Environmental science programs offer high school students a way to explore how natural systems function while building practical skills in research, data collection, and analysis. Whether you’re interested in marine ecosystems, climate change, or urban sustainability, these programs provide opportunities to engage with real-world environmental challenges. Many also incorporate hands-on learning, from fieldwork and lab experiments to community-based projects, helping you connect theory with application. For students looking to deepen their understanding of environmental science, local programs can offer consistent access to relevant ecosystems and organizations.
Why should you choose a program in New Haven?
New Haven provides a distinct setting for environmental science programs, particularly due to its coastal location along the Long Island Sound. This allows you to study marine ecosystems, water quality, and coastal resilience in a practical context. The city is also home to a mix of academic institutions, community organizations, and environmental initiatives, which means many programs emphasize both scientific research and community engagement. You may find opportunities to work on urban environmental issues such as urban forestry, food systems, and sustainability projects alongside more traditional ecological studies. This combination of coastal and urban environments creates a broader scope for learning and skill development within a single location.
If you’re also exploring flexible or broader options, you can check out our other curated lists of environmental science opportunities, including programs you can do remotely.
Here are 15 environmental science programs for high school students in New Haven to consider.
15 Environmental Science Programs for High School Students in New Haven
1. Marine & Environmental Sciences Academy
Location: University of New Haven, West Haven, CT
Cost: $650 (day program), $1,250 (on-campus)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 20 – 24
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
This environmental science program for high school students in New Haven focuses on marine systems, coastal resilience, and environmental policy through a mix of fieldwork and lab-based study. You engage directly with coastal ecosystems around New Haven Harbor while also recreating processes like erosion in controlled settings. The curriculum integrates scientific research with social science perspectives, particularly in areas like food systems and shoreline management. You’ll examine how climate change affects coastal communities and explore approaches to sustainable solutions. Throughout the program, you work on a small research topic that concludes with a poster presentation where you present your findings.
2. Common Ground Green Jobs Corps
Location: Common Ground, New Haven, CT
Cost: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: New Haven youth
This environmental science program allows high school students in New Haven to take part in hands-on work across multiple community-based environmental projects. Activities can include urban forestry tasks like planting and surveying trees, supporting local food systems through farmers’ markets, and maintaining urban farms. You also contribute to environmental infrastructure such as recycling, composting, and school garden initiatives. Some placements involve water quality monitoring and data collection in partnership with regional organizations. Alongside fieldwork, you interact with different organizations working on sustainability across the city.
3. City of New Haven Youth@Work Summer Program
Location: New Haven, CT
Stipend: State of Connecticut minimum wage
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 600-700 students
Dates: July 6 –31
Application Deadline: March 20
Eligibility: New Haven students aged 14-21
Youth@Work provides high school students in New Haven with work-based learning experiences that may include environmental science placements, depending on assignment. You develop foundational skills by applying reading, writing, and math in real-world contexts. Tasks are designed to build problem-solving and decision-making abilities while introducing you to workplace expectations. The structure emphasizes both technical and interpersonal skill development, including teamwork and communication.
4. Yale Pathways to Science Summer Scholars Program
Location: Yale University, New Haven, CT
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 100+ scholars; 16 students/class
Dates: July 5 – 17
Application Deadline: February 24
Eligibility: Pathway scholars in the 10th to 12th grade
This science program for high school students in New Haven is part of a broader STEM-focused experience built around short, intensive workshops. You rotate through multiple subject areas, which may include environmental science topics such as ecology, biology, or sustainability. Workshops are small and discussion-based, often incorporating hands-on experiments or lab techniques. You also participate in shorter enrichment sessions that introduce additional concepts or fields. Some activities involve working with biological samples, visiting research spaces, or exploring applied engineering problems.
5. Urban Resources Initiative Internships
Location: New Haven, CT
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students attending Common Ground or Sound School
URI internships introduce high school students to urban forestry and community-based environmental work. You take part in maintaining and developing the environment while learning practical skills related to tree care and environmental stewardship. The work often involves physically intensive tasks alongside collaborative planning and discussion. Through these internships, you gain experience addressing environmental challenges in urban settings.
6. Yale Peabody Museum EVOLUTIONS Program
Location: Yale Peabody Museum, New Haven, CT
Cost/Stipend: None; select students get paid for summer internship opportunities
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 100 students
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: September 17
Eligibility: New Haven and West Haven public high school students in grades 9-10
EVOLUTIONS is an environmental science program for high school students in New Haven that combines informal science learning with museum-based research and communication. You participate in weekly sessions where you explore topics in natural science through hands-on activities and collaborative projects. A central component involves designing and producing a museum exhibit, which requires research, interpretation, and creative presentation. You also have opportunities to engage with scientists, access collections, and observe how research is conducted. Some students also take on roles as science educators or interns in laboratory settings.
7. Schooner Camp Junior Counselors
Location: Long Wharf Nature Preserve/Canal Dock Boathouse, New Haven, CT
Cost/Stipend: $125/session; students who apply through the Youth@Work program can receive a stipend
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 6 campers/session
Dates: Pre-camp training + 2 weekly camp sessions
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Teens aged 15-16
This environmental science camp in New Haven places you in a mentorship role while engaging with coastal ecosystems and marine activities. As a junior counselor, you assist with leading younger campers through nature exploration, shoreline experiments, and introductory sailing sessions. You gain experience supporting hands-on learning about marine life, including observing organisms and conducting simple environmental experiments. The role also introduces you to youth development concepts through pre-camp training and structured responsibilities.
8. Growing Entrepreneurs
Location: New Haven, CT
Stipend: Weekly wages
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: January – November
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: New Haven high school students aged 14-18
In the Growing Entrepreneurs program, you combine agricultural work with small business development over an extended timeframe. You participate in farming and land conservation projects while also learning how environmental systems connect to food production and sustainability. Alongside this, you develop a business concept, working through planning, financial structuring, and presentation. The program includes seminars that connect environmental topics with entrepreneurship and community-based work. You may also take on roles that involve supporting community programs or working in farm-based initiatives.
9. COASTS Summer Steward Training Program
Location: University of New Haven/Canal Dock Boathouse, New Haven, CT
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: 20 community members
Dates: Saturdays during the summer months
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: New Haven and West Haven residents aged 16+
This environmental science program introduces high school students in New Haven to coastal ecology through a combination of virtual instruction and field-based training. You learn to identify marine organisms, analyze water quality, and interpret environmental data related to the Long Island Sound. Classroom sessions led by researchers are paired with field days where you apply these skills in real coastal environments. The program also focuses on science communication, teaching you how to explain environmental concepts and policy to broader audiences. Some participants continue into roles that involve outreach and public engagement after completing the training.
10. City of New Haven Student Intern
Location: New Haven, CT
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Varies by position
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students (16+) enrolled in an accredited high school, college, or university
This program offers high school students in New Haven exposure to professional work environments, which may include environmental science roles depending on departmental placement. You contribute to project-based work within municipal departments, gaining experience with administrative, technical, or field-related tasks. The structure emphasizes applying academic knowledge to practical assignments and understanding how city operations function. Depending on your role, you may engage with environmental initiatives, data collection, or community-focused projects.
11. Friends of Edgewood Park Volunteers
Location: Edgewood Park, New Haven, CT
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Open to all
Through this environmental science program in New Haven, high school students take part in ongoing park stewardship and habitat management. You contribute to activities such as planting native species, maintaining garden areas, and managing invasive plants. The work supports both ecological health and public green spaces, offering insight into urban environmental maintenance. You also gain exposure to basic conservation practices and ecosystem management in a local context.
12. Solar Youth Green Jobs Interns
Location: New Haven, CT
Stipend: Provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Not specified
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students
This environmental science program for high school students in New Haven focuses on community-based environmental projects designed and carried out by participants. As an intern, you work on initiatives that improve local environments while developing practical skills related to sustainability and stewardship. The program includes training in teamwork, communication, and problem-solving within project-based settings. You engage in planning and executing environmental improvements, which may involve outdoor work and collaboration with peers.
13. From Sea to Changing Sea – Marine Life and Ocean Conservation
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Open to all students
This online environmental science program introduces marine ecosystems and ocean conservation through a recorded symposium featuring leading scientists and researchers. You explore topics such as fisheries conservation, coral reef systems, ocean acoustics, and the effects of climate change on marine environments like the Gulf of Maine. The program emphasizes how human activity influences ocean systems and highlights current research and conservation strategies. Delivered as a panel discussion with a Q&A component, it offers exposure to real-world scientific perspectives and emerging solutions in ocean science.
14. Stanford Pre-Collegiate Summer Institutes: Environmental Solutions
Location: Virtual
Cost: $3,200 (financial aid available)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 15 – 26
Application Deadline: March 13
Eligibility: Students in grades 8–11
This environmental science program for high school students focuses on solving real-world environmental challenges through an interdisciplinary approach. You examine topics such as climate change, resource management, and sustainability, drawing connections between ecological systems and human activity. The curriculum emphasizes analytical thinking, encouraging you to evaluate environmental policies and propose evidence-based solutions. You engage with issues like ocean conservation, biodiversity loss, and sustainable development through discussions, readings, and project-based assignments.
15. Harvard Summer School: Economy, Environment, and Sustainable Development
Location: Virtual
Cost: $4,180 (4-credits) or $8,160 (8-credits); financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 20 – August 8
Application Deadline: February 11
Eligibility: Students who are 16–18 years old
This course explores the intersection of economics, sustainability, and environmental policy. You study how economic growth, environmental protection, and human development interact, with a focus on concepts like resource management, sustainability models, and global inequality. It examines real-world issues such as the use of natural resources, international trade, and the role of institutions like the United Nations in environmental governance. You also analyze how policies and incentives shape environmental outcomes, building a deeper understanding of sustainable development from both economic and ecological perspectives
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re looking for a competitive mentored research program in subjects like environmental science, 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!
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