13 - 18 | youth for climate education

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youth for climate education

14-17

Turning Passion Into Action & Impact

At this pivotal stage, you are ready to lead, innovate, and take real action. This section is packed with opportunities for high school students to deepen their environmental knowledge, connect with like-minded youth, and create meaningful change in their communities. From advanced educational resources to youth-led projects, leadership programs, internships, and activism toolkits, we’re here to support your growth as a climate changemaker.

Climate Cardinals Translator & Chapter Leader

Turn your language skills into climate power by translating vital climate science into over 100 languages or launch a local chapter to teach others! With Google-backed training and a global volunteer network of 16,000+ youth, this is climate advocacy with real-world impact.

Ideal for: 13+

Plant-for-the-Planet Ambassador

Become a young leader in the global movement to plant trees and fight climate change. Ambassadors receive training to organize local tree-planting events and give speeches about climate justice, empowering youth to take meaningful action worldwide. Additionally, at the age of 15, members are eligible to run for the global board of the organization!

Ideal for: 14+

Fridays for Future

Fridays for Future is the international youth climate strike movement inspired by Greta Thunberg. Teens can join digital or in-person climate strikes, organize awareness campaigns, and push for climate policies within their schools or governments. With strong international reach and easy entry points for new organizers, this is a great space to collaborate and make your voice heard on a global scale.

Ideal for: 13+

Sunrise Movement

Sunrise Movement is a youth-led organization pushing for bold climate policy like the Green New Deal while fighting for racial and economic justice. As a high schooler, you can join local youth chapters or start your own at your school or in your town. You'll receive access to digital trainings, organizing toolkits, and national campaign support to help you lead strikes, call-in days, community education events, or meetings with representatives. It’s a powerful way to take collective action and learn grassroots organizing skills.

Ideal for: 14+

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Climate Reality Leadership Corps

The Climate Reality Project, founded by Al Gore, trains youth leaders to become educators and advocates on climate solutions. After attending a training (held virtually or in person), teens become part of the Climate Reality Leadership Corps. You can then join an existing chapter to work on local campaigns or start a new one to build a youth-led presence in your school or community. You'll have access to speaking opportunities, mentorship, and a powerful global network of climate leaders.

Ideal for: 14+

Attend A Virtual Training!

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Youth vs. Apocalypse

Youth vs. Apocalypse is a frontline youth-led climate justice collective empowering teens, especially youth of color, to fight environmental racism and systemic injustice. Teens can join weekly Zoom action teams, organize school chapters, or apply for paid fellowships and leadership programs. & Climate Justice workshops to use art as activism.

Ideal for: 14+

Join the Movement!

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Youth Climate Courts

Form or join community-based “courts” where teens investigate and “trial” local government inaction on climate as a human rights issue. You’ll build legal cases, hold public hearings, and demand accountability from decision-makers.

Ideal for: 14+

Start or Learn More!

World Ocean Day Youth Advocacy Training

This free, four-week program aims to help teens become confident ocean and climate advocates. You’ll learn how to plan a campaign, speak out about the issues that matter to you, and make a real impact in your community. Along the way, you’ll meet other passionate youth from around the world and get support to turn your ideas into action.

Ideal for: 16-23 (Any ages welcome)

Attend a Training!

Youth Climate Advocacy Network (YCAN)

YCAN is a global network that empowers youth to drive climate action through advocacy, education, and organizing. Teens can start their own chapter, access training webinars, participate in global digital campaigns, and connect with peers around the world. There's also the option to apply for organizational roles, helping with communications, campaign outreach, or leadership.

Ideal for: 14+

EarthEcho International – Youth Leadership & Advocacy

Founded by Philippe Cousteau Jr., EarthEcho helps teens take real action for our ocean and climate. Whether you're just getting started or ready to lead, there’s a way to get involved!

GenSea Ambassadors (Ages 13–25):
Join a global network and take part in free virtual trainings, campaigns, and events. Choose focus areas like Blue Carbon, Plastic Pollution, or Water Quality and start making an impact from anywhere.

Youth Leadership Council (Ages 15–22):
Apply for a two-year role where you’ll help lead national campaigns, plan events, and work directly with EarthEcho staff. Council members also attend retreats and represent youth at major events.

OurEcho Challenge (Ages 13–16):
Team up to solve a local environmental problem and compete for national recognition. Perfect for students who love innovation, STEM, and community action.

Global Youth Coalition Training

The Global Youth Climate Training (GYCT) offers extensive online advocacy training including UNFCCC negotiation strategy and climate finance. Accepted teens qualify for up to £3,000 in bursaries to attend COP30 in Brazil, where they’ll advocate on behalf of youth in international negotiations.

Ideal for: 16+

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Missing Maps

Join a global volunteer network mapping vulnerable communities using satellite imagery and OpenStreetMap tools. Your work helps humanitarian and development agencies plan disaster response and climate resilience projects before floods or famines strike. No prior mapping experience is needed, training and mentorship are provided entirely online!

Ideal for: 13+

Wildlife Insights

Join scientists, conservationists, and fellow volunteers from around the world in identifying animals captured by remote camera traps in forests, grasslands, and jungles. With millions of images from biodiversity hotspots like the Amazon, Congo Basin, and Southeast Asia, Wildlife Insights relies on your help to sort and label wildlife in each photo. No experience is necessary, just curiosity, patience, and a love for animals.

Ideal for: 13+

EN‑ROADS Climate Ambassador

Become a certified EN‑ROADS Climate Ambassador and lead interactive workshops using the MIT‑developed EN‑ROADS simulator. You’ll facilitate peer‑led “what‑if” policy labs on energy, land use, and carbon pricing, helping communities explore realistic pathways to limit warming to 1.5 °C. Virtual training is free and fully supported, and you join a global network of ambassadors advocating data‑driven solutions.

Ideal for: 15+

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Volunteer for Us!

Contribute to a youth-led platform that empowers teens to take climate action through education and creativity. As a volunteer, you might write blog posts, design infographics, spotlight inspiring youth projects, or help build downloadable toolkits on everything from composting to climate policy. Whether you're a writer, researcher, or digital creator, your work will help make climate knowledge accessible and actionable for young changemakers around the world!

Ideal for: All Ages!

Climate Leaders Fellowship

Join a global cohort of high school students in a fully virtual, 12-week fellowship hosted by Rustic Pathways and the Stanford Deliberative Democracy Lab. You’ll design, plan, and launch your own local climate-action project, anything from waste-reduction drives to community cleanups, while collaborating with teammates from around the world. Weekly Zoom workshops will guide your progress, connect you with mentors, and equip you with skills in project management and advocacy. After completing your project, outstanding Fellows may be invited to an in-person Summit, and all participants earn certificates and volunteer hours recognition, including eligibility for the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award

Ideal for: 14+

Seaside Sustainability

Located in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Seaside Sustainability engages volunteers of all ages in coastal conservation projects that strengthen ecosystems and communities. In-person roles include monitoring the SeaBin floating trash collectors, testing acidification in mudflats, collecting microplastics on beaches, and leading community cleanup events. Virtual and outreach volunteers support fundraising, data entry, and climate-change education campaigns. Whether you’re drawn to fieldwork or advocacy, this flexible program lets you contribute hands-on to cleaner coastlines and resilient marine habitats.

Ideal for: 14+ (with parental consent)

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Zooniverse

Dive into diverse, browser‑based citizen science projects: classify galaxies, tag wildlife photos, or transcribe historical weather logs, with guidance at every step. Your contributions accelerate research in ecology, climate history, and beyond, helping scientists tackle large datasets faster and more accurately. No specialized skill is required, just curiosity and a web browser.

Ideal for: 13+

NSLC (National Student Leadership Conference)

Step onto a top university campus where you can explore topics like Marine Biology and Public Policy. At schools like Georgetown, UCLA, and the University of Chicago, you’ll engage in climate-related workshops, simulations, and leadership sessions. From policy debates to hands-on labs, the program blends academic rigor with real-world impact. You’ll leave with stronger leadership skills, new friends, and a clearer vision for your role in climate action.

Price: $4,500 to $6,500

Scholarships: Merit awards and need‑based financial aid available

Ideal for: 15-17

NASA SEES (STEM Enhancement in Earth Science)

Join a prestigious internship where you'll work with NASA scientists and UT Austin researchers on real climate and Earth science projects. After online prep in June, you’ll spend two weeks on campus in July analyzing satellite data, collaborating in small teams, and exploring space science through hands-on fieldwork and labs. Your research wraps with a virtual symposium where you'll present your findings to experts. It’s an incredible launchpad for anyone passionate about science, space, and climate.

Price: Free

Scholarships: Limited travel scholarships available

Ideal for: 16-17

GLA (Global Leadership Adventures)

Spend 10 to 21 days in a dream destination around the world working hand‑in‑hand with local conservationists on a GLA program or internship. You may work to build coral nurseries, protect endangered turtle nesting beaches, and work on many other fulfilling projects. Each day offers meaningful, hands‑on activities that contribute to environmental conservation and community sustainability. Alongside these projects, you’ll connect with local culture, develop leadership skills, and gain a deeper understanding of global climate challenges. This immersive experience empowers you to become a confident, knowledgeable advocate for the planet no matter where you go next.

Price: $3,199 to $6,499

Scholarships: Need‑based aid covers 10 to 30 percent of tuition, Awards available

Ideal for: 14-18

Hutton Junior Fisheries Biology Program

Engage in an eight-week paid summer internship where you’ll work closely with a local fisheries professional to explore marine and freshwater ecosystems. As a Hutton Scholar, you’ll participate in hands-on activities such as fish population surveys, water quality testing, and habitat restoration projects. This mentorship-driven program is designed to inspire and diversify the next generation of fisheries and aquatic scientists. By the end, you’ll have gained valuable field experience, a stipend, and the opportunity to attend the Hutton Scholars Summit to connect with peers and professionals in the field.

Price: Paid internship ($3,000 stipend)

Scholarships: All expenses covered for the Hutton Scholars Summit

Ideal for: 16-17 (rising juniors and seniors)

Rustic Pathways – Teen Climate Service Adventures

Travel to breathtaking locations such as the Philippines or Fiji to work on immersive climate service projects with trusted local NGOs. You will rebuild forest trails, remove invasive plant species, and monitor watershed health using GPS mapping and water‑quality sensors. Daily reflection sessions with your team and local leaders will deepen your understanding of global climate challenges and cultural approaches to sustainability. Service‑scholar and ambassador roles will prepare you to lead impactful environmental initiatives in your own community.

Price: $2,800 to $5,995

Scholarships: Various amounts awarded through work in the ambassador program

Ideal for: 14–18  (middle & high school programs available)

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CIEE (Council on International Education Exchange)

Choose from more than 30 stunning locations where you will conduct hands‑on climate and ecology research under expert guidance. Pre‑departure training and on‑site mentors ensure your data is scientifically valid and your cultural immersion is authentic. After you return you can join a global ambassador network that empowers you to share your experience, inspire fellow students, and earn rewards. Additionally, CIEE has the largest scholarship fund out of all high school summer abroad programs, making it more accessible and diverse!

Price: $5,450 to $9,250

Scholarships: Global Navigator Awards up to 100 percent of tuition

Ideal for: 14–18 

Girls on Ice – Inspiring Girls Expeditions

Join an all-girls expedition into some of the world’s most stunning landscapes, such as glaciers, fjords, mountains, or forests, where you’ll conduct field science alongside professional women scientists, artists, and wilderness guides. Programs are offered in locations like Alaska, Washington, Colorado, Canada, Switzerland, and even culturally tailored options such as Girls on Ice Canada (French-speaking) and Girls on Ice Switzerland. You'll learn to collect scientific data, design your own experiments, and gain valuable backcountry skills, all while forming close bonds with a team of like-minded peers. Best of all, these life-changing expeditions are completely tuition-free and designed to empower the next generation of women in science and leadership.

Price: Completely free (includes gear, food, and travel during the program)

Scholarships: Fully funded through grants and donations; no cost to attend

Ideal for: 15–18

Broadreach

Earn your PADI Open Water certification before diving into coral‑reef research in the Caribbean & other locations where you will measure pH, temperature, and species diversity. You will tend coral nurseries, transplant fragments onto reef structures, and track recovery metrics over the season. Evening seminars cover climate‑resilience strategies and global conservation policy, empowering you to become an ocean‑advocacy leader. All your fieldwork data will feed into international databases used by marine scientists worldwide.

Price: $4,995 to $6,495

Scholarships: Sibling and merit discounts available

Ideal for: 14-17

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Sea  Education Association

Set sail on a real research vessel with SEA’s high school summer programs based in Woods Hole, MA! Whether you’re collecting water samples, learning to navigate at sea, or studying ocean ecosystems, you’ll gain hands-on experience in marine science and conservation. Programs like SEA Expedition and SEASCape blend science, sailing, and sustainability to connect you deeply with the ocean.

Price: $3,000–$6,000

Scholarships: Need based aid and scholarships available

Ideal for: 14-18

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SCA (Student Conservation Association)

For 10 to 12 weeks you will join professional conservation crews in U.S. national parks where you restore trails, remove invasive species, conduct prescribed burns, and perform citizen‑science water‑quality monitoring. You will live and learn alongside fellow crew members, mastering specialized tools and techniques that build climate‑resilience skills. By supervising volunteer teams you will hone leadership capabilities that translate to community projects back home. A living stipend of $600 to $3,000 along with free housing covers all your basic expenses.

Price: Paid position (stipend of $600 to $3,000 covers living expenses)

Ideal for: 15-18

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One Earth Film Festival (Young Filmmakers Contest)

Create a short film (3–8 mins) that tackles climate change or environmental justice and share your voice with the world! Open to high school students globally, with winners featured at the One Earth Film Fest and eligible for cash prizes.

NASA International Space Apps Challenge

Join thousands of teens and adults worldwide in a 48-hour hackathon using NASA data to solve real-world problems from climate to conservation. It’s fast, creative, and open to everyone, no experience needed.

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Write the World – Climate Writing Contest

Submit essays, stories, or poems about climate change, and get personalized feedback from peers and experts. This global teen platform celebrates thoughtful, powerful writing on urgent environmental issues.

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Youth Global Canvas Art Competition

Submit nature-inspired artwork with a conservation message! Open to youth at least 15 years old worldwide, this contest celebrates young talent and encourages awareness about protecting the planet.

Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest

Use your creativity, whether it’s art, poetry, film, or music, to raise awareness about ocean and climate issues. Open internationally for youth 11–18, this contest offers scholarships, publishing, and a platform for your message.

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Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year

If you love wildlife and photography, this is for you! Open to youth under 17, this iconic global contest spotlights stunning nature photos, with winners featured in the Natural History Museum’s exhibit.

Young Reporters for the Environment

Investigate and report on local environmental issues through writing, photography, or video, and compete with students worldwide. YRE empowers young journalists and changemakers to speak up for the planet.

International Youth Environment Competition (IYEC)

Present a creative solution to an environmental issue through video, writing, or digital design. This international contest is for ages 14–18 and showcases youth-led environmental innovation.

Roots & Shoots by Jane Goodall Institute

Lead a youth-driven project in your community that promotes conservation, animal welfare, or climate justice and share your progress through photos and storytelling. Open globally and built for teens who care.

The GLOBE Program

Join GLOBE Observer and be alongside volunteers around the world collecting real environmental data for NASA, no teacher or classroom required. Use the app to track clouds, trees, land cover, and more. With built-in training and global campaigns, your observations directly support climate research and help scientists understand our changing planet.

Ideal for: 14+

City Nature Challenge

Grab your phone and head outdoors to join a global nature hunt that turns your city into a scientific playground. During this annual bioblitz, youth team up with naturalists and fellow citizens to document urban biodiversity. You’ll not only explore the wild side of your neighborhood, you’ll help build a worldwide map of life that scientists actually use.

Ideal for: 13+

Climate & Environmental Literacy (Earth Day Campaign)

Join Earth Day’s Climate & Environmental Literacy campaign and be alongside youth and educators working to make climate education a global priority. This movement pushes for environmental literacy in schools, civic engagement, and informed youth leadership. Whether you're advocating for policy, organizing peer education, or participating in Earth Day events, this campaign empowers young people to lead with knowledge.

Ideal for: All ages

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EarthEcho Water Challenge

Test your local waterways and contribute to a global effort to safeguard water. With a simple test kit and a few drops from a stream, lake, or beach, you can join youth from over 140 countries monitoring water health and sharing findings on an international map. This hands-on challenge teaches environmental science with a real impact.

Ideal for: 14-22

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NASA Citizen Science Projects

From tracking clouds to analyzing Earth’s surface, NASA’s citizen science programs invite students of all ages to take part in real research from home. Choose from dozens of exciting projects and contribute to missions that explore both our planet and space. Your data could help power the next big discovery.

Ideal for: 14+

Roots & Shoots (Jane Goodall Institute)

Join a global network of youth leading change for people, animals, and the environment. Roots & Shoots helps you start a community project on an issue you care about, from climate to conservation, and provides the tools, inspiration, and connections to make it successful. You don’t just learn about the planet, you help heal it.

Ideal for: 13+

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Zooniverse Citizen Science Platform

Join millions of users around the world on Zooniverse, where you can help classify images of wildlife, digitize historical climate records, and assist scientists in countless other projects. No prior experience needed, just your curiosity and a drive to make an impact through online research.

Ideal for: All ages

SciStarter (Citizen Science Hub)

Want to help real scientists from your home, your school, or your neighborhood? SciStarter connects you to thousands of citizen-science projects on topics from wildlife to water pollution. Choose what you care about most and start making scientific contributions that matter, no lab coat required!

Ideal for: 14+

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