If you're passionate about understanding the Earth, whether it’s investigating global warming and climate change, exploring the fiery power of volcanoes, or pursuing a future career in geology or earth sciences, there are excellent programs out there to help you get started. These programs blend hands-on learning, scientific exploration, and environmental awareness, equipping you with valuable skills and insights. Here are 10 highly recommended programs worth checking out:
1. Geosciences Bridge Program
Location: University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES), Maryland, USA
Cost: Free (includes housing, meals, travel, and stipend)
Eligibility: High school seniors planning to pursue geosciences, especially from underrepresented groups
Deadline: May 31 (for summer 2024; check site for next cycle)
The Geosciences Bridge Program is a paid summer internship that lasts six weeks, and it will introduce high school seniors to ocean sciences, atmospheric sciences, and GIS/Remote Sensing. Students take two college courses, go on field trips, gain in-depth hands-on experience, and live in residence. The 6 week internship is fully funded, including the stipend. The goal of the program is to build the academic and life skill capacity of students in preparation for a successful college experience.
2. UNC Geo-Health Internships
Location: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
Cost: Free (plus stipend)
Eligibility: High school students interested in geosciences and public health
Deadline: Varies; check program website
The UNC Geo-Health Internships program provides high school students with valuable experience in research focused on the connection between geoscience and public health. The program allows teens to work alongside university mentors on real projects while becoming familiar with potential environmental science careers and the ways in which environmental factors like air and water quality impact communities. The program works to promote diversity and inclusion in the STEM fields and participants leave knowing they developed valuable skills and received mentorship while beginning to create a pathway to future opportunities in science or health.
3. UConn Pre-College Summer: Earth & Environmental Sciences
Location: University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
Cost: Check website for current fee
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
Deadline: Varies; see program website
This residential, immersive course welcomes teens to earth and environmental sciences through a lecture series, laboratory investigations, and field trips. Students investigate rocks, soils, and water, and hear from UConn faculty about potential career paths and research opportunities in the diverse field of earth sciences! Students who take this course will learn by doing science in a supportive environment and call it a college course.
4. Science Unlimited Summer Camp (Earth Sciences Track)
Location: University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Cost: $300 (bursaries available)
Eligibility: Students who have completed grade 10 or 11
Deadline: April 15, 2025
This seven-day camp provides high school students an opportunity to take part in earth sciences through lab experiments, lectures, and fieldwork. The course is taught by university instructors, and it provides another opportunity for teens to experience university life, but also enables them to make scientific contributions to their understanding of the earth, and work alongside other students who share their values and interests.
5. USGS Geology Summer Fellows Program
Location: Various USGS locations, USA
Cost: Free (plus stipend)
Eligibility: High school and undergraduate students interested in geology
Deadline: Varies by year and location
Fellows are supported in real research societies throughout the country, working side-by-side with practicing geologists and scientists on active USGS projects. With this hands-on experience, students get to engage in fieldwork and lab work while obtaining real-world (both field and lab) experiences where they create skills with data collection, processing, analysis, etc. and work with research tools and instruments. Students have an opportunity to have mentorship, tie into a broad-range of geoscience topics (geology, ecology, GIS, environmental science, etc.), and establish informal professional networks which can lead to future STEM education and future job opportunities.
6. Earthwatch Student Group Expeditions
Location: Worldwide (various field research sites)
Cost: Varies by expedition
Eligibility: Ages 15–18
Deadline: Rolling; see website for specific expeditions
Earthwatch expeditions give teens the opportunity to engage in field research alongside real scientists who are tackling real issues, like biodiversity, climate change, and ecosystem health. Expeditions are offered globally, and students can participate in a unique travel experience working as a team with scientists on real scientific discoveries while conducting research in the field.
7. Stanford Earth Young Investigators Program
Location: Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
Cost: Check website for current fee
Eligibility: High school students (grades 9–12)
Deadline: Early spring; varies by year
This highly selective summer program gives high school students the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge earth science research with faculty at Stanford whose research focus is on addressing environmental problems. Students engage in lab work, field trips, and seminars, and learn about important topics in geology and sustainability, while learning to work collaboratively with world-class faculty and scientists.
8. Boston University Summer Term: Earth Sciences
Location: Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Cost: Varies by course
Eligibility: High school students (grades 10–12)
Deadline: Varies; check program site
Boston University's summer courses in earth science for teens - like the summer course in geology, summer course in climate science or summer course in environmental change - are great way for students to learn about earth science while having a real academic experience at a top university. Students participate in on-campus academics while completing hands-on labs and enjoy the vibrant Boston campus. The students also earn college credits and can add it to their educational resume!
9. Earth, Society & Environment (ESE) Camp
Location: University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
Cost: Free
Eligibility: Rising 7th and 8th graders in Champaign/Urbana area
Deadline: Until spots are filled
The camp has a series of workshops, campus tours, and hands-on activities to familiarize middle schoolers with earth science and environmental studies. Campers actively engage in stimulating geoscience activities and participate in a live Q&A session with real scientists, all organized by SESE faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students. The camp aims to make science fun and accessible as younger teens investigate and learn about the world around them in a welcoming and spirited atmosphere.
10. NASA Internship Programs
Location: NASA Centers and Facilities across the United States
Cost: Free (interns receive a paid stipend; housing and travel are the responsibility of the student)
Eligibility: U.S. citizens (high school through graduate level), minimum GPA 3.0 (OSTEM) or 2.9 (Pathways), at least 16 years old at the time of application; international students eligible through partner agreements
Deadline:
Spring 2026: September 12, 2025
Summer 2026: February 27, 2026
Fall 2026: May 22, 2026
NASA’s Internship Programs afford high school and college students the opportunity to work on actual research work with mentors at NASA working in science, engineering, business, and other disciplines. The majority of internships are paid. Interns will have exposure to NASA’s mission and use their technical skills for the benefit of others as they prepare for STEM careers. Opportunities are available throughout the year, which is useful if you don’t have a summer break or if you are a non-STEM major. This is a great opportunity for a direct pipeline to a career with NASA through current students and recent graduate pathways.
If you are a high school student pushing yourself to stand out in college applications, RISE Research 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 Research’s official website and take your college preparation to the next level!
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