The activities included in the Student Summit have been selected to present students with an interdisciplinary marine and environmental education experience that complements the Next Generation Science Standards.

Schools must apply to Clean Ocean Action for participation in this program and agree to the Terms of Participation.

Clean Ocean Action's Student Summits (program and materials) are FREE. Schools are responsible for transportation and lunches. To ensure a commitment from a school, a refundable deposit of $100 is required with the school's Summit application. The deposit will be returned to your school once the post-Summit evaluations have been submitted. 

Upcoming Student Summits:

• Cape May Student Summit , October 2, 2025

  • Returning to the Nature Center of Cape May for it's 5th year on October 2, 2025, the Cape May Student Summit is open to middle schools (5^th-8^th grade) of these southern NJ counties*: Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem.

    • Download Application Here - Apply by September 22.

• Island Beach State Park Student Summit: October 9, 2025

  • Returning to IBSP on October 9, 2025  the Island Beach State Park Student Summit will be open for middle schools (5^th-8^th grade) of these central/southern NJ counties*: Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, and Ocean.

    • Download Application Here - Apply by September 29.

• Sandy Hook Student Summit: mid-May 2026
  • The Sandy Hook Student Summit  is open for middle schools (5^th- 8^th grade) from *eligible central and northern NJ counties: Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Middlesex, Somerset, Union, Essex, Hudson, Bergen, Passaic and Morris.

    • The application for Sandy Hook Student Summit will be posted Fall 2025 

    • *Acceptions for non-eligible counties may be made upon request. For consideration, the school must apply and guarantee their ability to arrive to the Summit location by the 8:45 am start time. Acceptance is not guaranteed.

• Staten Island Student Summit: March or April 2026

  • The Staten Island Student Summit is open for middle schools (5^th- 8^th grade) from *eligible central and northern NJ counties: Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, Mercer, Monmouth, Middlesex, Somerset, Union, Essex, Hudson, Bergen, Passaic and Morris.

    • The application for Staten Island Student Summit will be posted Fall 2025

*If a date or location works better for a southern NJ middle school, they can apply to attend the Island Beach State Park or Cape May Summit, regardless of county. 

Please note: On the date of the Student Summit, participants will be required to comply with all applicable COVID measures recommended by the CDC and all such requirements imposed by the State of NJ.