Sustainable Summer
@Cornell
Environmental Leadership & Innovation
at Cornell
- Days 13
- Typical Cohort Size 35
- Grades Rising 10th - 12th
- Standard Tuition $3995
- Accepting Scholarships? Yes
- Sessions
Sustainable Summer at Cornell University is ideal for high school students with a strong interest in environmental sustainability, and is particularly well suited to students interested in
- social entrepreneurship,
- environmental policy,
- community activism
- and non-profit ventures.
The program is designed to help students develop an advanced understanding of the interrelated challenges of sustainable development, climate change, and biodiversity loss through project-based learning and the real-world application of knowledge to a specific environmental problem.
Understand The Problem. Develop Innovative Solutions.
You likely know that human-generated carbon emissions are driving global warming. The Earth’s average temperature has already increased 1° Celsius since the industrial revolution and we are on a path to an additional 3 or more degrees of warming by the end of the century. This has dire implications for the planet and its inhabitants. You already understand the broad strokes of this story. What you don’t know, or at least don’t fully understand, are the details and – more importantly – what needs to happen (and how) so that we have a climate future that is safe for people and the planet.
Sustainable Summer at Cornell is a fun and hands-on way to expand your understanding of sustainability while making friends from all over the world who share your passion for the environment. This is an intensive two-week program designed to develop students’ knowledge of sustainability concepts, problem-solving and leadership skills and a deeper understanding of self.
Summer at Cornell
There are few college campuses that can rival Cornell’s as a place to get a taste for college living. Picture yourself working with a team of your peers to develop a pitch for a newly conceived “triple bottom line” business over coffee in the student center. Or hiking to one of the area's famous waterfalls. You’ll get to experience campus life, but also get to enjoy some of the incredible natural beauty nearby that has yielded the phrase "Ithaca is Gorges." We want to get out and about exploring sustainability on campus and in the surrounding natural world. Days feature a combination of project-based learning, culture or outdoors activities, and quality time enjoying the amazing community of students from all over the world that participate in a Sustainable Summer program.
PLEASE NOTE: Cornell University does not operate Sustainable Summer.
Program Goals
We focus on developing three pillars of environmental leadership in our students. What is environmental leadership?
Knowledge
Taking action starts with building knowledge. Participants — through discussions, workshops, site visits, and projects — will investigate important concepts in the field of sustainability.Skills
We emphasize the application of knowledge to practical, real world problems through a project-based approach.Passion
A Sustainable Summer program is an authentic space for students to explore their own value structures, professional and intellectual interests, and how their beliefs inform their environmental ethic and activism.The Experience
With a cohort of intellectually curious youth from all over the world, our programs emphasize dynamic project-based learning, personal growth, and discovery.
This is NOT a "take notes and study for the test" type of program. This IS an "I'm all in, let's get our hands dirty and have fun while doing it" type of program.
Check out what past students have to say about our programs at Cornell.