NCF-Envirothon
North America's largest high school environmental education competition. Teams of five test their knowledge across soils/land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife, and a rotating current environmental issue, plus an oral presentation, progressing from local to state to the international NCF finals.
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Student Conservation Association (SCA)
The largest provider of hands-on youth conservation programs in the U.S. High schoolers can join short-term summer conservation crews doing trail building, habitat restoration, and wildlife protection in national parks and community green spaces.
National Geographic Slingshot Challenge
Global youth environmental-action challenge where individuals or teams create a one-minute video proposing an innovative solution to protecting nature, cleaning air, restoring the ocean, reducing waste, or addressing climate change. Top submissions receive $10,000 each.
Rachel Carson Sense of the Wild Contest
An intergenerational creative contest run by the Rachel Carson Landmark Alliance in which teams with members from at least two different generations submit poetry or essays celebrating humanity's connection with nature.
The Nature Conservancy LEAF Program
Paid summer conservation internships for urban high school students, offering hands-on stewardship work and career exposure with The Nature Conservancy at sites across the country.
Youth Conservation Corps (YCC)
A month-long paid summer program placing teens in national parks, forests, wildlife refuges, and hatcheries for conservation work including trail maintenance, ecological monitoring, and invasive plant removal.
EarthEcho International Youth Leadership Council
A competitively-selected leadership council (ages 15-22) founded by Philippe Cousteau Jr. that leads campaigns and programs on ocean and water conservation.