If you're a high school student with a passion for environmental science, conservation, or environmental engineering, you should definitely consider a summer internship in these fields.
Internships offer a fantastic opportunity to gain hands-on experience that deepens your understanding of environmental issues while equipping you with valuable skills for your future career. You'll get a real glimpse into the daily workings of environmental science jobs, which can really help you decide if this is the right path for you.
Location: Available in 50 U.S. States
Program Dates: The internship lasts eight weeks during the summer; Start and end dates are flexible and determined by the selected student and their mentor.
Stipend: $3,000
Eligibility: High school students
Deadline: 2025 Applications are closed, 2026 applications are expected to open in November 2025 and close by January 2026.
The Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program is an exciting eight-week paid summer internship tailored for high school students who have a passion for fisheries and aquatic science. Sponsored by the American Fisheries Society, this program is all about inspiring a more diverse group of future fisheries professionals by offering hands-on experience and valuable mentoring.
Location: Various sites across North Carolina
Program Dates: Summer months—June, July, and August. Crews run for 3-6 weeks, depending on the specific crew.
Stiped: Unpaid
Eligibility: North Carolina residents ages 15–18. Youth must be at least 15 at the start of their crew.
Deadline: Youth positions are posted in early March; and close by 2nd week of May.
Conservation Corps North Carolina’s Youth Conservation Crews give teens an opportunity to spend their summer outdoors, and work on conservation projects. Whether you’re into building trails, restoring habitats, or getting your hands dirty in community gardens, these crews offer hands-on experience and help you develop leadership skills. With options for both day crews and camping adventures, participants get to work alongside their peers and professionals in some of the most stunning natural spots in North Carolina.
Location: Local counties in the Four Corners Region (including parts of southwestern Colorado and northern New Mexico) and Los Valles Region (including Park, Chaffee, Saguache, Mineral/Rio Grande, Alamosa, Costilla, and Conejos Counties in Colorado).
Program Dates: Two sessions available, Session 1 runs late May to June; Session 2 runs mid-July to mid-August. Each session lasts 4–5 weeks.
Stipend: Participants are paid $14.42 per hour for 32–40 hours per week.
Eligibility: High school students ages 14–18 living in the Four Corners or Los Valles regions
Deadline: Applications for Summer 2025 are closed now. 2026 Applications to open soon.
Southwest Conservation Corps Youth Conservation Crews crews offer hands-on conservation work, leadership development, and real-world skills, all while earning a wage. You get to choose between day crews or camping crews and get to work with peers and trained staff on projects that benefit public lands and local communities.
Location: Wave Hill House, Bronx, New York
Program Dates: June 2025 – June 2026 (13 months).
Stipend: $16.50 per hour.
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old by July 5, 2025.
Deadline: Applications for 2025 are closed; check back in winter 2025–2026 for the next cycle
The ACES (Art, Community, Education, and Science) Internship at Wave Hill offers high school students a year-long opportunity to blend art and science education while serving the community. Interns gain experience in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) education, public engagement, and program development.
Location: Virtual program open to youth across the United States and U.S. territories.
Program Dates: January 22, 2025 – December 10, 2025.
Stipend: Unpaid
Eligibility: Youth ages 13–18 from the U.S. and its territories
Deadline: January 5, 2025 (for Cohort 3); applications for the next cohort open in mid-November 2025.
The NOAA Ocean Guardian Youth Ambassador Program inspires teens to become passionate ocean protectors. Through fun monthly webinars, projects, and guidance from NOAA experts, young ambassadors build skills in conservation, communication, and leadership. They join a vibrant community of peers dedicated to caring for our oceans and creating a healthier planet for the future.
Location: SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station, Otsego Lake, Cooperstown, New York.
Program Dates: Late May through August. High school internships last 9 weeks.
Stipend: $3,000
Eligibility: New York State residents, age 16 or older as of June 20, 2025. At least one position is reserved for an Otsego County resident; 1–3 positions available.
Deadline: 2025 Applications closed, 2026 applications to begin soon.
SUNY Oneonta Biological Field Station Summer Internship Program allows high school and undergraduate students to work alongside scientists on Otsego Lake. You’ll get hands-on experience in the field and lab, join weekly seminars, and help with real research projects. Along the way, you’ll build valuable skills, earn college credit, and even receive a stipend, all while taking your first steps toward a career in environmental science.
Location: Stanford University campus, Stanford, California (for students living within 25 driving miles of campus).
Program Dates: Summer (exact dates vary by year; check the program’s website for updates).
Stipend: Unpaid.
Eligibility: High school students who have completed at least one year of high school and live within 25 driving miles of Stanford’s campus in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Deadline: The 2025 Young Investigators Summer Internship Program is now closed. Applications will reopen on February 1, 2026.
The Stanford Young Investigators program, hosted by the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, offers an immersive summer internship where students work alongside Stanford researchers. Through hands-on projects, lab tours, and weekly talks, participants gain valuable skills and insights into Earth, environmental, and energy sciences. This program not only prepares students for college but also helps them build connections with mentors and peers who share their scientific curiosity.
Location: NASA centers and facilities across the United States; some opportunities may be virtual or hybrid.
Program Dates: Three sessions annually—Spring, Summer, and Fall. For Summer 2026, the application deadline is February 27, 2026; Fall 2025 applications are due May 16, 2025.
Stipend: Most internships are paid with stipends based on academic level and session duration. Interns are responsible for their own housing and transportation.
Eligibility:
U.S. citizenship required for most programs.
Minimum GPA of 3.0 (OSTEM internships) or 2.9 (Pathways internships) on a 4.0 scale.
Must be at least 16 years old at the time of application.
Open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students enrolled full- or part-time in accredited institutions.
Deadline:
Fall 2025: May 16, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET
Spring 2026: September 12, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET
Summer 2026: February 27, 2026, 11:59 p.m. ET
NASA’s Internship Programs give high school and college students a real taste of what it’s like to work at NASA. You’ll team up with scientists, engineers, and professionals on actual NASA projects, whether you’re into space, tech, business, or even non-STEM fields. Most internships are paid and offer mentorship.
Location: Shaw Nature Reserve, Tyson Research Center, and other field sites in the St. Louis, Missouri area.
Program Dates:
Orientation: June 1, 2025 (in-person) or June 3, 2025 (virtual)
Training Week: June 9–13, 2025 (includes overnight stay)
Summer Weekday Fieldwork: June, July, early August 2025
School Year Weekend Projects: August 2025 – April 2026
Key events: October 4, 2025 (Fall Gathering), February 7–8, 2026 (Winter Weekend), April 25, 2026 (Spring Gathering), plus a spring Capstone Project weekend
Stipend: Participants receive a paid stipend for their fieldwork, and transportation from the St. Louis area is provided.
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 10 or 11 (current 9th or 10th graders may apply; current 11th graders eligible if previously applied). Open to students in the St. Louis region; selection is by lottery from completed applications with two teacher recommendations.
Deadline: Applications due March 15, 2025, by 5 pm. Teacher recommendations must be received by March 28, 2025.
The SIFT (Shaw Institute for Field Training) program at Tyson Research Center gives high school students a real-world introduction to environmental science. Teens entering grades 10 or 11 spend a week in June exploring Missouri’s ecosystems, learning field research skills like plant and animal identification, biotic sampling, and using maps and GPS. After training, SIFTers work on actual research and restoration projects throughout the summer and school year—helping manage habitats, track species, and collect data, all while getting paid for their efforts
10. Brooklyn College STEM Research Academy
Location: Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, New York
Program Dates:
Spring pre-college course: January–May 2025
Summer research internship: June–August 2025 (6 weeks for selected students)
Stipend: The program provides free lunch, a MetroCard for travel, and a $1000 stipend for students who complete the summer research internship.
Eligibility: Open to NYC public high school students, especially 10th and 11th graders (motivated 9th graders may be considered).
Deadline:
Fall Deadline: February 1
Spring Deadline: September 15
The STEM Research Academy at Brooklyn College allows you to take a pre-college course where you learn how to ask research questions, design experiments, and read scientific papers, all while exploring topics like environmental science, biology, and urban aquatic ecology. If you do well, you might be selected for a paid six-week summer internship, where you’ll work alongside CUNY faculty on hands-on research projects, from studying wildlife in Jamaica Bay to investigating animal behavior
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Global Education offers a unique opportunity to work one-on-one with mentors from top universities around the world.
Through personalized guidance and independent research projects that can lead to prestigious publications, RISE helps you build a standout academic profile and develop skills that set you apart. With flexible program dates and global accessibility, ambitious students can apply year-round. To learn more about eligibility, costs, and how to get started, visit RISE Global’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!