New York City
Biology and Environmental Science Opportunities for High School Students in New York City
18 programs for students interested in biology and environmental science across the five boroughs, Long Island, Westchester, and northern New Jersey. 18 are not listed as paused or waitlisted; application availability varies. 4 list a minimum age under 16, excluding paused and waitlisted programs.
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- Opportunities
- 18
- Not paused or waitlisted
- 18
- application availability varies
- Minimum age under 16
- 4
- excludes paused and waitlisted
- Summer only
- 8
- others run longer or do not say
- ASPCA Adoption Center Youth Volunteers (ages 16-17)
Volunteering · New York, NY
- Who can join
- Ages 16 to 17
- When to apply
- Not posted
- Bideawee Summer Teen Group
Volunteering · Westhampton, NY
- Who can join
- Ages 13 to 17
- When to apply
- Summer
- Bideawee Teen Volunteers
Volunteering · New York, NY
- Who can join
- Ages 13 to 17
- When to apply
- Not posted
- Brooklyn Botanic Garden Garden Apprentice Program (GAP)
Internship · Brooklyn, NY
- Who can join
- Grades 9 to 11
- When to apply
- December 4, 2026
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Partners for the Future
Research · Cold Spring Harbor, NY
- Who can join
- Grade 12
- When to apply
- School year
- Liberty Science Center Teen Summer Docent Program
Summer program · Jersey City, NJ
- Who can join
- Grades 10 to 12
- When to apply
- Summer
- Liberty Science Center Youth Volunteering
Volunteering · Jersey City, NJ
- Who can join
- Ages 16 to 18
- When to apply
- Year-round
- Long Island Science Center Student Volunteers
Volunteering · Riverhead, NY
- Who can join
- 11 and up
- When to apply
- Not posted
- Maimonides Medical Center Science Scholars Program
Summer program · Brooklyn, NY
- Who can join
- Grade 12
- When to apply
- March 26, 2026 (past deadline; confirm next cycle)
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Summer Student Program
Research · New York, NY
- Who can join
- 16 and up
- When to apply
- February 5, 2027
- New York Botanical Garden Explainer Program
Volunteering · Bronx, NY
- Who can join
- Not posted
- When to apply
- November 14, 2026
- NewYork-Presbyterian Lang Youth Medical Program
Club or organization · New York, NY
- Who can join
- Grade 6
- When to apply
- Year-round
- North Shore Animal League America VolunTEEN Program
Volunteering · Port Washington, NY
- Who can join
- Ages 16 to 17
- When to apply
- Recruits twice a year for Fall/Winter (September-January) and Spring/Summer (April-August) (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability)
- Prospect Park Alliance Park Youth Representatives
Internship · Brooklyn, NY
- Who can join
- Not posted
- When to apply
- 2026 applications closed; check back in early 2027 (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability)
- Prospect Park Alliance Woodlands Youth Crew
Internship · Brooklyn, NY
- Who can join
- Not posted
- When to apply
- 2026 applications closed; check back in early 2027 (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability)
- Wave Hill Forest Project
Internship · Bronx, NY
- Who can join
- 16 and up
- When to apply
- 2026 applications closed; check back next winter for 2027; separate SYEP application required (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability)
- Wildlife Conservation Society and Fordham University Project TRUE
Research · Bronx, NY
- Who can join
- Grades 10 to 11
- When to apply
- Summer
- Wildlife Conservation Society Discovery Guide Volunteer Program
Volunteering · Bronx, NY
- Who can join
- Ages 14 to 22
- When to apply
- Applications for the next cycle open in late December for Spring 2027; an interest form is available now (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability)
| Opportunity | Where | Who can join | Commitment | When to apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASPCA Adoption Center Youth Volunteers (ages 16-17)Volunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | New York, NY | Ages 16 to 17 | Not posted | Not posted |
| Bideawee Summer Teen GroupVolunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | Westhampton, NY | Ages 13 to 17 | Select Fridays in summer for a couple of hours | Summer |
| Bideawee Teen VolunteersVolunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | New York, NY | Ages 13 to 17 | Not posted | Not posted |
| Brooklyn Botanic Garden Garden Apprentice Program (GAP)Internship · Parks and environment | Brooklyn, NY | Grades 9 to 11 | March to November; 4-6 hours weekly in spring and fall, 20-25 hours weekly in summer (about 190-220 hours) | December 4, 2026 |
| Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Partners for the FutureResearch · University lab | Cold Spring Harbor, NY | Grade 12 | Minimum 10 hours per week, September through March of senior year | School year |
| Liberty Science Center Teen Summer Docent ProgramSummer program · Museum or science center | Jersey City, NJ | Grades 10 to 12 | Not posted | Summer |
| Liberty Science Center Youth VolunteeringVolunteering · Museum or science center | Jersey City, NJ | Ages 16 to 18 | At least one full day every week for a minimum of 6 months, then at least every other week | Year-round |
| Long Island Science Center Student VolunteersVolunteering · Museum or science center | Riverhead, NY | 11 and up | Not posted | Not posted |
| Maimonides Medical Center Science Scholars ProgramSummer program · Hospital or health system | Brooklyn, NY | Grade 12 | Full time, Monday to Friday, July 6 to July 31, 2026; no vacation or summer classes allowed | March 26, 2026 (past deadline; confirm next cycle) |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Summer Student ProgramResearch · Hospital or health system | New York, NY | 16 and up | 8 weeks, June 29 to August 20, 2027 | February 5, 2027 |
| New York Botanical Garden Explainer ProgramVolunteering · Parks and environment | Bronx, NY | Not posted | Four training days plus a 4.5-hour shift every Saturday or Sunday, March 20 through June 19, 2027; minimum 125 hours | November 14, 2026 |
| NewYork-Presbyterian Lang Youth Medical ProgramClub or organization · Hospital or health system | New York, NY | Grade 6 | Six-year commitment, 7th grade through 12th grade | Year-round |
| North Shore Animal League America VolunTEEN ProgramVolunteering · Animal shelter or rescue | Port Washington, NY | Ages 16 to 17 | Minimum of 2-4 hours a week for at least 20 weeks | Recruits twice a year for Fall/Winter (September-January) and Spring/Summer (April-August) (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability) |
| Prospect Park Alliance Park Youth RepresentativesInternship · Parks and environment | Brooklyn, NY | Not posted | Not posted | 2026 applications closed; check back in early 2027 (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability) |
| Prospect Park Alliance Woodlands Youth CrewInternship · Parks and environment | Brooklyn, NY | Not posted | Not posted | 2026 applications closed; check back in early 2027 (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability) |
| Wave Hill Forest ProjectInternship · Parks and environment | Bronx, NY | 16 and up | Full summer program | 2026 applications closed; check back next winter for 2027; separate SYEP application required (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability) |
| Wildlife Conservation Society and Fordham University Project TRUEResearch · Zoo or aquarium | Bronx, NY | Grades 10 to 11 | Summer (June-August) plus Saturdays September-December | Summer |
| Wildlife Conservation Society Discovery Guide Volunteer ProgramVolunteering · Zoo or aquarium | Bronx, NY | Ages 14 to 22 | Typically a spring and a summer session | Applications for the next cycle open in late December for Spring 2027; an interest form is available now (as posted when checked 2026-10-13; confirm availability) |
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Frequently asked questions
How old does my teen need to be?
Each organization sets its own rule. The table shows the minimum age or grade each one posts, and says so when nothing is posted.
What does a teen volunteer actually do?
It varies by program. Each program page describes the work as the organization does, along with the hours it asks for.
Sources and method
Each opportunity was read from the organization's own page. A rule, date, or fee the page does not state is left blank. Last checked 2026-10-13. Programs change age rules, hours, and application windows, so confirm on the official page before applying. Dewey Smart is not affiliated with these organizations.
Suggested attribution: Dewey Smart. “Biology and Environmental Science Opportunities for High School Students in New York City”. https://www.deweysmart.com/opportunities/in/new-york/biology-and-environment.
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