Environmental science programs for high school students combine interdisciplinary coursework with hands-on research, fieldwork, and data analysis. You may explore topics like ecology, climate science, environmental chemistry, and sustainability through lab experiments, field observations, and applied research.
If you are specifically looking for environmental science programs for high school students in San Francisco, they incorporate fieldwork across the Bay Area’s diverse ecosystems. You may conduct biodiversity surveys in coastal habitats, collect soil and water samples in wetlands, or analyze environmental data from urban green spaces. Some environmental science programs for high school students in San Francisco also emphasize policy and social science. These programs may cover environmental justice, climate policy, sustainability planning, and community-based conservation. You also gain experience with GIS mapping software, data visualization platforms, and environmental monitoring equipment.
Why should you choose a program in San Francisco?
San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area offer strong opportunities for learning in environmental science. The region includes coastal ecosystems, wetlands, forests, and urban environments, all within close proximity. This diversity makes environmental science programs for high school students in San Francisco particularly suited for field-based learning.
The area is also home to major research institutions, environmental nonprofits, and sustainability initiatives. Many environmental science programs for high school students in San Francisco collaborate with scientists, graduate students, and environmental professionals, allowing you to gain exposure to real-world research and conservation work. San Francisco’s focus on sustainability and climate policy also shapes program offerings. Local organizations often work on habitat restoration, environmental justice, and climate adaptation: topics commonly explored in student programs.
Below is a curated list of 15 environmental science programs for high school students in San Francisco. If you’re exploring broader opportunities, you can also check out our guide on environmental science research programs for high school students here and online environmental science programs for high school students here.
15 Environmental Science Programs for High School Students in San Francisco
1. Environmental Science Pathway
Location: Galileo Academy of Science & Technology, San Francisco, CA
Cost: Free
Program Dates: Academic year (11th–12th grade sequence)
Application Deadline: Varies by school enrollment cycle
Eligibility: High school students in 11th and 12th grade (students complete Biology in 9th grade before entering the pathway) | Approximately 30 students per class
This is a two-year academic pathway that combines classroom environmental science with regular fieldwork and career exposure. In 11th grade, you’ll take Marine Science, then move into an Environmental Internship and AP Environmental Science during senior year, giving you a mix of academic study and applied experience. The program includes lab activities, lectures, and weekly fieldwork in the Presidio, where you’ll collect data and practice environmental monitoring techniques. You’ll also learn how to use tools like GPS systems, chemical test kits, and electronic monitoring probes while working on scientific research projects. Partnerships with organizations such as the National Park Service and NOAA give students opportunities to interact with scientists and explore environmental careers.
2. Science & Environmental Justice Intensive (SEJI)
Location: Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, San Francisco, CA, and Marin County, CA
Cost | Stipend: Free | Educational award up to $1,500 upon completion
Program Dates: 3 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students | No prior experience required | Limited to 12 participants
This three-week summer program focuses on environmental science and leadership through hands-on community research projects. You’ll spend part of the program working at a remote field station in Marin County and the rest in San Francisco while studying environmental issues affecting local communities. Activities can include monitoring plants and wildlife, tracking air quality, and examining climate change impacts through field data collection. A major part of the experience is conducting community science projects that explore environmental justice issues in the Bay Area. Most of the program takes place outdoors and includes activities like hiking, field monitoring, and habitat work. The program is small and project-focused, giving you close interaction with staff and fellow participants.
3. Careers in Science (CiS) Internship
Location: California Academy of Sciences, San Francisco, CA
Cost | Stipend: Paid internship (above minimum wage)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Year-round, multi-year program beginning in June
Application Deadline: April 1
Eligibility: 9th–10th grade students enrolled in San Francisco Unified School District schools with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and a grade C or higher in science and math | Must obtain a valid work permit
This is a long-term paid internship where you learn science by actively working with researchers and educators at the museum. You’ll stay in the program through high school graduation while participating in afterschool sessions, Saturday fieldwork, and summer activities. Interns conduct outdoor fieldwork, lead educational stations for museum visitors, and attend training sessions focused on science communication and career exploration. You’ll also work in small project groups with researchers to complete a science research or environmental action project. Over time, interns can move into leadership roles, serve on the program’s Leadership Council, and receive mentorship from scientists.
4. Summer of Outdoor Leadership (SOL)
Location: Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, San Francisco, CA
Cost | Stipend: Free | Educational award up to $2,400 upon completion
Program Dates: 6 weeks in the summer
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students | No prior experience required | Limited to 24 participants
This six-week summer program centers on outdoor leadership, environmental learning, and community building in the Bay Area’s national parks. You’ll spend most of your time outside participating in activities such as hiking, camping, kayaking, and habitat restoration projects, while also taking part in service-learning and career-exploration workshops. The program combines outdoor adventures with structured sessions in which you reflect on environmental issues and leadership skills with other students. Much of the experience takes place in parks and coastal environments, so you’ll regularly be learning outdoors rather than in a classroom. You’ll also collaborate with peers on group activities and projects designed to build teamwork and environmental awareness.
5. Urban Green Program
Location: Student Conservation Association, San Francisco Bay Area, CA
Cost | Stipend: Paid program
Program Dates: Summer (late June–early August) and school-year sessions
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Ages 14–19
The Urban Green Program places high school students in paid conservation projects across the San Francisco Bay Area. You may work on habitat restoration, trail construction, and climate resilience initiatives while contributing to environmental research and stewardship projects. Summer sessions may include local or semi-local camping trips, while school-year sessions take place after school and on weekends. You’ll also develop field skills, teamwork, and leadership through hands-on environmental work. The program operates year-round and provides exposure to conservation careers and environmental science practices.
6. Climate Justice Internship
Location: Enterprise for Youth, San Francisco, CA
Cost | Stipend: $21+ per hour is paid
Program Dates: June 8–July 31
Application Deadline: April 15
Eligibility: High school students | Priority given to rising juniors and seniors, students in SFUSD or living in San Francisco, and students from underrepresented communities
This paid summer internship program places high school students in workplaces across several industries, including a climate justice track focused on environmental issues. Over the course of the summer, you’ll complete at least 75 hours working at an internship site while also attending professional development workshops with program staff. The program combines workplace experience with weekly sessions focused on communication, job readiness, and professional skills. Students in the climate justice placements may work with organizations addressing environmental issues in local communities. You’ll also participate in structured workshops that help you reflect on your work experience and develop career skills.
7. Golden Gate Environmental Science Program
Location: NatureBridge, Sausalito, CA (Golden Gate National Recreation Area)
Cost: $337–$567, depending on program length | Scholarships available
Program Dates: Programs offered throughout the school year
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 4–12 (school or group-based participation)
This outdoor environmental science program takes place in the Marin Headlands near Rodeo Beach, where students spend multiple days working in small groups led by environmental educators while exploring coastal ecosystems, tide pools, wetlands, and local trails. Activities can include studying marine organisms in intertidal habitats, collecting macroinvertebrates from Rodeo Pond, examining geological formations, and observing wildlife along coastal bluffs. The program also includes hikes, night programs, and collaborative science discussions that connect field observations with environmental science concepts. The experience is residential and takes place in a national recreation area. Students spend several days immersed in coastal ecosystems while practicing scientific observation and inquiry.
8. Bay Discovery Program
Location: Save The Bay, Oakland, CA, and Palo Alto, CA
Cost: Not specified
Program Dates: Year-round (Wednesday–Friday)
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades K–12
This field-based environmental education program brings students to the shoreline to learn about San Francisco Bay ecosystems and wetland habitats. During the visit, you’ll participate in guided activities led by environmental educators that explore topics like biodiversity, watershed science, climate change, and human impacts on ecosystems. The program also includes a hands-on restoration component in which students help with seasonal conservation tasks, such as planting seedlings, removing invasive plants, and cleaning up shoreline areas. A typical session combines about an hour of environmental learning activities with one to two hours of restoration work along the shoreline. All equipment is provided, and the experience is designed to take place outdoors while students study real coastal habitats.
9. LiMPETS (Long-term Monitoring Program & Experiential Training for Students)
Location: Greater Farallones Association, San Francisco, CA, and coastal monitoring sites in the Bay Area
Cost | Stipend: Program fee required; financial assistance and transportation scholarships available for eligible public schools
Program Dates: School year (varies by school participation
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 through college
LiMPETS is a coastal science program where students participate in environmental monitoring along California’s shoreline. The program begins with classroom or virtual lessons that introduce coastal ecosystems, such as rocky intertidal zones and sandy beaches, before students head into the field. During monitoring trips, you’ll identify species, measure environmental conditions, and collect ecological data using scientific field methods. Students gather real data from coastal ecosystems, contributing to a long-term statewide research database used by scientists and resource managers. After fieldwork, some classes continue with follow-up sessions on data analysis and science communication, where students learn how to visualize data and present their findings.
10. Ocean Acidification: A Sea of Change
Location: Greater Farallones Association, San Francisco, CA (virtual or classroom program)
Cost: Program fee required (scholarships available)
Program Dates: Available throughout the school year
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 7–12
This ocean science program introduces students to the chemistry and environmental impacts of ocean acidification. During the session, you’ll observe live plankton samples and explore how increasing acidity affects marine food webs and early life stages of ocean organisms. Demonstrations and experiments help explain how ocean chemistry changes and why they matter for ecosystems. Students investigate how rising carbon dioxide levels affect marine environments and discuss potential solutions to ocean health challenges. The program combines scientific observation with discussions about environmental impacts on marine ecosystems and can work well for students interested in marine biology, environmental chemistry, or climate science.
11. Deep Sea Coral Communities
Location: Greater Farallones Association, San Francisco, CA (virtual or classroom program)
Cost: Program fee required (scholarships available)
Acceptance Rate/Cohort Size: Not specified
Program Dates: Available throughout the school year
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Students in grades 9–12
This marine science program focuses on deep-sea ecosystems found in national marine sanctuaries along the California coast. Students analyze research videos collected by remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to study deep-sea coral habitats and the biodiversity within them. Working in groups, you’ll learn how scientists identify species, estimate population levels, and analyze ecological data from underwater research footage. The program introduces students to the tools and challenges involved in deep-sea scientific exploration. Activities include recording observations, analyzing biodiversity patterns, and graphing environmental data from research datasets.
12. Young Investigators Internship
Location: Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Stanford, CA
Cost | Stipend: Free | Limited honorarium available for eligible students
Program Dates: Summer (exact dates vary)
Application Deadline: March 15
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least one year of high school and live within 25 driving miles of Stanford
This summer research internship places high school students in sustainability and Earth science labs at Stanford. During the program, you’ll work directly with graduate researchers, postdoctoral scholars, or lab managers on scientific projects related to topics like oceans, geology, energy systems, environmental science, agriculture, or sustainability policy. Depending on the research group, your work may include laboratory analysis, data collection, or field-based environmental research. Many students work one-on-one with a scientist or in small research teams, giving them exposure to how academic research projects are conducted. Twice a week, the program also organizes group activities such as guest talks, lab tours, and field trips that introduce different areas of sustainability research.
13. Environmental Science & Sustainability
Location: University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco, CA
Cost: $4,495 (residential)
Program Dates: June 12–20 | June 24–July 2
Application Deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students
This 9-day residential program introduces you to environmental science through a mix of lab activities, design challenges, and discussions about sustainability. You’ll spend time conducting water and soil analyses, studying ecosystems and climate systems, and working on projects such as designing a green building. Guest speakers from environmental fields also visit to discuss their work and share how sustainability problems are addressed in practice. Outside the classroom, you’ll join field trips and tours that show how environmental work connects to real communities and industries around the Bay Area. The program also includes leadership workshops focused on communication, collaboration, and decision-making.
14. Full Research Program – Headwaters Science Institute
Location: Marin Headlands, Golden Gate National Recreation Area (near San Francisco, CA)
Cost: Approximately $200 per student for a 5-day program (varies by partnership; financial aid available)
Program Dates: Vary by school partnership
Application Deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: High school students (often through participating schools)
This research program focuses on field-based environmental science and is typically run in partnership with high schools. You’ll begin by developing a research question with guidance from instructors and graduate student mentors, often from nearby universities. After planning your study, you’ll head into the field to collect data. In one example project, students conducted research in the Marin Headlands, testing soil chemistry and using quadrat sampling to measure plant biodiversity under different environmental conditions, such as slope and elevation. The program centers on student-designed research projects, which means you’re responsible for formulating hypotheses, collecting data, and interpreting the results. After the fieldwork, you’ll analyze your findings and present your conclusions to classmates.
15. Estuary Youth Council – San Francisco Estuary Partnership
Location: San Francisco Estuary region, San Francisco, CA
Cost/Stipend: Free
Program Dates: June–December
Application Deadline: April 12
Eligibility: Youth from communities connected to the San Francisco Estuary (focus on marginalized communities)
The Estuary Youth Council is a youth leadership program focused on environmental issues affecting the San Francisco Estuary. During the program, you’ll participate in field trips and experiential learning sessions with scientists, planners, and community experts to better understand local environmental and climate challenges. You’ll also work in teams to design and complete a capstone project that addresses a real issue impacting the estuary and nearby communities. Along the way, the program includes mentorship, career exploration, and opportunities to build professional skills like teamwork, communication, and resume development.
One more option – Horizon Academic Research Program
If you’re interested in conducting advanced research in environmental science, sustainability, or climate 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!
Image source: University of California, Berkeley