Student Challenge
Step Into Your Future
Calling all students in Years 10, 11 and 12 with a sense of adventure and burn to contribute to real-world environmental issues!
Full scholarships are available for you to join in week-long research expeditions during your school holidays.
You’ll live and work in the field alongside Earthwatch scientists, doing hands-on research work like surveying fauna and flora, and monitoring carbon and water. As well as contributing directly to conservation research, you’ll increase your environmental and scientific acumen, learn about careers and future pathways, and make friends with other action-oriented students.
2026 Programs
Protecting Wetlands for the Future
Expedition 1
Location: Magnetic Island
Dates: June 28th - July 3rd, 2026
Expedition 2
Location: Daintree, North Queensland
Dates: September 20th - 25th, 2026
Have a question? Email us at
Past Attendees
Arwen Thompson, September 2026
Protecting Wetlands for the Future
"I will now do my hardest to take part in any conservation-related activities as I can because I now have a strong understanding of how much these citizen science projects really matter to varieties of environments and ecosystems. I want to be able to help them all."
Malique, September 2026
Protecting Wetlands for the Future
"I'll be honest, my academic progress is a bit lower than everyone else, but since I applied last year and have been lucky enough to be chosen to do the cert ll in conservation and ecosystem management this year, I have found something that I enjoy doing very much and what job I genuinely want to do, which is a Queensland parks and Wildlife service ranger.... That and getting picked for the student challenge would probably be the achievement I'm most proud of. "
Jerrah, September 2026
Protecting Wetlands for the Future
"I got to meet so many incredible people on this trip. Spending a week with these people, people who were genuinely interested in science, animals and the environment allowed deep bonds to form, and I believe we have all made friends for life. Getting to work with Jock, both Shannons, Sabrina, Josh, Loretta and all the amazing rangers out in the field gave me and all my peers a real insight into what it is like to contribute to real conservation work. Everyone involved in this expedition was always willing to share their knowledge, answer our questions, no matter how ridiculous, and really get us involved in the nitty-gritty of the work rather than just telling us what to do. The enthusiasm and extreme passion for what they do made the experience so much more engaging and helped all of us understand what really goes into conservation, far beyond the surface level we see from the outside. "
Ellaina, September 2026
Protecting Wetlands for the Future
"I particularly appreciated being trusted with an opportunity that encouraged me to become more independent, curious and engaged with environmental science. "
Jake, September 2026
Protecting Wetlands for the Future
"Frankly, I had a blast and learned so much about how science is done and mangroves and I personally enjoyed every moment of it "
Courtney Taylor - July 2022
Protecting the Reef’s Coastal Frontier expedition
"I have come back from this expedition inspired and with a mission. I left home rather confused as to what I am doing next year, and I have returned knowing exactly where my passion lies. Upon my return I have written newsletter articles for my school about this opportunity, I have convinced my student council to install bird strike stickers through school, and I have continued my fundraising for the Australia Zoo Wildlife Warriors (I have now raised over $10,000). Additionally, I have been looking into further citizen science projects to partake in for the future as well as a career in this same industry. Next year I plan to begin an education degree in hopes to join an Environmental Educational Institute to help inform future students of the importance of these habitats. I believe this trip has truly helped me understand the importance of this."
Joe Buden - 2018
Ecosystems of the Murray and Mallee Expedition
"I went on the April 2018 expedition to Calperum Station, and I want to say thank you. That experience has really redefined my relationship with the Australian environment, my sort of fundamental philosophy on it. I've realised that Australia is a nation very fundamentally rooted in our landscape, that our national soul is built on it. That in every Australian story, from Ned Kelly to Red Dog, the Land is a character, that there is a reason we sing "I am the rock, I am the sky, the rivers when they run." That very close physical interaction and experience with the country I experienced on Earthwatch has built that within me. I honestly dream of travelling to Tasmania and seeing, touching, the Centurion Tree. I've also realised that the national soul is under threat. That environmental policy is on the path to annihilate the foundation of our national myths, and leave our next generation a nation utterly removed from it's own spirit. As of last friday, I led more than forty people from my school to attend the school walkout in Melbourne. Slowly, steadily, you are making a difference, and so from the bottom of my heart I have to say thank you, so much to everyone at Earthwatch. That expedition has also helped me grow some of my strongest friends, however far they may be, I'm even looking into travel options over the next couple of months to see them again."
Chayton Barber - 2017
Australia's Vanishing Frogs ExpeditionÂ
"I’m so glad I was accepted for the Earthwatch expedition last year, without it I never would have been involved in what I have since. It sparked a great fire in me. It gave me focus onto what I wanted to achieve in my life, at a time when I was needing to choose a path. And guess what? I’ve just got into a Bachelor's degree at Macquarie University for Biodiversity and Conservation Science! I can’t thank you enough for last year."
Michela Skipp - 2018
Australia's Vanishing Frogs Expedition
"The experience was absolutely amazing and has been a journey I will not forget. I came away from the trip with a profound new knowledge about ecology and mathematics, and gained a new perspective and appreciation for our natural environment. I think going forward it is increasingly important for us to be doing new research and have more work in the environmental and ecology sectors as they are both very much threatened by human impacts."