The Youth Climate Fellowship empowers high school students to become the next generation of climate leaders. Over three-plus weeks in summer, you’ll dive into hands-on assignments, explore real-world climate sites, and meet experts who are making a difference. You’ll learn how climate issues connect to different careers and industries, discover ways to work with others for long-term solutions, and get practical leadership skills to take action in your community. By the end of the program, you’ll have the knowledge, experience, and confidence to create positive change and make your voice heard.
This Coro California program is offered in the Greater Los Angeles Area.
Program Overview
Program Benefits
Ideal Candidates & Eligibility
Format & Curriculum
Program Structure
Three-plus week, full-time summer program. Daily meetings provide immersive climate exploration and leadership development. Sessions combine facilitated learning, site visits to climate organizations, leadership interviews with industry professionals, and collaborative group work. Explore the program calendar for more information.
Curriculum Themes
Content addresses climate challenges through multiple lenses: systems-thinking for environmental solutions, advocacy and collaboration strategies for climate action, effective communication and public speaking skills, inquiry and critical thinking methods, career exploration across climate-related industries, and understanding cross-sector approaches to sustainability and environmental justice.
Career Readiness Focus
The program emphasizes career exploration and readiness, offering valuable exposure to industries working on climate-related issues. Through site visits, leadership interviews, and mentorship connections, Fellows gain understanding of professional pathways in climate fields, exposure to varied career opportunities in sustainability, and insights into skills and preparation needed for climate-related careers.
Learning Approach
Coro’s experiential methods center active practice over passive listening. You’ll engage in case discussions, leadership simulations, peer exchanges, and reflective exercises. Facilitators create space for mindfulness, vulnerability, and authentic connection, fostering psychological safety for adaptive collaboration and innovation.
Program Philosophy
Coro’s approach emphasizes three core principles: active leadership practice as lifelong learning, relating productively across differences in identities and perspectives, and embracing curiosity and vulnerability as foundations for authentic leadership and meaningful change.
Cost & Financial Support
Tuition
Tuition is $2,500 (subsidized from $6,000 by generous sponsor support). This substantial subsidy reflects Coro’s commitment to making climate leadership development accessible to young leaders.
Scholarships
Coro offers need-based scholarships to qualified applicants. Complete the relevant scholarship questions in the application to be considered for financial assistance.
Application Process & Key Dates
How to Apply
Complete the online application sharing your interest in climate issues, leadership aspirations, and commitment to personal growth. Review the Application Guide for detailed instructions and tips for crafting strong responses. Applications are reviewed holistically with priority for students from climate-impacted communities and those demonstrating genuine interest in climate action and career exploration.
Application Note: Applicants will have the option to apply only to the Youth Climate Fellowship or to submit a dual application to Coro’s Youth Fellows Program.
Application Deadlines
Application portal opens: February 5, 2026
Early decision deadline: March 24, 2026
(includes early consideration for scholarship and cohort selection)
Regular decision deadline: April 28, 2026
Selection Timeline
Applications are reviewed following each deadline and applicants are notified within two weeks of the deadline. Program tuition payments will be due typically four to six weeks from your decision notification.
