecosystem health, toxicology, physiology, fisheries management, aquatic populations, habitats, and socioeconomics. These topics help you understand how aquatic ecosystems function, how food webs and invasive species shape biodiversity, how environmental conditions affect species, and how conservation efforts protect and restore habitats.
10. George Mason University’s Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program (ASSIP)
Location: Remote, hybrid, or in-person at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA, the Potomac Science Center, Woodbridge Campus, VA, or the Science and Technology Campus, Manassas, VA
Cost: $1,299 for 3 college course credits + $25 application fee (both waivable based on financial need)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 10%
Dates: June 18 – August 12
Application Deadline: December 8 – February 15
Eligibility: For computer lab internships (remote, in-person, or hybrid), students must be at least 15 years old by the start date. For wet-lab internships (in-person or hybrid), students must be at least 16 years old.
The Aspiring Scientists Summer Internship Program at George Mason University is a STEM research program where you’ll work one-on-one with faculty researchers at George Mason and partner institutions using advanced technology. Depending on your mentor and project, the internship may be remote, in person, or hybrid. Research areas include ecology, cancer biology, neuroscience, chemistry, physics, microbiology, genetics, atmospheric science, and materials science, with some projects leading to publications or conference presentations. If you pursue ecology-related research, you may get to study aquatic and marine ecosystems, wildlife populations, conservation biology, invasive species, biodiversity, animal behavior, microbial ecology, sustainable food systems, plant microbiomes, and human impacts on ecosystems. Some projects also use both genetics and ecology to investigate evolutionary patterns, biodiversity, and wildlife conservation using molecular biology tools.
11. Texas Tech Anson L. Clark Scholars Program
Location: Honors College, Lubbock, TX
Cost/Stipend: $25 application fee | Students earn $750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 12 students
Dates: June 21 – August 6
Application Deadline: January 2 – February 16
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors graduating this year or next who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents and are at least 17 years old at the program’s start
Texas Tech’s Anson L. Clark Scholars Program allows high school juniors and seniors to work one-on-one with a faculty mentor and complete a hands-on project. You can explore cellular and microbiology, chemistry, biology, cancer biology, physics, computer science, engineering, and related fields. You’ll also participate in field trips, discussions, seminars, and social activities that will introduce you to college research and campus life. Ecology-related learning depends on your project and mentor, but some faculty labs focus on environmental science, plant biology, and wildlife tracking. Past projects have included studying predator-prey relationships using environmental DNA and mapping phylogenomic trees of organisms interacting with plant parasites. You’ll also build skills in data analysis, scientific writing, laboratory safety, and ecological research methods by working on environmental issues and sustainability.
12. Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University
Location: Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free; on-campus housing and meals cost $2,450 (optional) | Paid (amount not specified)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 5%
Dates: June 29 – August 7
Application Deadline: February 5
Eligibility: High school juniors who are at least 16 years old and are U.S. citizens or permanent residents
At Stony Brook University’s Simons Summer Research Program, you’ll participate in STEM research and select up to three preferred research areas or mentors. You’ll work with a faculty mentor and research group and learn laboratory techniques, research methods, and experimental design. Research areas include biology, ecology, neurobiology, biochemistry, genetics, geosciences, physics, astronomy, and chemistry. If you choose ecology-related research, you may study coastal ecosystem restoration and climate change adaptation by taking part in fieldwork, plant photosynthesis, bioinformatics, sediment analysis, remote sensing, and soil microbial ecology. You’ll participate in workshops, lab tours, abstract writing, faculty talks, and a final poster presentation. You can also use DNA sequencing data and computational tools to examine microbial communities, ecosystem productivity, biogeochemical cycling, soil health, and microbial traits across different environments.
13. Wildlife Conservation Society | Bronx Zoo Project TRUE (Teens Researching Urban Ecology)
Location: Bronx Zoo, Bronx, NY
Cost/Stipend: Free | Summer interns earn $750 and a MetroCard, and fall interns get around $350. Participants placed with WCS-approved providers may instead earn New York City’s minimum wage through SYEP
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Around 50 students
Dates: Late June – August; 3 days a week (Summer Program) | September – December; 14 Saturdays (Fall Program), plus an extra Saturday in January for final presentations
Application Deadline: Late February
Eligibility: High school sophomores or juniors who live in the Bronx, are comfortable working both indoors and outdoors, and are eligible to work in the United States
Project TRUE is a research program for New York City high school students interested in urban ecology that runs from summer through fall. Led by the Bronx Zoo Education team at the Wildlife Conservation Society in partnership with Fordham University, the program places you in small groups guided by Fordham students and WCS educators. You’ll design and carry out your own research project using tools such as plant surveys, camera traps, and collection nets to study urban ecology topics, which include mammals, birds, invasive species, and water quality. You’ll collect and analyze data, share your findings, and learn about ecosystem health, wildlife monitoring, and species conservation. Past projects have explored eel conservation, bird habitats, and freshwater turtle populations. The program will also help you build research, networking, public speaking, and college readiness skills.
14. Harvard University’s Secondary School Program (SSP) — Introduction to Organismic and Evolutionary Biology
Location: Virtual or in person at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $4,180–$15,735 + $75 application fee; financial aid is available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Maximum 160 students
Dates: July 12 – August 8 (4-week session) | June 20 – August 8 (7-week session)
Application Deadline: January 7 (early deadline) | February 11 (regular deadline) | April 1 (late deadline)
Eligibility: High school students aged 16–19 who plan to start college in the next few years, are at least 16 by June 20, and younger than 19 before July 31 can apply. Applicants must have a basic understanding of cell structure and function, algebra, and biological, organic, and inorganic molecules and ions.
Harvard Summer School’s Secondary School Program allows high school students to enroll in college-level courses for credit. You can choose a four-week residential option with one course or a seven-week format that may be residential, online, or commuting, with the option to take one or two courses. If you are interested in ecology, the Introduction to Organismic and Evolutionary Biology course covers animal anatomy and physiology, cellular and organismal biology, evolution, ecology, and the origin of life. You’ll learn about energy flow in ecosystems, nutrient cycling, population dynamics, carrying capacity, climate impacts on biomes, species interactions, natural selection, and environmental pressures. Laboratory and discussion sections will help you study these concepts through data analysis and ecological investigations and fulfill introductory biology requirements for pre-medical studies.
15. MSPCA Cape Cod Summer Animal Welfare Specialist Internship
Location: MSPCA Cape Cod Animal Shelter, Barnstable, MA
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Minimum 8 weeks between June and August
Application Deadline: April 30
Eligibility: High school students who have completed their sophomore year, can obtain an MA Youth employment permit, and are 16 or older by June 15 can apply. Some prior experience working with animals is required, and you can check the full list of requirements here.
The MSPCA Cape Cod Summer Animal Welfare Specialist Volunteer Internship allows high school students to explore careers in animal welfare, assist staff in caring for animals, and connect community members with resources. You’ll work 1-2 days per week and assist with cleaning and disinfecting cages, setting up enclosures, sorting donations, providing food, water, bedding, and enrichment, completing office tasks, providing customer service, and maintaining confidentiality. You’ll also attend required training and gain practical experience in animal care, behavior, and welfare. Taking part in shelter work will help you explore how diseases and parasites spread in enclosed settings, how captive environments, stress, and socialization affect animal well-being, and the effect of spay-and-neuter programs on stray animal populations. You may also gain exposure to local wildlife rehabilitation and human-wildlife interactions in Cape Cod’s coastal ecosystems.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are ecology summer programs for high school students?
Ecology summer programs for high school students are field- and lab-based experiences that let you study biodiversity, ecosystem dynamics, species interactions, and environmental change firsthand, rather than only through classroom instruction. Activities can include fieldwork like bird banding and water sampling, lab analysis of biological data, or independent research projects guided by professional ecologists and university faculty.
Do I need prior research experience to apply to these ecology programs?
Most programs do not require prior research experience. The Alaska Songbird Institute Internship, MSPCA Cape Cod Internship, and Project TRUE are designed as accessible entry points for motivated students. More selective placements like Simons Summer Research, SUNY Oneonta, and Texas Tech Clark Scholars expect stronger academic preparation, though formal lab experience is rarely a strict requirement.
Are there paid ecology programs for high school students?
Yes. SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station pays $3,500. The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program provides $3,000 plus an all-expenses-paid trip to the Hutton Scholars Summit. Texas Tech Clark Scholars offers $750. Bronx Zoo Project TRUE pays summer interns $750 plus a MetroCard. RISE Environmentor offers up to $1,200, and the Alaska Songbird Institute provides a $500 stipend upon completion of the minimum required hours.
Which ecology programs focus specifically on marine or coastal ecosystems?
The Pre-College Marine Science Program at Eckerd College centers on Gulf of Mexico ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs. Summer@Brown’s Marine Ecology course studies the Florida Keys. RISE Environment focuses on Jamaica Bay and the Rockaway Peninsula shoreline, covering salt marsh restoration and monitoring of coastal species. Simons Summer Research also offers coastal ecosystem restoration projects for students interested in that focus area.
Are there virtual or online ecology programs for high school students?
Yes. Summer@Brown Online offers a Marine Ecology course taught through Brown’s learning management system. UMass Amherst’s Primate Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation course runs as a fully synchronous online program. Johns Hopkins ASPIRE offers both virtual and in-person tracks depending on your project placement. These options expand access for students outside major research hub cities.
Which ecology programs involve studying wildlife and animal behavior?
The Alaska Songbird Institute Internship focuses on Tree Swallow nest monitoring and bird banding. Lincoln Park Zoo’s Malott Family Research Apprenticeship covers urban wildlife populations and animal behavior in cities. Bronx Zoo Project TRUE examines urban mammals, birds, and invasive species. UMass Amherst’s course centers specifically on primate evolution and behavior, while MSPCA Cape Cod focuses on animal welfare and shelter-based wildlife exposure.
When should I apply to ecology summer programs for high school students?
Deadlines vary considerably. The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program and Texas Tech Clark Scholars open applications as early as November and January respectively. Johns Hopkins ASPIRE and Lincoln Park Zoo’s program have winter deadlines between January and March. Simons Summer Research closes February 5, and SUNY Oneonta closes March 18. RISE Environmentor and MSPCA Cape Cod have later spring deadlines in April. Reviewing program-specific timelines in the fall and preparing transcripts and recommendations early is especially important for the most competitive and paid placements.
Image source: Stony Brook University