Environmental science programs for high school students introduce you to the scientific, social, and policy dimensions of environmental challenges. These programs typically combine lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities that help you understand how ecosystems function and how human actions influence the natural world. You might study topics such as climate change, biodiversity loss, renewable energy, environmental health, or marine ecosystems.
Many programs also give you the opportunity to learn by doing. You might collect environmental samples, monitor wildlife habitats, analyze pollution data or learn how scientists track changes in ecosystems over time. Some programs take it a step further by helping you build research skills, guiding you through the process of developing a question, collecting evidence, and presenting your findings.
Why should you choose a program in Boston?
Boston is a leading hub for environmental research and education in the United States. The city is home to major universities, public health institutions, and environmental organizations that actively study climate change, sustainability, and ocean science. For high school students, this creates opportunities to learn from researchers who are working directly on environmental issues.
Boston’s location makes your learning even more dynamic. You can step outside the classroom to explore coastal environments along the Atlantic, study urban sustainability initiatives, or visit nearby research centers to learn about marine ecosystems. These local environments become living classrooms where you can see environmental science in action.
Boston’s strong academic community also means that many programs offer opportunities to connect with scientists, graduate students, and environmental professionals. These interactions can help you understand how environmental research works in the real world and what academic paths might lead to careers in sustainability, conservation, or environmental health.
1. Willow Tree Youth Leaders Internship Program
Location: Mass Audubon (Boston Nature Center), Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid internship (amount not specified)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Multi-year
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
This is a multi-year internship where you stay involved over a longer period rather than just a few weeks. Based at the Boston Nature Center, you’ll spend your time leading public programs, helping run events, and working directly with visitors. You’ll also take on roles as a teen counselor during camps, where you’ll plan activities and work with younger students. A big part of the program is that you’re not just learning about the environment; you’re actively teaching others and representing the center at community events. Along the way, you’ll work on conservation tasks such as removing invasive species and designing climate action projects that improve the site. This program is a good option if you’re looking for consistent involvement in environmental work and enjoy leadership roles rather than purely research-based experiences.
2. Summer Teen Internship Program
Location: New England Aquarium, Boston, MA
Stipend: Paid (amount not specified)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: One week of training + six weeks of work (summer)
Application Deadline: March (tentatively)
Eligibility: Teens aged 14+ (primarily Boston and Cambridge residents)
This program gives high school students the opportunity to work inside the New England Aquarium, helping visitors understand exhibits and ocean conservation topics while building your communication skills. Your role may include guiding guests through exhibits, leading small activities, and answering questions about marine life throughout the day. You’ll begin with a week of training before moving into a structured six-week schedule that combines work shifts with weekly professional development and ocean advocacy sessions. A key part of the experience is that you’re constantly interacting with the public, so you’re learning how to explain science clearly rather than just studying it. There are also optional behind-the-scenes workshops that give you a closer look at how the aquarium operates. This program is a good fit if you’re interested in marine science but want a more people-facing, hands-on role rather than lab or field research.
3. Climate Corps – Eastie Farm
Location: Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid stipend (amount not specified)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: June 21 – August 28
Application Deadline: May 22
Eligibility: Youth ages 14–24 in the Greater Boston area, including high school students
This summer fellowship gives you the opportunity to work with a local community organization on projects focused on climate justice, food systems, and environmental resilience in East Boston. Your time is split between hands-on work and learning experiences that introduce you to real-world sustainability practices. You’ll contribute to projects connected to local food production, land conservation, and coastal resilience, while learning how community organizations respond to climate challenges. The program focuses on practical skills and community engagement, so you spend time outdoors and collaborate with other fellows on local initiatives. You’ll also receive a stipend while building early experience in environmental work and community advocacy. This program is a good fit if you are looking for an introduction to climate and sustainability work while actively engaging in local environmental efforts.
4. Boston Community Conservation Program – The Student Conservation Association
Location: Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid opportunities available for some programs; volunteer options also available
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: School-year programs (January – April); Summer program (July – August)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Boston residents who attend a Boston public school and are at least 15 years old
This program allows you to work on conservation projects across parks and green spaces in Boston, while learning about environmental stewardship. In the summer, you’ll typically join a six-week program, where you help with activities such as invasive plant removal, trail building, and planting projects in local parks. You’ll work outdoors on real conservation projects, while also attending training sessions on topics such as habitat restoration, public speaking, and resume writing. During the school year, you can continue your involvement through the Youth Ambassadors program, where you help design environmental education activities for younger students and community members. You’ll also plan community events and take part in stewardship projects on public lands around the city. This program works well if you’re looking for hands-on environmental experience while contributing to conservation efforts in your local community.
5. Youth Climate Leadership Program – Mass Audubon
Location: Multiple sites across Massachusetts, including Boston Nature Center & Wildlife Sanctuary (Mattapan, MA)
Cost: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Year-round (summits and meetings held throughout the year)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–12 (generally ages 13–18)
The Youth Climate Leadership Program connects you with other teens across Massachusetts who are interested in climate action and community organizing. Rather than following a fixed curriculum, you become part of a statewide network where students collaborate on climate projects and attend youth-led climate summits. You’ll work with a small group to design and carry out a Climate Action Project that addresses an environmental issue in your community, such as reducing food waste, advocating for renewable energy, or organizing public awareness campaigns. The program also hosts regional summits where you can meet mentors, learn organizing strategies, and share your projects with peers. Leadership teams help plan these summits and coordinate community events such as climate cafés, Earth Day festivals, and workshops. Run by Mass Audubon, this program works well if you want to explore environmental advocacy and leadership while connecting with other students interested in climate policy and activism.
6. Ocean STEAM Powered Fellowship (O-STEAM) – Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Location: Woods Hole, MA (Two hours from Boston)
Cost/Stipend: Free residential fellowship
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: August 2 – 8 and August 9 – 15
Application Deadline: March
Eligibility: Massachusetts high school sophomores and juniors
During this week-long residential fellowship, you’ll explore ocean science through hands-on research activities and fieldwork in Woods Hole. The program is run by researchers and educators at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and your days are filled with practical experiences. You might be involved in building and testing your own hydrophone, analyzing dolphin vocalizations, conducting water quality testing, and learning shipboard oceanographic techniques. The program also extends beyond the lab; you could spend time kayaking to test instruments, deploying an ocean drifter, and joining a whale watch expedition, depending on weather conditions. Throughout the week, you’ll work closely with scientists and education specialists, while learning how marine research actually takes place. The program also includes sessions with communications staff who teach you how to explain scientific work to broader audiences. Because the fellowship is fully funded and residential, it gives you access to marine research experiences that would otherwise require significant travel or cost.
7. Silent Spring Summer Institute
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Free
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 6 – 10
Application Deadline: June 5
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–12 (students must be age 13 or older)
This week-long virtual program introduces you to environmental health science and how everyday exposures influence human health. Hosted by researchers at the Silent Spring Institute, the program runs daily evening sessions that combine lectures with interactive discussions. You’ll explore topics such as environmental justice, chemical exposures, and disease prevention, while learning how scientists study pollutants in drinking water, household dust, and consumer products. The program also shows you how researchers design studies and interpret data from both human and animal research. The sessions are led by scientists working in fields such as toxicology, environmental chemistry, and epidemiology, giving you a look at how environmental health research works in practice. The program also covers how scientific findings translate into policies and interventions that reduce harmful exposures in communities. Because the program is free and fully online, it is accessible no matter where you are. It works well if you’re curious about how environmental science connects with public health and policy.
8. Youth Summit on Climate Science, Medicine, & Health – Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Location: Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 11 – 18
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
This week-long program introduces you to how climate change intersects with public health, medicine, and policy. Hosted at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and organized by its Center for Climate, Health, and the Global Environment (C-CHANGE), the summit combines workshops, field-based activities, and discussions with scientists and health experts. You’ll spend the week learning how environmental changes affect human health, while engaging with researchers, policy specialists, and energy innovators working on real-world solutions. A key part of the program is interacting with professionals across climate science, medicine, and policy, so you can see how different fields work together to address climate challenges. The summit is organized in partnership with Putney Student Travel, which helps run the student programming and logistics. Set within a major public health school, the program emphasizes climate and health leadership and offers a perspective that goes beyond environmental science alone. It works well if you’re interested in exploring climate change through the lens of health, equity, and policy rather than focusing only on laboratory research.
9. Green Ambassadors Program – Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound School
Location: Boston Harbor Islands, Boston, MA
Cost/Stipend: Paid employment ($15.00/hour for Year 1; $15.50/hour for Year 2; $16.00/hour for Year 3)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: July 7 – August 14
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Boston residents ages 15–18; new applicants must be rising 10th or 11th graders
This six-week paid summer program lets you work outdoors on conservation and environmental projects across the Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park. The program is run by the Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound School and focuses on natural resource management, environmental justice, and career exploration in green industries. You’ll spend most days maintaining trails, removing invasive species, collecting environmental monitoring data, and working with scientists and park staff on projects that support the island ecosystem. Because the program combines paid employment with hands-on conservation work, you gain both job experience and practical exposure to environmental fieldwork. The schedule typically runs four days a week and includes a multi-day camping or kayaking expedition in the harbor islands. Over the three-year program model, you’ll progressively build leadership skills and explore careers in environmental science and conservation. This program works well if you’re interested in outdoor work, environmental stewardship, and learning how conservation projects operate in an urban coastal setting.
10. Environmental Studies: Sustainability and Your World – University of Southern California Pre-College Programs
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: $1,990 tuition; $35 application fee
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Rolling start dates throughout the year (course typically completed in about 4 weeks)
Application Deadline: Varies by start date
Eligibility: Students age 14 or older enrolled in high school or a secondary program
This online course introduces you to core topics in environmental science and sustainability through lectures, readings, and case studies. Offered through the pre-college division of the University of Southern California, the course explores themes such as population ecology, conservation biology, renewable energy, and coastal pollution. You’ll examine real-world environmental challenges and analyze how scientists and policymakers respond to issues such as biodiversity loss and resource depletion. The course is self-paced, allowing you to complete around 20–25 hours of coursework over roughly four weeks on your own schedule. At the end of the program, you’ll receive a certificate of completion and can request a USC pre-college transcript documenting your participation.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like data science, machine learning, political theory, biology, and chemistry, 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: Mass Audubon