Who should apply ?
We are looking for current or incoming undergraduate students who are between 18 and 24 years of age. Students should be passionate about making change in the world and about protecting the environment.
Review our eligibility requirements.
What can I do if I'm not eligible?
The Greenpeace Semester is not the only opportunity we have for volunteers and students interested in protecting the planet with Greenpeace. You can sign up to volunteer with Greenpeace’s Activist Network. The Activist Network is an excellent way for folks to start working in their communities. We also have several offices in the United States, and welcome volunteers.
Are you interested in working for Greenpeace? You can find out more about open positions, including internships, here.
Do I have to take a semester off?
If you intend to apply for our spring or fall program, you will need to take a semester away from campus. Often, students are able to obtain partial or full credit for their participation in the program. Our team will work with accepted students to receive internship or independent study credit for their time in the Greenpeace Semester. If you are unable to take a semester away from your campus, the summer program may be a better fit for you. We do not encourage students to take classes remotely or online during the Greenpeace Semester.
Can I earn school credit for the program?
Yes, many students are able to obtain credit for the program. Every school is different and the ability to gain credits, credit hours, and the cost to do so (if any) varies. Many students go the route of major-specific, independent study or internship programs to secure their credits. Your recruitment coordinator can work with you to secure credits for the program, but it is up to you to meet with your advisors.
Where is the Greenpeace Semester located?
The Greenpeace Semester is held in Washington, D.C. year-round. Class time is split between our office downtown and our Equipment Center in Landover, MD. Both are within walking distance of a Metro station.
How is the Greenpeace Semester different from an internship?
The Greenpeace Semester is much more than a traditional environmental internships. In most Greenpeace internships, interns do basic research, support the work of their specific team or department, and may or may not get exposure to campaigning.
Think of the Semester, however, like a semester of school: Monday to Friday you come to a classroom or office or go out into a community and learn from experienced activists and environmental advocates.
In addition to classroom training, you’ll go into the field for one week in the summer and 2-3 weeks in the spring and fall,and stretch your newly-developed organizing muscles. Students emerge from the program with deeper knowledge of environmental issues, real-world experience, and campaigning skills. Students also make great connections to experienced activists who will support you to be an effective environmental leader.
How much do we travel during the Greenpeace Semester?
Travel time is different between the spring/fall program and summer program. In our spring and fall programs, students travel for roughly 2-3 weeks. Students and coordinators travel for 7-10 days during their Campaign Trip, and another 7-10 days during the Greenpeace Expedition. In the summer program, students travel for one week on their Campaign Trip.
What is the Greenpeace Expedition?
The Greenpeace Expedition is typically a week-long trip that students and coordinators take during the spring and fall trainings. The goal of the Expedition is for students to bear witness to and learn from affected communities and folks working on the front-lines of a current issue, and in doing so, to practice advanced leadership skills.
Past trips have included students bearing witness to mountain-top removal in Appalachia, visiting the Gulf of Mexico shortly after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion, seeing the Tar Sands in Alberta, Canada, and meeting with the Zapatista community in Chiapas, Mexico, to learn about current land right issues. The goal of the Expedition is to bring students to a community that is organizing around a contemporary issue and give them an experience to which they wouldn't otherwise have had access.
Do I need a passport?
Maybe. If you are joining us for one of the summer programs, you will not need a passport. If you have been accepted to the spring or fall Semester, there is a chance you will need a passport. If you do not yet have a passport or have questions about getting one, please talk to someone on our team.
What is the training like?
Training in the program can vary every day. You will learn the basics of grassroots organizing, how to plan a campaign and how to practice peaceful direct action. Students will learn from some of the best trainers in the movement on the skills that they will need to know to hit the ground running back home. Students have briefings and workshops on campaign strategy, volunteer recruitment, clean energy, forests, how to pressure decisions makers, how to get media attention, and a number of other important organizing skills. For more information on trainings, click here.
When are tuition payments due?
Tuition is due three weeks before a semester commences, though students should check important dates and deadlines for 2012 dates, as these may vary. Students are also responsible for paying either one (summer) or two (fall and spring) non-refundable $500 deposits, which are part of a student’s overall tuition balance.
Are scholarships available?
Yes! To review our scholarship awards and eligibility requirements, please visit our scholarship page.
How do I fundraise for the program if I need to?
There are many ways to raise funds for your Semester! A majority of students who participate in the Greenpeace Semester fundraise to cover program costs or living expenses.
Students who are interested in fundraising for the program are provided with a fundraising toolkit upon their acceptance to the Greenpeace Semester. The toolkit has tips and ideas from students who have fundraised in the past. Some fundraising examples include: bake sales, yard sales, asking a friend’s band to play a show in their backyard, sponsorships from local businesses and friends and family, and big events in town.
The best thing about fundraising is that you get to be creative! If you have a special talent, show it off. If you have a birthday coming up, ask for donations as presents. There are many ways to fundraise, and our recruitment staff is happy to work with students to help brainstorm or develop goals for fundraisers. If you have any additional questions or ideas, please contact us.
How do I find housing during the term?
Once accepted to the Semester, we will provide you with a guide to your city to help find housing. Also, about a month or so before the program, you will be put in touch with the rest of your class. We do this so students can start to discuss housing options together or find affordable options. Many students live together during the program to cut down on costs.
How many students are accepted to the program each semester?
Each Greenpeace Semester class typically has between 10 and 15 students, though sometimes this number can vary due to the number of eligible candidates. Class sizes do not exceed 18 students.