The Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains

The Columbia Climate School in the Green Mountains is a two-week summer pre-college program in Vermont for high school students who want to take action on climate change. The program is held at Vermont State University's campus in Castleton, Vermont, and is run with Putney Student Travel. Faculty and researchers from the Columbia Climate School lead seminars, small group discussions, field excursions and team projects. Topics include climate science, climate impacts and resilience, international climate policy, the energy transition, climate justice and field-based sampling. The 2026 session ran July 5 to July 17, 2026. Tuition for 2026 was $7,290, which covered meals, lodging, instruction, local transportation and excursions but not travel to and from Vermont. Admission is selective. Need-based full and partial scholarships are available to U.S. residents.

Students in grades 9 through 12 from anywhere in the world can apply, and motivated rising 9th graders are welcome too. Apply through Putney Student Travel's online application with a personal statement of up to 300 words, contact details for two references (at least one of them a teacher), and a signed agreement form. A $200 application fee and a $500 enrollment deposit are due at the time of applying. Admissions are rolling until the program fills.