Timbuctoo Climate Science and Careers Summer Institute

Our changing climate poses the greatest contemporary challenge we face as a human society. Understanding the causes, impacts, opportunities, and solutions requires the engagement of the best and brightest scientists, engineers, planners, managers, writers, and leaders we can produce.

But what if we are not engaging the best and the brightest in these career fields or the programs that prepare them at our colleges and universities? How can we hope to include the best solutions if we do not include the best ideas and voices at the starting point? This is a fundamental challenge when looking at the population of STEM professional and academic programs.

Inspiring youth to become leaders and problem-solvers

We’re not including everyone, and this needs to change. The Timbuctoo Climate Science and Careers Summer Institute is designed to address this, creating awareness, access, and opportunities for academic and professional pathways to a wide range of careers related to climate, natural resource management, and the green economy.

The Institute is an interdisciplinary summer program hosting high school sophomores and juniors from systemically marginalized communities. Each intensive two-week session focuses on environmental and social justice issues considered through the lens of climate science.

Participation in the Institute is fully funded, including all meals, housing, and transportation costs. In addition, each participant who successfully completes the program will receive a stipend.

Two Program Options

Choose from the original two-week Adirondack Program or the one-week Brooklyn Program options:

Two-Week Travel Program

Adirondack Program

Brooklyn and the Adirondacks

The Adirondack Program offers a thoughtful immersive experience, beginning in Brooklyn before students travel to Kingston and Syracuse for several days, then heading to the Adirondacks for the second week.

Adirondack Program Details

One-Week Local Option

Brooklyn Program

In and around Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Program is a one-week intensive instructional and experiential learning opportunity for early high school students interested in exploring climate science through a lens of environmental and social justice.

Brooklyn Program Details

Photos of students working in various settings.

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Get Involved

I am an Educator

Do you know a student interested in climate, or motivated by environmental or social justice issues? Are you looking to help students find unique and exciting opportunities that will expand their horizons and ideas of what careers exist and what pathways their future might hold? If so, we are looking for your recommendations.

Contact us at [email protected] for more information or to set up an informational meeting

I am a Student

Itching to explore careers that will help you better your world, but not sure where to start? Curious to explore the outdoors and associated careers, but don’t know what they might be? Passionate about fighting climate change, or interested in working to address inequality in any of its myriad forms? Visit the program pages to find information about how to apply.

I Want to Work for Timbuctoo Institute

We’re looking for Program Assistants in each program! If you’d like to be part of our team, check out the details on each program's page for more information and the application.

2024 Annual Report 2025 Annual Report

Inspiration in a Name

New York’s Adirondack Park was an active landscape in the early civil rights movement, dating back to the mid-1800s. Specifically, Timbuctoo, located just outside the present-day village of Lake Placid, was the site of an early black suffrage settlement, one of eight known settlements in the Adirondacks, created to enable 3,000 black men to meet the property requirements granting them the right to vote in New York. This history of creating electoral access and opportunity at the 19th century Timbuctoo is honored and celebrated by creating educational and career access and opportunity with the 21st century Timbuctoo Institute.

Upcoming Events

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Partners

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Media Coverage

Opinion: A more sustainable NY starts with empowering education (March 28, 2025)

Group in Albany places priority on environment (Feb. 28, 2025)

Forever wild for all: Aaron Mair's legacy of activism (Dec. 4, 2024)

Elmont Student Ruth Mekako Participates in Prestigious Timbuctoo Climate and Careers Institute (Sept. 2, 2024)

The ADKs are out of reach for many. A new climate institute brings NYC students here (Aug. 14, 2024)

NCPR: The Timbuctoo Institute (Aug. 14, 2024)

Video: DEC's involvement with Timbuctoo Institute (Nov. 15, 2023)

Partnering Up for the Timbuctoo Project (Aug. 15, 2023)

Students explore connections between climate, social justice (Aug. 18, 2023)

Video: Timbuctoo, The Summer Climate and Careers Institute Event (Aug. 3, 2023)

Timbuctoo Institute Hosts First Summer Cohort (July 31, 2023)

Exploring climate and justice from Brooklyn to the Adirondac ks’ Timbuctoo (March 17, 2023)

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“Timbuctoo is an experience that has impacted us in such a positive way. These memories are some of my favorites.” – Shiloh

“I believe this opportunity was very helpful toward my future. I met people who showed me the light toward my path.” – Noel

“I loved being part of this program. I am the future and I should start now!” – Victoria

See Our Students in Action

Check out our Instagram page to see the amazing experiences our students have at the Timbuctoo Institute! Better yet, follow us and give our posts a 💚.

Timbuctoo Instagram