Environmental science sits at the intersection of biology, chemistry, earth science, and policy, and for any high schooler keen on pursuing it as a career, it is important to build a solid foundation in these subjects. A great way to do this is by participating in environmental science programs. Structured programs in environmental science offer hands-on opportunities, such as conducting water-quality tests, learning ecological survey methods, monitoring and analyzing habitat data, or studying how human activity affects various ecosystems.
Some programs also cover climate science, marine biology, sustainability, and environmental advocacy, recognizing that addressing environmental challenges requires understanding both natural systems and the social forces that shape them. Beyond technical knowledge, these programs help you develop skills in scientific communication, teamwork, and data literacy. The programs may offer mentorship from scientists or conservationists, networking opportunities, and chances to share your findings publicly.
Why should you choose a program in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island’s geography makes it a practical place to explore environmental science. As the smallest state in the nation by area, it holds the highest ratio of coastline to total land area, giving you direct access to ecologically significant habitats, including Narragansett Bay, salt marshes, tidal pools, barrier beaches, and coastal wetlands, which are studied by researchers and managed by conservation organizations.
The state is home to institutions of national standing in environmental and ocean science, including the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography, Roger Williams University’s marine science department, and Brown University. Several nonprofits also run programs rooted in the state’s specific ecological conditions and collaborate with state agencies and research universities. Additionally, Rhode Island is part of the broader southern New England region, where issues such as sea-level rise, ocean acidification, coastal habitat loss, and changing fisheries are realities that researchers and conservationists are actively addressing. As a student here, you will have access to field sites, labs, and professionals whose work is directly tied to the local ecosystems.
To make your search easier, here we have listed 15 environmental science programs for high school students in Rhode Island.
If you are also looking for opportunities in environmental science beyond Rhode Island, check out our selection of summer experiences here and free programs here.
15 Environmental Science Programs for High School Students in Rhode Island
1. PrepareRI High School Internship Program
Location: 200+ sites/employer partners in RI
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend of $17/hour
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: ~200 students/year
Dates: Boot camp: June 22 – 26; Internship: July 6 – August 14
Application deadline: TBA
Eligibility: Current juniors at Rhode Island public high schools, public charter high schools, or home schools with an identified local LEA; applicants must be at least 16 years old.
PrepareRI is a seven-week paid internship program administered by Skills for Rhode Island’s Future and funded by the Rhode Island Governor’s Workforce Board. You will begin with a mandatory 40-hour work-readiness boot camp designed to prepare you with professional skills before you move on to a placement at one of over 200 partner sites offered by local employers. Internship placements span many industries; you can indicate your interest in environmental science during the matching process to be placed with environmental or science-related organizations. You will work a minimum of 150 hours over six weeks and receive ongoing coaching from SkillsRI staff throughout the placement. The program is free to participate in, and you will earn a competitive hourly wage for all hours worked, with the potential to earn up to $4,700 for the full summer.
2. Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program
Location: Various locations in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, and the Pacific Islands; mentor placement within 30–45 minutes of your home, including in RI
Cost/Stipend: Free; $3,000 stipend
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective
Dates: Flexible 8-week window in June – August; dates set between student and mentor
Application deadline: January 25
Eligibility: Rising high school seniors and rising college freshmen, who are at least 16 years old, and live within the U.S., Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, and the Pacific Islands
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program, sponsored by the American Fisheries Society, is an eight-week paid mentorship and internship that pairs you with a fisheries or aquatic science professional near your home. Activities vary by mentor but can include habitat restoration fieldwork, water quality monitoring, species surveys, aquaculture, and data collection and analysis. The program also offers insights into the importance of healthy aquatic systems. You will work 32 hours per week and submit bi-weekly time sheets along with a mid-summer and a final report. You may also attend an all-expenses-paid Hutton Scholar Summit, where you will present your work and connect with fisheries professionals and university programs from across the country.
3. Audubon Society of Rhode Island’s Youth Conservation League (YCL)
Location: Various conservation sites across Rhode Island
Cost/Stipend: Free; stipend paid
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: June 29 – August 13
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students, recent graduates, and early college students who are residents of Rhode Island
The Youth Conservation League is a paid summer job program run by the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. As a participant, you will join a small crew of high school and early college students to work on outdoor stewardship projects at sites across the state, including Audubon wildlife refuges, The Nature Conservancy properties, local land trusts, and town conservation areas. Project work includes trail building and maintenance, invasive plant removal, native seed collection, and habitat restoration, with projects spanning a range of Rhode Island landscapes. This program can help you explore the fieldwork side of environmental science and meaningfully contribute to local conservation efforts.
4. University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography’s Oceanography Explorers Camp
Location: University of Rhode Island (URI) Graduate School of Oceanography, Narragansett, RI
Cost: $550
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 20 – 24
Application deadline: May 30
Eligibility: High school students
This one-week day camp, run by URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography on the Narragansett Bay Campus, offers exposure to chemical oceanography, the study of compounds in the ocean and their role in ocean health. You will learn about the carbonate system through hands-on sampling and conduct experiments examining how warming temperatures and ocean acidification affect marine life. Field exercises are conducted at research sites around Narragansett Bay, and classroom sessions take place at the university. The program also introduces the broader interdisciplinary nature of oceanography by incorporating biological, geological, and physical components. You will engage directly with URI scientists involved in active ocean research and gain insight into how science connects to real career pathways.
5. Roger Williams University’s Marine Biology Camp
Location: Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI
Cost: $2,195
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open enrollment but limited capacity
Dates: Multiple one-week camps from July 1 to August 8
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Rising high school juniors and seniors
RWU’s Marine Biology Camp is a week-long program at Roger Williams University’s waterfront campus in Bristol, giving you direct access to the marine environments of the southern New England coast. You will study coastal ecosystems through exploration of food webs, ocean productivity, and the biology of marine plants and animals. Field excursions include kayaking through bay ecosystems, snorkeling along barrier beaches and tidal pools, plankton sampling and identification, and a whale-watching boat trip off Cape Cod. Lab sessions will complement the fieldwork with hands-on experiments in areas such as shellfish and finfish biology, seaweed ecology, aquaculture, and nutrient and productivity measurement. Guest seminars led by RWU scientists and program staff address current topics, including marine mammal protection, invasive species, overfishing, and toxic plankton blooms. The program combines academic learning and field observation to help you explore the marine conservation side of environmental science.
6. Brown Environmental Leadership Lab: Rhode Island (BELL RI)
Location: Brown University campus, Providence, RI
Cost: $6,274; full scholarships available for Providence Public School District students
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open enrollment but limited capacity
Dates: June 21 – July 2 | July 5 – 16
Application deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Students, ages 16–18, completing grades 10–12
Brown’s Environmental Leadership Lab is a 12-day residential program that combines environmental science, ecology, and leadership development. You will attend classroom sessions, group discussions, and field trips to diverse ecosystems across Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts, covering topics like Rhode Island’s food systems, geological and modern climate change, and marine and coastal community resilience. Alongside students from across the country and internationally, you will investigate the causes and impacts of environmental issues and develop an Action Plan focused on a pressing environmental challenge you choose to work on after the program. This can be an opportunity to gain hands-on exposure to environmental science that focuses on local issues.
7. Summer@Brown
Location: Brown University campus, Providence, RI
Cost: $3,364 – $10,858, depending on duration and format; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions from June 15 to July 25
Application deadline: Three weeks before your course’s start date for on-campus, or May 8 for off-campus
Eligibility: Students, ages 14 to 18, completing grades 9 to 12; specific requirements can vary by course
Summer@Brown offers high school students over 300 non-credit courses taught at Brown University in Providence. You can choose courses with an environmental or climate science focus, such as tracks in alternative energy, renewable energy, social impact of natural and human-made disasters, and wildlife conservation. You will attend lectures, participate in discussions, and complete introductory college-level coursework. Some courses may include team-based problem-solving, project work, and presentations to help you connect concepts to real applications.
8. Seaside Sustainability Virtual Internship
Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: None; academic credit may be available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 10%; ~250 interns/year
Dates: Year-round opportunities; five-month contracts with a minimum commitment of 15 hours/week
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school, college, and post-grad students
Seaside Sustainability is a Massachusetts-based environmental nonprofit that offers virtual and in-person internships. As an intern, you will work on projects across departments, including Climate Action and Advocacy, Marine Science and Education, Green Scholars, Sustainability Consulting, Grant Writing, and Marketing. You will typically work on two teams simultaneously and have the opportunity to take on increasing responsibility as Project Managers or Management Fellows. The Marine Science and Education track specifically focuses on ecological restoration, community engagement, and research related to protecting waterways and coastal environments. You will set your own schedule and collaborate with teammates via video calls and project management tools. If you meet the required internship hours, you will be eligible to apply for the President’s Volunteer Service Award, which you can add to your college applications.
9. American Chemical Society’s Project SEED
Location: Labs at universities, government labs, and other facilities in RI
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 350+ students/year across the U.S.
Stipend: $4,000
Dates: 8–10 weeks in the summer
Application deadline: April 6
Eligibility: High school sophomores, juniors, seniors, or recent graduates who have completed one high school chemistry course; applicants’ family income should not exceed 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines based on family size.
Project SEED places students in chemistry research labs to contribute to scientific work under the guidance of mentors. You will spend 8 to 10 weeks exploring lab techniques, assisting with experiments, and exploring how researchers work. You can indicate your preference for an environmental chemistry, marine chemistry, or biochemistry placement. Alongside laboratory work, you will take part in activities and sessions that offer insight into college pathways, STEM careers, and scientific communication. You may finish the program with a report or presentation of your work.
10. Roger Williams University’s Food Science Camp
Location: Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI
Cost: $1,995
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 19 – 24
Application deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
This six-day camp at Roger Williams University’s bayside Bristol campus explores the connections between food production and environmental health. In RWU’s food science lab, you will study fermentation biology, the chemistry of preservation techniques such as pickling and jam-making, and the preparation of plant-based proteins. Each afternoon, activities will be paired with exposure to the food prepared by RWU’s culinary staff to demonstrate sustainability concepts in practice. Beyond the lab, you will explore indigenous land stewardship practices in the campus gardens, participate in a plant walk along the shoreline, and take a boat tour of local oyster farms. A visit to a regenerative farm will round out the program’s focus on food production that works in balance with natural systems rather than against them.
11. Brown Summer High School
Location: Brown University, Providence, RI
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~150–200 students/year
Dates: July 6 – 24
Application deadline: Not specified; applicants are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until seats fill.
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14 and up, entering grades 9 – 12; priority is given to Providence and Central Falls public school students within commuting distance.
Brown Summer High School is a free morning enrichment program that runs project-based courses in English, math, science, and social studies designed to help high schoolers explore a field of choice and build critical thinking skills. You will engage in discussions, projects, and applied investigations, such as testing freshwater samples and exploring ways to maintain freshwater quality. Classes are led by Brown Master of Arts in Teaching candidates. Outside of class, you will attend assemblies and panels on college and future pathways.
12. Brown University’s STEM for Rising 9th and 10th Graders
Location: Brown University campus, Providence, RI
Cost: $6,052; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: July 12 – 24
Application deadline: May 8
Eligibility: Rising 9th and 10th graders, ages 13 – 15
This is a STEM-focused two-week residential program at Brown University for students in the earlier years of high school. You will engage in rigorous STEM courses in a university setting, exploring various topics, including ecology and earth science. You will work in small groups on hands-on experiments, projects, and design challenges alongside peers from across the country and internationally. The program emphasizes active, project-based learning with the pressure of formal grades. It awards a Certificate of Completion and a Course Performance Report at the end.
13. Citizens’ Climate Lobby National Youth Action Team (NYAT)
Location: Virtual
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Year-round; meetings on the first Sunday of each month + educational calls on the third Wednesday of each month
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: High school students
Citizens’ Climate Lobby’s National Youth Action Team is a virtual, youth-led volunteer group that supports students in building political will for climate legislation. You will participate in monthly working team calls, periodic educational calls on climate and policy topics, and collaborative campaigns such as the Electrify Everything school challenge, which involves advocating to local school boards for building electrification. The NYAT focuses on climate policy and advocacy rather than laboratory or fieldwork in environmental science. The initiative offers an opportunity to learn skills like lobbying elected officials, writing for media, conducting grassroots outreach, and organizing peer engagement around specific climate initiatives. The NYAT has produced a Youth Leader Action Toolkit and a Youth Outreach and Engagement Guide, offering you structured resources to launch a youth team at your school or within your local CCL chapter. Local CCL chapters across the country, including in Rhode Island, host in-person events and lobby days for youth participants accompanied by adult chaperones.
14. Save The Bay Hamilton Family Aquarium: Aquarist Volunteer
Location: Save The Bay’s Hamilton Family Aquarium, Newport, RI
Cost/Stipend: None; unpaid volunteer positions
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Cohorts run February – May, June – September, and October – January
Application deadline: April 10
Eligibility: High school students, ages 16 and older
As an aquarist volunteer at Save The Bay’s Hamilton Family Aquarium in Newport, you will assist with the care and maintenance of a live animal collection sourced entirely from Rhode Island waters. Your responsibilities will include animal husbandry tasks such as preparing diets, cleaning tanks, monitoring water chemistry, and maintaining life support systems. You will also assist with the collection and release of organisms in Narragansett Bay and contribute to Save The Bay’s nursery, breeding, conservation, and rescue programs. This is an unpaid position, but it provides direct, supervised experience working with marine species native to Narragansett Bay at a facility run by an established conservation nonprofit whose mission is to protect and improve the Bay.
15. URI Watershed Watch Volunteer Water Quality Monitor
Location: Monitoring sites throughout Rhode Island
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Late April to October; new volunteer training begins in April
Application deadline: None; you can complete a volunteer profile here to register for April training.
Eligibility: Community volunteers of all ages
URI Watershed Watch is a 35-year-old citizen science program run by URI Cooperative Extension that monitors water quality across lakes, ponds, reservoirs, rivers, streams, and marine environments throughout Rhode Island. As a volunteer water quality monitor, you will collect water samples weekly from a designated site during the monitoring season, following standardized protocols covering parameters such as nutrient levels, bacteria, and surface algal bloom conditions. All equipment and training will be provided free of charge, including a classroom session and a required field training session in the spring. Your data will contribute to a decades-long dataset used by regional organizations, state agencies, and researchers to assess water quality trends and identify problems caused by stormwater runoff, droughts, and climate change. The program currently partners with over 100 organizations and trains hundreds of volunteer monitors statewide.
One more option—Horizon Academic Research Program
If you are looking for a competitive mentored research program in environmental science, you can consider applying toHorizon’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: Roger Williams University