Throughout the year, students investigate themes revolving around our four major NYC climate resilience challenges:
- Cooling NYC: extreme heat, tree canopy, and equitable access to cooling
- Managing Water in a Changing Climate: flooding, stormwater, and green infrastructure
- Building Healthy Urban Ecosystems: biodiversity, habitat, and ecological resilience
- Creating Circular Neighborhoods: waste, consumption, reuse, and circular systems
Students explore themes around two of these challenges each semester through a combination of hands-on investigations, environmental data collection, field experiences, environmental professionals and partners, and project-based learning. The goal is for students to move beyond simply learning about environmental problems and begin developing evidence-based ideas and solutions for their own communities.
2026-27 Program Highlights
The year-round program includes 12 after-school sessions in the fall and 12 in the spring, along with one free overnight field experience per semester. Students will also develop sustainability projects that they can present and submit during our spring Dolphin Tank culminating event.
Participation in the year-round program also creates a pathway into our Eco-Innovators Summer Institute. Students who are at least 16 by July 1, 2027 and demonstrate strong attendance and participation receive priority consideration for our six-week paid summer internship, primarily supported through NYC’s Summer Youth Employment Program. The Summer Institute allows students to deepen their scientific investigation, fieldwork, environmental career exposure, and solutions-oriented project development.
2026-27 Eco-Innovators Hubs
