a powerful way to transition from classroom theory to professional practice. Environmental science programs for high school students in Michigan offer a unique competitive advantage by providing early exposure to sophisticated laboratory environments, collegiate-level inquiry, and mentorship from world-class scientists. These experiences allow you to develop technical expertise on your resume, demonstrating a proven ability to handle complex ecological data and manage independent projects before you even step onto a university campus.
Why should I do an environmental science program in high school?
Participating in an environmental research program provides concrete benefits that extend far beyond standard extracurricular activities, particularly regarding your college application profile. Admissions officers at top-tier institutions look for evidence that you have sought out challenges that require deep critical thinking and persistence. By completing a program at an institution like the University of Michigan or Michigan State, you prove you can navigate professional-grade equipment and contribute to the global body of environmental knowledge.
To help get you started, here are 13 environmental science programs for high school students in Michigan. If you’re looking for more options, you can check out our blogs on renewable energy summer programs for high school students and summer programs for high school students in Michigan.
13 Environmental Science Programs for High School Students in Michigan
1. SEE Camp (Summer Engineering Exploration)
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $700 (Need-based financial aid available)
Dates: July 5 – 11
Application Deadline: February 19
Eligibility: Rising 10th and 11th graders
Hosted by the Society of Women Engineers, this residential program introduces you to the breadth of engineering and its impact on the environment. You will explore disciplines such as civil and marine engineering through guided lab activities and facility tours. A central feature is a week-long design challenge in which you apply the engineering design process to develop practical solutions to real-world problems. This program will include tours of advanced facilities like MCity (an automated vehicle testing ground) and the Michigan Tech Research Institute (MTRI), as well as sessions with the Office of Admissions to discuss academic pathways.
2. Environmental Science Camp – Northern Michigan University
Location: Northern Michigan University, Marquette, MI
Cost: $849 – $949 (Early bird discount available until June 1)
Dates: July 12 – 18
Application Deadline: July 6
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors
This residential program focuses on the diverse natural landscapes of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. You will learn to use field technology to investigate Lake Superior watersheds, geological formations, and freshwater systems. The curriculum emphasizes data collection and ecosystem analysis through hands-on fieldwork, including paddling the AuTrain River to examine riparian health. Notable features include collaboration with NMU faculty on current environmental science methods and living in university residence halls to experience campus life. By the end of the week, you will be able to connect your field observations to broader global sustainability questions.
3. Aspirnaut Summer Research Internship
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost/Stipend: Free; $3,000 stipend provided
Dates: June 14 – July 24
Application Deadline: February 15
Eligibility: Rising seniors in Michigan (16+ years old)
Hosted by the University of Michigan’s Life Sciences Institute, this six-week residential program immerses you in professional life sciences research. You will be matched with a U-M scientist to work on an active research project in an on-campus laboratory. The program also includes preparatory sessions for college applications and standardized tests. You will have the opportunity to give a final presentation of your research findings to the general public and receive a significant stipend to support your participation. This is one of the most prestigious research-to-career pipelines for high schoolers in the state.
4. Physics of Atomic Nuclei (PAN)
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Cost: Free (Room and board included)
Dates: July 26 – 31
Application Deadline: March 5
Eligibility: High school students in the U.S.
This competitive program explores the fundamental building blocks of matter and their role in the universe. You will attend lectures on nuclear science, astrophysics, and cosmology while conducting experiments at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). You will learn research methodologies such as Gamma spectroscopy and particle identification. You will also receive lab safety training and work under the mentorship of research faculty to understand the applications of rare isotopes in medicine and environmental science. This is a premiere track for students looking to enter the world of high-energy physics.
5. University of Michigan Earth Camp
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (plus field sites)
Cost: Free
Dates: One week in the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Michigan high school students
Earth Camp is a residential program that educates students on the Earth and environmental sciences through outdoor fieldwork. You will engage in geological exploration, ecosystem monitoring, and sustainability projects. The curriculum is designed to highlight diversity in STEM and provides mentorship from graduate students and faculty. You will have the opportunity to collect data across different Michigan ecosystems and receive a structured introduction to environmental problem-solving. This program is especially designed for students from southeastern Michigan who are interested in pursuing careers in environmental science.
6. MSU Multicultural Apprenticeship Program (MAP)
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Cost: Free
Dates: July 5 – 31
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: MAP is designed for high school students currently in 10th and 11th grades who have strong interest and aptitude in science, math, and other academic areas.
This program provides an extensive research immersion where participants will be matched with a CANR faculty member to collaborate on a research project in fields such as food science, agricultural engineering, forestry, animal sciences, horticulture, crop and soil sciences, environmental and natural resource management, veterinary medicine, and more. Over four weeks, the program includes field trips, leadership seminars, and various educational, social, and cultural events. You will gain practical experience in laboratory and field research, work with computers and advanced equipment, and interact with students, faculty, and professionals. Projects focus on applied chemistry, materials science, and environmental science, with past topics including renewable plastic reagents and drug therapies.
7. Michigan Math and Science Scholars (MMSS)
Location: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Cost: $1,400 (plus $1,100 for residential costs)
Dates: Session 1: June 21 – July 3 | Session 2: July 5 – 17 | Session 3: July 19 – 31
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors
MMSS allows you to choose from a variety of courses, including environmental issues, neuroimaging, and AI. You will learn through a combination of fieldwork, lab experiments, and Ph.D.-led lectures. This program explores many courses under the theme of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Earth and Environmental Sciences, or investigates ecological trends through on-campus demonstrations. Students have access to top-tier labs, classrooms, and technology at the University of Michigan while learning from faculty, graduate students, and advanced undergraduates. The program includes time in research and computer labs, as well as fieldwork with professors. It offers both commuter and residential options, allowing flexible participation in the university’s academic environment. Need-based financial aid is available to make the program accessible to all Michigan residents.
8. Michigan Naturalist Program
Location: Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Cost: $200
Dates: One Saturday a month from May through October
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students aged 18 and above are eligible
Through the Michigan Naturalist Program, you will earn a formal certification by navigating a dynamic flipped classroom that blends independent online study with intensive, monthly in-person field sessions. By engaging with core subjects ranging from Great Lakes limnology and herpetology to traditional ecological knowledge and climate science, you will develop a sophisticated appreciation for local biomes and Michigan’s unique geological formation. You will gain the technical proficiency to distinguish between diverse ecosystems, identify native flora and fauna, and evaluate the environmental stresses caused by human activity and invasive species. You will learn to implement and discuss habitat conservation practices through four-hour experiential learning modules held in various natural habitats.
9. SEAQuest
Location: Remote
Cost: $1,100
Dates: July 6 – 24
Application Deadline: February – March; apply here
Eligibility: High school students are eligible
SEAQuest is a three-week seminar centered on coral reefs and climate change, using the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) in Kiribati as a case study. Under the guidance of oceanographer Dr. Heather Page, participants will work with reef data from the Caribbean and South Pacific. The program involves identifying species and analyzing the effects of global warming, coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and atmospheric carbon on coral reefs. Participants will engage in data collection and analysis, contributing to a long-term research project with over 50 years of data.
10. From Sea to Changing Sea: Marine Life and Ocean Conservation
Location: Virtual (Harvard Radcliffe Institute)
Cost: Free
Dates: Flexible / Self-paced
Application Deadline: Flexible
Eligibility: Open to all students
This course provides a technical overview of how climate change influences marine biodiversity and global atmospheric systems. You will learn about the impact of human-induced disturbances on ocean health and the resulting shifts in the Earth’s climate. The curriculum is designed for students interested in marine science, environmental policy, or sustainability. Notable features include access to scientific insights from Harvard’s Radcliffe Institute and practical knowledge for tackling marine conservation issues. As a self-paced program, it allows for high-level learning that fits around other Michigan-based summer commitments.
11. KBS GALS Program (Girls on Outdoor Adventure for Leadership and Science)
Location: W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, Hickory Corners, MI
Cost: Free
Dates: July 25 – August 8
Application Deadline: March 16
Eligibility: High school students (priority given to students who identify as female or gender-nonconforming, students of color, and those from underrepresented backgrounds)
Hosted by MSU’s W.K. Kellogg Biological Station, GALS is a free two-week program in which participants learn science through hands-on activities, including overnight camping and backpacking along Michigan’s wilderness trails. Starting and ending at KBS on the shores of Gull Lake, you will cover roughly 20 miles of the North Country Trail while conducting independent research projects that you will present at a formal end-of-program reception. Along the way, you will receive lab experience, mentorship from working scientists, and guided reflection on the many different career pathways in environmental science. GALS was created to broaden access to STEM fields for Michigan high school students from historically underrepresented groups, but the program is open to all applicants.
12. Michigan Tech Summer Youth Programs – Outdoor Field Skills in Natural Resources
Location: Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI
Cost: $1,175 (residential); $700 (commuter); scholarships available
Dates: Weekly sessions, June 14 – July 17
Application Deadline: Rolling (enroll in order received; $150 deposit required)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 9–11
This course introduces the practices of forestry, wildlife ecology, and environmental science while exploring Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, engaging participants in hands-on activities and field trips to understand how industry professionals support and manage healthy ecosystems. This week-long residential program offers a rare opportunity to study environmental science in the field rather than a classroom. Outside of your coursework, you will live in Michigan Tech’s residence hall, eat in the dining hall, and take advantage of Lake Superior, waterfalls, and hiking trails. Michigan Tech’s Additional CSA course options include Field Investigations in Environmental Impacts, where you learn how human activity affects ecosystems and explore evidence-based solutions, and Geo-Mapping the Keweenaw, where you examine the geological formations of the peninsula and their environmental and economic significance.
13. Oakland University – Explorations in Health Careers
Location: Oakland University, Rochester, MI
Cost: 480
Dates: June 15 – 19 (Section 1) | June 22 – 26 (Section 2)
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10–12
This Oakland University School of Health Sciences camp introduces students to health fields across four departments: Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Human Movement Science, and Public and Environmental Wellness. You will spend time in Oakland University’s Human Health Building, working through an ongoing case study that shows how different health and environmental disciplines collaborate to address complex outcomes. This program is particularly well-suited for students who want to understand how environmental science connects to public health, medicine, and career readiness through a single integrated experience.
One more option—Horizon Academic Research Program
If you are looking for a competitive mentored research program in environmental science, you can consider applying to Horizon’s Research Seminars and Labs! It is a selective virtual research program that allows you to engage in advanced research and come up with a research paper on a subject of your choosing. Horizon has worked with 1,000+ high school students so far, offering 600+ research specializations to choose from. You can find the application link here!
Image Source – Oakland University