# EarthCare: The Leadership Challenge for the 21st Century EarthCare is one of 21st Century Leaders' residential Summer Leadership Institutes, focused on environmental sustainability, energy efficiency, and STEM careers. Students from across Georgia live for a week on the campus of Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville — the 2026 institute ran June 7–12 — and, thanks to the support of Georgia Power, there is no cost to attend if accepted. ## What You'll Do - Live on a college campus for the week with student leaders from across the state - Take part in interactive workshops on leadership, sustainability, and energy efficiency - Join roundtable sessions with business and industry leaders - Build professional skills through hands-on career-development experiences ## Who Should Apply Rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors who live in the state of Georgia and want to explore environmental and STEM career paths while sharpening their leadership skills. Applications for 21st Century Leaders' summer institutes open in early January and close March 1; there is no cost to apply. ## Outcomes Participants leave with a statewide peer network, direct exposure to sustainability and energy professionals, stronger presentation and leadership skills, and a connection to 21st Century Leaders — a Georgia nonprofit that has served more than 20,000 high school students from 95 percent of the state's counties since 1989.