Teen Expeditions
Calling All Adventure Seekers
Are you a high school student aged 15–18 with a love for science and the environment?
Earthwatch Teen Expeditions are your chance to go on an unforgettable journey that combines adventure, learning, and making a difference!
Travel to stunning natural locations, work alongside scientists on hands-on research, and help protect endangered wildlife and habitats. You'll explore what a career in conservation is really like while participating in college-level fieldwork.
These expeditions offer so much more than science—they're a chance to experience new cultures, explore beautiful landscapes, build lifelong friendships, and make a real impact on the planet. No prior experience is needed, so no matter your background, you’re welcome to join the adventure
.
WHAT TO EXPECT:
- Immersive, authentic, hands-on field research for teens between the ages of 15 and 18*
- Training from renowned environmental scientists and their field staff
- Life-defining material for that college essay, as well as a glimpse into what a career as a scientist might look like
*18 year olds have the option of joining a teen team or a standard adult team. Teens aged 15–17 are also welcome on standard adult expeditions when accompanied by a parent or guardian.
EXPEDITIONS INCLUDE:
- Accommodations, food*, and local transportation
- Additional supervision and support from trained Earthwatch Facilitators (at least 1 facilitator will be present for every 6 teens)
- Detailed expedition briefings and travel planning documents, including international travel guidelines
- Emergency medical and evacuation insurance
- 24/7 incident support
*Please review the Online Expedition Briefing to learn more about the project's ability to accommodate special dietary requirements.
PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS
Earthwatch expeditions provide participants with immersive experiences in which they spend their days doing hands-on science and exploration. While it may not always be possible for participants to make outgoing calls* and communicate frequently with people back home, family and friends can contact participants in an emergency through our International Incident Management Team.
*Cell phone coverage and Internet access varies depending on the expedition. Always review the Online Expedition Briefing to learn more about the specific experience.
It's just such a great experience to meet people from across the world and just get to know them. The scientists were also really amazing people; they were just awesome to be with every day. So it was kind of like this huge family that you were a part of.
Ciara — Teen Team Participant, Wildlife in the Changing Andorran Pyrenees
.
Teen Team Facilitators
At Earthwatch, we are committed to creating meaningful and supportive experiences for young people. Our teen expeditions are led by experienced facilitators who provide additional supervision and guidance from the rendezvous point to the end of the expedition. These facilitators help ensure teen participants follow the Teen Behavior Agreement and Participant Code of Conduct.
Facilitators are trained to build supportive team dynamics and are available throughout the expedition to address participants' needs or concerns. To ensure the highest quality of care, all facilitators undergo a thorough vetting process, including background checks, and complete Earthwatch’s comprehensive training program.
For more information about Earthwatch’s Teen Team Facilitator Program or to apply as a facilitator, please check the Teen Team Facilitator Job Description or email us at [email protected].
The Earthwatch team does an excellent job of ensuring the teen expeditions are fun, educational, enriching, and safe. I’ve been very impressed with the Earthwatch team over the years, and I am grateful for how inspired I feel when I walk away from all the Earthwatch teen teams I facilitate.
Tara Dixon —Teen Team Facilitator
Earthwatch Teen Expeditions
.Join one of our upcoming expeditions and be part of an incredible adventure! Teens can make a real difference by helping with conservation and scientific research, all while exploring amazing places and having the experience of a lifetime.
Check out some of our upcoming expeditions.
Climate Change: Sea to Trees at Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park is famous for its stunning granite mountains and rocky shores, home to incredible plants and animals. But things are changing! You can help protect this special place by teaming up with researchers to explore its wildlife and tackle challenges like ocean acidification, invasive species, and microplastics.
- North America: Acadia National Park, Maine, United States
- Lead Scientist: Abraham Miller-Rushing, Ph.D.
- Activity Level: Moderate
- Duration: 7 days
Conserving Wild Bees and Other Pollinators of Costa Rica
Come with us on a forest hike in Costa Rica’s Monteverde Cloud Forest and nearby farms to study wild bees! Help catch and identify these important pollinators while supporting efforts to protect them across Central America. You’ll also get to plant trees and shrubs to create habitats that will support pollinators for years to come.
- North America: San Luis de Monteverde, Costa Rica
- Lead Scientist: Valerie Peters, Ph.D.
- Activity Level: Moderate
- Duration: 7 days
Following Forest Owls in the Western U.S.
Discover the hidden world of small forest owls in the mountains, canyons, and forests of southeastern Arizona! Join researchers in the Chiricahua Mountains to study amazing owls like the Flammulated, Elf, and Whiskered Screech-Owls. Together, we’ll learn how to protect these special birds from the challenges of climate change.
- North America: Portal, Arizona, United States
- Lead Scientist: Dave Oleyar, Ph.D.
- Activity Level: Moderate
- Duration: 7 days
.
Shark Conservation in Belize
Explore the stunning Caribbean Sea while helping protect sharks from extinction! Cruise through warm waters and join marine conservation efforts in a hands-on way. Work with researchers and local fishers to catch and tag sharks, track their movements with special sensors, and use new methods to keep them safe.
- North America: Riversdale, Belize
- Lead Scientist: Jessica R. Quinlan, Ph.D.
- Activity Level: Moderate
- Duration: 8 days
Tracking Sharks and Rays in Florida
Join us on the boat named after Dr. Eugenie Clark, the “shark lady,” and cruise the warm waters of Sarasota. You’ll help catch, tag, and identify different shark species, collect important data, and track the health of sharks and rays in Florida. Your efforts will support science-based conservation and help protect these at-risk species.
- North America: Sarasota, Florida
- Lead Scientist: Demian Chapman, Ph.D.
- Activity Level: Moderate
- Duration: 8 days
Unearthing Ancient History in Tuscany
Experience Italy in a whole new way! Join the excavation of Populonia, an ancient ironworking city in Tuscany. Discover Etruscan, Roman, and Medieval artifacts and learn how metalworking and trade influenced society. Help preserve these historical treasures and get a hands-on understanding of archaeology while living like a historian.
- Europe: Populonia Archaeological Park, Piombino, Tuscany, Italy
- Lead Scientist: Carolina Megale, Ph.D.
- Activity Level: Moderate
- Duration: 8 days
.
Wildlife in the Changing Andorran Pyrenees
Explore the stunning Andorran Pyrenees and help study how animals are adapting to climate change in their mountain homes. Join researchers to check nest boxes, tag birds, analyze soil and trees, and use cameras to learn about local mammals. Your work will help us understand animal health and protect these species.
- Europe: Valley of Ordino, Andorra
- Lead Scientist: Bernat Claramunt-López, Ph.D.
- Activity Level: Very Active
- Duration: 9 days
.
Will you sponsor a young leader?
Earthwatch expeditions give teens an unforgettable experience while helping scientists gather important research. Know a young person passionate about protecting our planet? Give them the gift of an Earthwatch expedition! Email us at [email protected] to learn how you can help.
Sign up for the Earthwatch Newsletter
Be the first to know about new expeditions, stories from the field, and exciting Earthwatch news.
.
.
.