The Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains is a 2-week campus-based program for high school students with experts from Columbia Climate School in Castleton, Vermont to mobilize action, drive impact, and effect change in response to our warming planet.

Non-credit

Residential

Financial Aid

Climate change is one of the defining issues of this century, and it is not only a scientific issue. The impacts are already being felt across our societies and will continue to be unprecedented in scale and impact.

One of the key ways that we can promote dialogue and participate in addressing solutions to the climate crisis is by elevating the voices of those who will be most affected by climate change. We need your participation and engagement in decision-making processes if we are to achieve a just and sustainable future. We will help you learn to impact change through an in-depth exploration of current climate topics and equip you with skills to move towards action.

Over two weeks, the Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains will take place at Vermont State University’s campus and provide the space and opportunities for high school students to engage, collaborate, and identify solutions.


MAIN THEMES AND OUTCOMES
The Science of Climate Change - Natural Variability vs. Anthropogenic Change, Climate Projections and Modeling, and Climate Information and Decision-Making
Climate Impacts and Resilience - Global Processes and Local Impacts, Preparedness and Risk, Recovery and Planning, and Mitigation and Adaptation
International Climate Policies and Negotiations - Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement, Decarbonization Pathways and the Energy Transition, Monitoring and Measuring Progress, United Nations Climate Change Conferences, and Global Governance and International Law
Sustainability and the Circular Economy - Consumerism and Throwaway Culture, Building a Value Chain, New Economic Models and Circular Systems, and Achieving Sustainable Business Practices
Climate Action & Advocacy - Local Community Impacts, Strategic Communication, and Youth Roles and Action


This two-week trans-disciplinary program led by Columbia Climate School faculty and researchers will encourage learner to consider diverse fields of study within climate and sustainability. Through seminars, small group discussions, field excursions, team-building and networking activities, and final projects, students will discover their own climate passions.

The Green Mountains program will give students direction, allow them to gain skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving, and encourage them to take climate action in their own communities. It will also provide students with an opportunity to engage in cutting-edge climate content with Columbia Climate School experts and prepare for the college experience.

The Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains program takes place in Castleton, Vermont at Vermont State University, a picturesque 165-acre campus. Nestled between Vermont’s Green Mountains and the Lakes Region, surrounded by small Vermont towns, the campus itself offers extensive green space and a serene setting for meaningful engagement with peers and Columbia Climate School experts.
Castleton’s rural nature and collegiate environment make this campus the ideal place to host a climate-focused summer experience. In addition to ample learning spaces, from classrooms to labs and studios, lecture halls and theaters, there are a wide range of campus facilities available for our exclusive use including a beautiful outdoor covered pavilion, sports fields, tennis courts, fantastic hiking and biking trails, and more. The location allows for ample access to Vermont’s small communities and larger towns or cities, providing opportunity for learning experiences beyond the classroom with potential site visits or meetings with local experts and state leaders, and extracurricular excursions to nearby lakes, galleries or museums, and more.
We stay in dormitories at the heart of the Vermont State University campus. Rooms are spacious singles and doubles, with shared bathroom facilities on the floor. Dormitories are equipped with ample social common areas, as well as laundry facilities and a small kitchenette. Staff reside on the dormitory floors with students.
Each day we take our meals in the campus dining hall, with the occasional lunch in town or picnic on a field trip. The campus kitchen and our program staff are able to accommodate many medical and dietary needs. Please call us to discuss your specific situation.
Days are filled with movement—walking around campus with your fellow students and staff, participating in a hands-on activity, or enjoying an afternoon swim or hike.
Program content will be delivered in a variety of formats and modalities throughout the program to maximize every student’s learning potential. A variety of off-campus experiences will be offered throughout the program to help students solidify their classroom-based learning experiences with real world examples of climate impacts and climate action. In addition, students will experience all that Vermont has to offer beyond the scope of climate by exploring the local area, networking and interacting with community members, and immersing themselves in the natural beauty of the Green Mountains.

Single Session

Jul 02 - Jul 14

2 weeks

Residential

6290 USD

The program cost for the 'Green Mountains' Program covers all day-to-day expenses including three meals each day, lodging, instruction, use of campus facilities, transportation during the program, entrance fees to museums and cultural sites, field excursions, guest lectures, social events, taxes, and tips.
The program cost for the 'Green Mountains' Program in 2023 is $6,290.
Pre-College program cost for both Pre-College Programs does not include the $200 Application Fee, international or domestic transportation to and from the program destination, baggage fees, visa and entry/exit fees, laundry, communication home, health care, gifts, snacks, or other personal expenses.

Financial Aid

Students who wish to link participation in the Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains program with a Columbia Climate Corps traveling program are eligible for a dual enrollment discount of $1,000. When beginning an application, applicants may select multiple programs. Scholarship opportunities are made possible with the support of the Henry L. and Grace Doherty Charitable Foundation. The Doherty Foundation Scholarship provides full and partial need-based scholarships for underrepresented students and communities to join the Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains.