10 Best Environmental Science Programs for Middle School Students

If you’re passionate about the planet, exploring an environmental science program for middle schoolers can be one of the most rewarding and eye-opening experiences you’ll have before high school. These programs introduce you to real-world scientific issues such as climate change, sustainability, and ecology while giving you a glimpse into what college-level academics feel like. You’ll gain practical research experience, learn field investigation techniques, and even collaborate with experts who work on global environmental challenges. What’s great is that many of these opportunities are accessible and not prohibitively expensive, giving you a chance to explore science meaningfully without financial barriers.

By participating in an environmental science program for middle schoolers, you’ll also build valuable life and professional skills, teamwork, data collection, and critical thinking, that go beyond the classroom. These experiences can help you understand how environmental science connects to public policy, technology, and even economics. We’ve carefully curated this list of the top programs that combine rigor, affordability, and prestige. Each one offers strong mentorship, practical projects, and unique exposure to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

10 Best Environmental Science Programs for Middle School Students

1. Lumiere Junior Explorer Program (JEP)

Location: Remote

Cost/Stipend: Varies; Full financial aid is available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective

Dates: 8-week program; multiple cohorts throughout the year

Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort

Eligibility: Students in grades 6-8

Lumiere’s Junior Explorers Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students, designed to build advanced academic writing and research skills. You begin by selecting a subject area, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and are matched with a PhD-level mentor from a top university. Over the course of the program, you receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and carry out an independent research project focused on a real-world question. To strengthen your writing and analytical abilities, you conclude the program by producing a formal research paper that presents your findings. 

2. American Museum of Natural History Science Alliance Middle School Program

Location: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

Cost/Stipend: $1,000 per seasonal session; $4,500 for the four-week Summer Science Academy (tuition assistance available; 50% of seats reserved for aid applicants)

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Moderate selectivity; rolling admission

Dates: Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions (8 weeks for weekday classes or 4 weeks for Saturday classes); Summer Academy runs for four weeks, 9 am–3 pm

Application Deadline: Rolling; early application recommended for tuition aid consideration

Eligibility: Grades 6–8

This immersive environmental science program for middle schoolers combines museum-based learning with real-world exploration in fields like conservation, astrophysics, anthropology, and evolutionary biology. During the year, you’ll attend hands-on lab sessions, fossil digs, and conservation projects, working alongside scientists and educators from the Museum. The curriculum encourages curiosity-driven exploration of natural history through interactive labs, field studies, and even outdoor trips like the Queens Zoo. The summer program expands on this by dedicating each week to a different scientific discipline, giving you the opportunity to explore everything from biodiversity to planetary science in depth.. It’s a challenging yet supportive way to gain practical scientific skills, develop academic confidence, and experience what real environmental scientists do every day, all while surrounded by one of the most iconic science institutions in the world.

3. Veritas AI - AI Trailblazers

Location: Remote

Cost: Varies; Full financial aid is available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective

Dates: Various cohorts throughout the year

Application Deadline: Varies by the cohort

Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8; no coding or technical background required

Veritas AI’s AI Trailblazers program introduces you to key concepts in artificial intelligence and machine learning through live instruction and collaborative learning. Over 25 hours, you learn Python programming, explore data analysis, and build models using regression and classification techniques. You receive personalized guidance through small-group mentoring, with a five-to-one student-to-mentor ratio. As the program progresses, you explore more advanced topics such as neural networks and AI ethics. A central part of the experience is the team-based capstone project, where you and a few peers apply your new skills to solve a real-world challenge and present your findings at the end. 

4. Manhattan University Science & Engineering Camp

Location: Manhattan University, Riverdale, NY

Cost/Stipend: $699 per week for 1–2 weeks, $689 per week for 3–4 weeks, and $665 per week for 5 weeks; $100 non-refundable registration fee; financial aid and sibling/employee discounts available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment with structured weekly cohorts; approximately 15:1 camper-to-staff ratio

Dates: July 6–August 6; Monday–Thursday, 9:30 am–3:00 pm

Application Deadline: Rolling; space limited and early registration encouraged

Eligibility: Grades 5–8

The Manhattan University Science & Engineering Camp immerses students in five key branches of engineering, chemical, environmental, civil, mechanical, and electrical, through weekly themed modules led by university faculty. Each week focuses on a new discipline, allowing you to conduct hands-on experiments, build prototypes, and engage in lab demonstrations using university-grade equipment. Throughout the program, you’ll meet engineering professionals and alumni to understand how each field applies to real-world problem-solving. The camp’s collaborative environment helps you strengthen creativity, teamwork, and critical thinking skills. With its strong focus on STEM foundations and exposure to multiple engineering paths, this environmental science-related program for middle schoolers offers an exciting way to experience college-level exploration in a supportive setting.

5. NYU Science of Smart Cities (SoSC)

Location: NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Brooklyn, NY

Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; full scholarship covers tuition and materials

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; small cohort of New York City middle school students

Dates: July 8–August 2; Monday–Friday, 9:00 am–4:00 pm (Orientation on June 28)

Application Deadline: April 29

Eligibility: New York City residents aged 12–14 with strong academic performance and demonstrated interest in STEM

The NYU Science of Smart Cities (SoSC) program introduces students to the science and technology behind sustainable urban development. Over four weeks, you’ll explore topics like electronics, microcontrollers, environmental systems, and coding while designing innovative solutions for real-world urban challenges. Working in teams, you’ll use engineering tools and sensors to create prototypes that make cities safer and more efficient. A unique element of this environmental science program for middle schoolers is its integration of STEM with communication skills—students participate in Irondale workshops that use improv techniques to strengthen presentation and collaboration abilities. Taught by NYU faculty and graduate students, SoSC blends rigorous scientific learning with creativity, preparing you to think critically about how science can transform the cities of tomorrow.

6. CitySprouts’ Summer Green Team Program

Location: Garden sites across Boston and Cambridge, MA

Cost/Stipend: Tuition-free; all materials, field trips, and activities provided at no cost

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective community-based program; small group cohorts across multiple garden sites

Dates: Five-week summer program, plus afterschool sessions throughout the academic year

Application Deadline: February (for summer sessions)

Eligibility: Middle school students from Boston and Cambridge, especially from underserved and overpaved communities

The CitySprouts’ Green Team is a hands-on environmental science program for middle schoolers focused on urban sustainability, food systems, and leadership development. Throughout the summer, you’ll work in schoolyard gardens and local green spaces to grow food, explore ecology, and develop practical STEM and cooking skills. The program blends science learning with community action, encouraging you to become a steward of your environment while learning about the social and environmental issues shaping your city. Through field trips, teamwork, and garden-based projects, you’ll strengthen leadership and communication skills that will help you in high school and beyond. The afterschool sessions extend this experience year-round, allowing you to stay engaged with your community and environment while continuing to grow as a young scientist and changemaker.

7. The Experimentory – Our Planet, Our Responsibility: Tackling Climate Change Together

Location: Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, MA

Cost/Stipend: $6,950 for boarding; $5,950 for day program; $75 application fee; limited financial aid available for domestic students

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohort of middle school students admitted through rolling admissions

Dates: July 9–July 27

Application Deadline: Rolling; priority deadline January 15

Eligibility: Students currently in grades 6–8 from the U.S. and abroad

The Experimentory – Our Planet, Our Responsibility: Tackling Climate Change Together course invites you to explore one of the most urgent issues of our time through hands-on research and creative problem-solving. You’ll study how scientists identify and analyze evidence for climate change, differentiate between climate and weather, and explore how humans contribute to and can mitigate global warming. In the lab and field, you’ll measure soil temperature, biodiversity, and carbon flux, and evaluate water quality to understand local environmental patterns. This environmental science class for middle schoolers combines data analysis with design thinking—culminating in a collaborative simulation game that models climate change dynamics. With guidance from Deerfield Academy faculty, you’ll experience what it’s like to think, work, and innovate like a real environmental scientist while also sampling the boarding school experience.

8. Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound Connections Summer Expeditions

Location: Cathleen Stone Island, Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park, MA

Cost/Stipend: Fully funded; all meals, equipment, and instruction provided free of charge

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small crews of 10–15 students per expedition

Dates: Summer sessions offered (5-day backpacking/climbing or 7-day kayaking/camping expeditions); program dates released February 17

Application Deadline: Rolling; applications open February 17

Eligibility: Rising 7th–8th graders enrolled in Boston Public Schools

The Cathleen Stone Island Outward Bound Connections Summer Expeditions program is a transformative environmental science program for middle schoolers that combines outdoor adventure with leadership and environmental learning. Participants spend five to seven days exploring Cathleen Stone Island and the Boston Harbor Islands, engaging in backpacking, kayaking, and camping expeditions. You’ll learn wilderness and campcraft skills, study local ecology and geology, and take part in service projects that emphasize sustainability and teamwork. Guided by Outward Bound instructors, you’ll also participate in discussions on leadership, decision-making, and environmental stewardship. Each day brings new experiences, from sea kayaking and orienteering to cooking meals over campfires and sleeping under the stars, making it an unforgettable introduction to outdoor science and personal growth.

9. The Ecology School Summer Ecology Adventure Camp

Location: The Ecology School at River Bend Farm, Saco, ME

Cost/Stipend: $550 per camper for a 6-day/5-night session (subsidized from $1,100 true cost); $225 deposit required; need-based scholarships available

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment with limited capacity per session

Dates: Weekly sessions offered during July and August (specific dates announced each spring)

Application Deadline: Rolling; early registration recommended

Eligibility: Rising 5th–9th graders

The Summer Ecology Adventure Camp at The Ecology School offers an immersive environmental science program for middle schoolers centered around sustainability, ecology, and outdoor exploration. Over six days, you’ll explore Maine’s forests, rivers, and farmland through hands-on investigations, canoeing, hiking, and art projects. Each themed week, such as Outdoor Explore!, Farm to Table, and Cultivating Climate Leaders, connects science learning with real environmental action. You’ll learn about biodiversity, regenerative agriculture, and renewable energy while participating in activities like building solar ovens and studying local ecosystems. Campers live in eco-friendly dorms on a 313-acre campus and enjoy farm-to-table meals sourced from the school’s own fields. With an emphasis on teamwork, confidence, and curiosity, this camp fosters a lifelong connection to the environment and empowers you to be a future climate leader.

10. Monterey Bay Aquarium Ocean Learning Adventures

Location: Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, CA

Cost/Stipend: Free; transportation provided from Watsonville, Salinas, Marina, and Seaside

Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; participants chosen by lottery to reflect Monterey County demographics

Dates: June 23–27, July 7–11, July 21–25, and July 28–August 1

Application Deadline: Applications open annually in spring; selections made before summer

Eligibility: Middle school students entering grades 6–8 (ages 11–13)

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Ocean Learning Adventures (OLAs) program is a week-long, bilingual environmental science program for middle schoolers that immerses students in ocean ecology and conservation. You’ll explore the interconnectedness of marine and coastal ecosystems through fieldwork, hands-on experiments, and guided exploration of the Monterey Bay region. Activities include water-based learning experiences, team building, and community engagement designed to foster curiosity and stewardship for the ocean. Conducted in both English and Spanish, OLAs promotes inclusion and encourages youth from diverse backgrounds to see themselves as future ocean advocates. Led by Aquarium educators, the program blends science, cultural connection, and adventure to deepen your understanding of how humans and marine environments depend on each other.

Lydia is an alumna from Harvard University and studied Molecular and Cellular Biology & Economics. In high school, she was the captain of her high school’s Academic Decathlon team and attended the Governor's School of Engineering and Technology. She is working as a life sciences consultant after graduation. 

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