Environmental & Sustainability Programs & Competitions for High School Students

Environmental programs range from field research and conservation corps to climate-policy fellowships and sustainability competitions.

Colleges see plenty of stated passion for the planet; documented fieldwork, data, or advocacy outcomes are what stand out.

49 verified programs match this page; 28 of the featured listings are completely free; 8 can be done online.

Featured programs

Browse 30+ curated programs for high school students:

• NASA International Space Apps Challenge — NASA: Solve real-world space and climate challenges in NASA’s global hackathon. This free competition lets high schoolers build coding, data science, and te
• Conrad Challenge: Innovation Competition — Conrad Foundation: Create innovative solutions to real-world problems in categories like aerospace, cybersecurity, health, and energy. Win scholarships and recognition.
• Young Leaders for Peace at the University for Peace — University for Peace: Young Leaders for Peace (YLP) is a two-week summer leadership programme for high school students in collaboration with the University for Peace-UN Man
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Student Programs — NOAA: Various programs including internships and scholarships. Work on climate, ocean, and atmospheric science.
• River of Words Environmental Poetry & Art Contest — Library of Congress: Environmental poetry and art competition for K-12 students.
• Net Impact High School Chapter Leadership — Net Impact: Lead social impact chapter at your school through Net Impact. Drive sustainability and social change.
• Stockholm Junior Water Prize — Stockholm International Water Institute: International competition for water-related science and environmental projects.
• Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes — Barron Prize: 25 winners receive $10,000. For young leaders making positive difference.
• Ocean Awareness Contest First Place — Bow Seat: Art, writing, film, music about ocean conservation. $1,500+ prizes.
• MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium (MCSC) Youth Program — MIT: Program engaging youth in climate research and innovation
• Environmental Science & Policy Scholars Program (Duke) — Duke University: Summer program exploring environmental science and policy with Duke faculty
• Envirothon North America Competition — NCF-Envirothon: Environmental science competition. Teams test on soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatics.
• International Young Eco-Hero Award — Action For Nature: Recognizes young people making significant environmental contributions. International recognition for environmental leadership.
• National Geographic Young Explorers Program — National Geographic Society: Grants up to $5,000 for student-led exploration and research projects
• International Young Naturalists Tournament (IYNT) — IYNT: International biology and ecology team competition. Students solve open-ended research problems and defend findings.
• Student Conservation Association (SCA) — Student Conservation Association: Conservation corps work experiences in national parks and forests. Trail building, habitat restoration, and environmental education. Stipends provided
• Campus Conservation Nationals Program — National Wildlife Federation: Campus Conservation Nationals is a nationwide campus energy and water reduction competition organized by the National Wildlife Federation.
• Advanced Vehicle Technology Competitions — U.S. Department of Energy & Argonne National Laboratory: DOE-sponsored university-level eco-car competitions; high school students can engage via outreach, mentoring, and events.
• European Bat Night Outreach Events — BatLife Europe & EUROBATS: Annual Europe‑wide late‑summer events where the public learn about and observe bats with experts through talks, walks, and activities.
• Shell Eco-marathon Student Competition — Shell plc: Global student competition to design ultra-energy-efficient vehicles and test them on track.
• National Park Service High School Youth Ambassador Program — National Park Service: Lead interpretive programs and help visitors experience America's national parks.
• Gumbo Limbo — Gumbo Limbo Nature Center: Lead nature walks and help with sea turtle conservation programs.
• Beach Cleanup Volunteer — Surfrider Foundation South Florida: Help keep our beaches clean and protect marine life through regular coastal cleanup events.
• Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) — U.S. National Park Service (with USFS & USFWS partners): Join a paid summer program for high schoolers to protect public lands, gain hands-on conservation experience, and build skills for college and beyond
• Spellman HV Clean Tech Competition — Spellman High Voltage Electronics: Join a global high school competition tackling sustainability and energy challenges. Build innovation skills, boost college applications, and make an
• The Earth Prize (Global Environmental Sustainability Competition) — The Earth Prize Foundation: Compete in a global environmental sustainability competition for high schoolers. Build innovative solutions, gain hands-on STEM experience, and boost
• UWC Short Courses (United World Colleges) — United World Colleges: Transformative summer program for high school students focusing on leadership, peacebuilding, and sustainability. Build global skills and boost your c
• Sierra Club Environmental Leadership Program — Sierra Club: Develop leadership skills and tackle real-world environmental issues in this free hybrid program for high school students. Boost college apps with han
• Vegetarian Resource Group Scholarship — The Vegetarian Resource Group: Empower your activism with this free scholarship for high school students promoting vegetarianism. Boost college applications while advocating for hea
• Udall Scholarship — Udall Foundation: Earn a prestigious scholarship for excelling in environmental studies or Native American policy. Boost college applications and gain recognition for y

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