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Environmental Pre-College Experience at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ

An orientation, for the 2026-2027 cohort, is scheduled for June 1-2 at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ. YELP students will learn about environmental leadership, sustainability, and physical and social science. Orientation will provide the opportunity to meet IERE environmental professors, students, and environmental community leaders, while becoming more knowledgeable about ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ. 

Environmental Leadership ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Training Course

Complete IERE Environmental Leadership training course online and receive certificate. This is an online training course you can complete in approximately 10 hours.

Environmental Science and Studies ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Training Course

Complete IERE Environmental Sustainability 101 course online and receive certificate. This is an online training course you can complete in approximately 10 hours.

Environmental Campus and Community Service

Volunteer and support environmental initiatives with IERE and or a community partner.

Environmental CAS Project Development and Implementation

Students will develop and implement their CAS (or community-based service) project with ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ. This project will likely build off service work. Projects should meet an organizational need and CAS requirements, and hopefully be consistent with the student's personal and academic goals.

Professional Development and Workshops

There are planned communication and development meetings to ensure student success over the course of the. year. These meetings are more frequent (weekly) earlier in the program over the development phase in the summer. These meetings can be scheduled on Zoom. Once the project is identified, meetings will be tailored based on need. There is also a required workshop on March 1, 2027 from 4:00 - 5:00 p.m. on campus.

³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ’s Environmental Leadership Symposium

In April, YELP students will develop a poster presentation summarizing their CAS project and impact.  YELP students are required to attend and present their poster at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ's Environmental Student Symposium on Friday, April 16, 2027. Please communicate with your school to ensure that this will be recognized as an excused absence. ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ students will also be presenting their work at the Symposium as well. The Symposium is attended by approximately 150 people (IERE professors, IERE students, environmental community partners, donors, and guests). The YELP and ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ student presentations will be a conference-style poster presentation session. YELP and ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ students will also be recognized with an award and cords for graduation at the symposium.

Mentoring

The last two months of the program (in May and June), YELP students will complete evaluation criteria focused on the impact of the experience on their personal and professional growth for ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ, as well as debrief with their community organization. In addition, YELP students are expected to attend the first day of the Environmental Pre-College Experience at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ for the incoming class of YELP students and share their experience. This will take place in early June 2027.

• Rising high school juniors (IB Students welcomed as this can support your CAS project requirement)
• Students interested in environmental issues, sustainability, or conservation 
• Students who want to develop leadership, communication, and project management skills 
• Students excited to work on a student led environmental or community project 
• No prior leadership experience required

• Competitive, merit-based award for top high school students in NE Florida
• Avenue to complete CAS (or other service learning) project
• Pre-college experience at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ
• Training in environmental science/studies and environmental leadership and certificates of completion
• Networking with environmentally-focused ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ staff, professors, and students, community partners, community leaders, other high school students and scholars
• Award presented at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Environmental Symposium
• Graduation cords presented at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Environmental Symposium
• Present CAS project (poster presentation) at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Environmental Symposium
• Opportunity to mentor next year’s YELP high school scholars

are current open through Fri., May 8, 2026.  Current sophomores (rising juniors) are encouraged to apply. 

The application process includes the opportunity to describe your academic achievements and merit to date, interest in environmental science and or studies related to nature contact and access, and your interest in joining the ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Youth Environmental Leadership Program and serving as a YELP Scholar. Your resume along with a  professional or academic reference that we may contact will need to be included. Applications will be evaluated by ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ professors, staff, and IERE Community Council members based on academic merit, community and relevant experiences, and the idea to address the priority area. Preference is given to rising juniors, IB students, and students active in their school's Osprey Environmental Leadership Club (if your school has one).  Admission is merit-based and highly competitive. Five students in Northeast Florida will be selected for this year-long program. Awardees will be required to sign an agreement form, indicating they can attend the highlighted dates in person.

Applicants will be notified of their application status by May 15, 2026.