Climate and Sustainability Extracurriculars for High School Students
Author: ExtracurricularHub
Article Summary
Turn your environmental passion into action with these climate-focused programs, competitions, research opportunities, and advocacy organizations for high schoolers.
Full Article
Climate Action as an Extracurricular Climate change is the defining challenge of your generation, and colleges know it. Environmental extracurriculars have exploded in popularity—and in impact. But with so many options, from local cleanups to international policy simulations, how do you choose activities that are both meaningful and strategically valuable for your applications? This guide covers the best climate and sustainability opportunities for high school students, organized by type of engagement: research, advocacy, competitions, and direct action. Research and Science Programs NASA SEES (STEM Enhancement in Earth Science) A competitive summer program where students conduct real Earth science research using NASA data. Students analyze satellite imagery, climate data, or land use patterns and present findings. Free for selected students. NOAA Internships and Programs The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration offers high school internships in marine science, atmospheric research, and environmental data analysis. Available at NOAA labs across the country. Local Environmental Research Your backyard can be a research lab. Water quality testing, biodiversity surveys, air quality monitoring, and urban heat island mapping are all accessible research projects. Partner with a local university or environmental organization for mentorship. Browse environmental programs in our database for more options. Competitions Envirothon Team-based environmental science competition covering forestry, wildlife, aquatics, soils, and a current environmental issue. State and national competitions with college scholarships for winners. Free to enter. Conrad Challenge (Energy & Environment Track) International innovation competition where teams develop products addressing sustainability challenges. Winners receive scholarships, patent support, and mentorship from industry leaders. Stockholm Junior Water Prize International research competition for water-related projects. Students who develop innovative solutions to water challenges can win scholarships and present at World Water Week in Stockholm. Climate Science Olympiad Events Several Science Olympiad events focus on environmental science topics including meteorology, ecology, and environmental chemistry. Join your school's Science Olympiad team to compete. Advocacy and Policy Youth Climate Organizations Sunrise Movement: Youth-led political advocacy for climate action. Local hubs across the U.S. Zero Hour: Youth climate justice organization focused on intersectional environmentalism Citizens' Climate Lobby: Bipartisan advocacy for climate policy. Has active youth chapters Earth Guardians: Global youth organization training young leaders for environmental advocacy Policy Programs Climate Reality Leadership Corps: Al Gore's training program for climate communicators (open to 16+) UN Youth Climate Action: Programs connecting youth to international climate policy Model UN Environmental Committees: Practice climate diplomacy through simulation Direct Action and Community Projects Start Something Local The most compelling climate activities often start in your own community: School sustainability audit: Analyze your school's energy use, waste, and transportation and propose improvements Community garden: Start or manage a garden that provides fresh food and reduces food miles Composting program: Launch a composting initiative at your school or in your neighborhood Tree planting campaigns: Partner with local organizations for urban reforestation Plastic reduction initiative: Work with local businesses to eliminate single-use plastics National Service Programs Student Conservation Association: Conservation crews for students 15+, including trail building, habitat restoration, and invasive species removal National Park Service Youth Programs: Volunteer and internship opportunities in national parks Building a Climate Spike If environmental science or climate policy is your passion, here's how to build a spike: Freshman year: Join environmental clubs, volunteer for cleanups, take AP Environmental Science early Sophomore year: Start a local project, compete in Envirothon or Science Olympiad, begin research Junior year: Apply for competitive summer programs (NASA SEES, SCA), publish research, take on leadership Senior year: Continue projects, apply for awards, use your climate work as essay material Interdisciplinary Climate Approaches Climate change touches every field. Here's how students with different interests can engage: Computer science + climate: Build apps for carbon tracking, develop climate data visualizations, or contribute to open-source climate modeling projects. Check out Climate TRACE or Open Climate Fix for inspiration. Economics + climate: Research the economics of renewable energy transition, study cap-and-trade systems, or analyze the financial risks of climate inaction on local businesses. Art + climate: Create installations, murals, or multimedia projects that communicate climate science to non-scientific audiences. Environmental art is a growing field that bridges STEM and humanities. Writing + climate: Start a climate journalism project covering your local community's environmental challenges, or write policy briefs for local government. Engineering + climate: Design sustainable solutions—solar chargers, water filtration systems, energy-efficient devices—and enter engineering competitions like ISEF or Conrad Challenge. Certifications and Credentials Earning environmental certifications adds credibility to your profile: LEED Green Associate: An entry-level green building certification that demonstrates knowledge of sustainable design. Available to anyone 16+. Master Gardener (Youth Program): Many states offer youth-specific master gardener programs through university extension services. EPA Citizen Science: Participate in EPA-sponsored monitoring programs and earn recognition for environmental data collection. AP Environmental Science: While not a certification, scoring a 5 on AP Environmental Science demonstrates academic mastery and pairs well with hands-on environmental work. The students who stand out aren't those who simply care about climate change—it's those who do something about it. Whether through research, advocacy, innovation, or community action, find your unique way to contribute. Start by exploring our full database of opportunities and taking the Find My Fit quiz to match with programs aligned to your environmental interests.Frequently Asked Questions
Is climate activism too political for college applications?
Thoughtful engagement with environmental issues is welcomed by virtually all colleges. Focus on what you did and what you learned rather than partisan positions. Research, community service, and solution-oriented advocacy are universally respected.
Can environmental extracurriculars help me if I don't want to major in environmental science?
Yes. Environmental work teaches project management, data analysis, communication, policy understanding, and community organizing—skills valued in any field. A pre-law student who advocates for climate policy or a CS student who builds environmental monitoring tools shows interdisciplinary thinking.
What's the most impactful environmental activity I can do?
Impact depends on your skills and context. Research that produces publishable findings, advocacy that changes local policy, or a project that measurably reduces waste in your community are all high-impact options. Choose the approach that matches your strengths.
Are there paid environmental opportunities for high schoolers?
Yes. The Student Conservation Association offers stipends. Some EPA and NOAA internships are paid. Local environmental organizations sometimes hire summer interns. National Park Service youth programs often include stipends. Search our database filtered by cost to find free and paid options.