Native Earth Environmental Youth Program
A free summer program for Native American high school students focusing on environmental science and traditional
▌ Editor's read The Native Earth Environmental Youth Program is a free, week-long day camp for Native American youth, hosted by the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). The program aims to connect participants with environmental science and their cultural heritage in the Adirondacks. The website, esf.edu/nativepeoples/nativeearth.php, details that the program is for students entering grades 7-12 and covers topics like forestry, wildlife, water quality, and traditional ecological knowledge. There is no mention of ACA accreditation, state licensing, or specific staff-to-camper ratios on the provided webpage. The program is run by a university, indicating a strong educational foundation. No social media handles were readily apparent on the program's specific page, nor were Google reviews found for this particular program. The program's free nature and focus on cultural and environmental education for a specific demographic are significant strengths.
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University programRun by an academic institution
Who thrives here Ages 14–17
Native Earth Environmental Youth Program serves high-school campers, which means the program is competing against summer jobs, college visits, internships, and residential overnight options. The case for a day camp at this age is usually a CIT (counselor-in-training) track, deep specialization in outdoors/nature, or a portfolio item parents and kids both value. Programs that don't articulate one of those three usually lose this age band by 9th grade.
Facts & Credentials
- Program type
- Overnight camp
- ACA accredited
- Not verified
- Established
- Not listed
- Operator
- University program
- Staff-to-camper ratio
- Not listed
Details
- Category: Outdoors/Nature
- Ages: 14–17
- Hours: 24-hour residential
- Address: SUNY ESF, 1 Forestry Dr, Syracuse, NY 13210
- Phone: 315-470-6636
- Email: [email protected]
- Cost notes: USD. Aug 9-15. Free for Indigenous high school students.
Logistics
- Lunch provided: Yes
- Transportation: No
- Financial aid: No
- Setting: mixed
Frequently asked about Native Earth Environmental Youth Program
- What ages does Native Earth Environmental Youth Program accept?
- Native Earth Environmental Youth Program is open to children ages 14–17. Camps publish their own age cutoffs, and some run mixed-age groups internally; check the registration page for that summer's grouping if your child sits at a boundary.
- How much does Native Earth Environmental Youth Program cost?
- Native Earth Environmental Youth Program doesn't publish a flat per-week rate — pricing varies by session. USD. Aug 9-15. Free for Indigenous high school students. Contact the camp directly for the current schedule of fees.
- What are Native Earth Environmental Youth Program's hours?
- Native Earth Environmental Youth Program runs 24-hour residential. If those hours don't quite cover your work day, check whether extended care or early drop-off is offered separately.
- Who runs Native Earth Environmental Youth Program?
- Native Earth Environmental Youth Program is operated by a university program. The operator type matters for tuition policy (refunds, financial aid eligibility) and for what kind of staff training pipeline the camp uses.
- Does Native Earth Environmental Youth Program provide lunch?
- Yes — Native Earth Environmental Youth Program includes lunch in the program. Confirm whether it's a hot lunch, cold lunch, or a snack-plus-bring-your-own setup, and ask about allergy accommodations if relevant.
Planning guides
Editorial checklists to use before you compare Native Earth Environmental Youth Program with other camps.
- How to choose a summer camp · Use the decision checklist before you compare finalists.
- Summer camp pricing in 2026 · Benchmark weekly cost before you commit a deposit.
- Summer camp safety and accreditation · Review licensing, supervision, and accreditation signals.