Green Architecture: Designing a Sustainable Future
Create. Innovate. Build for Tomorrow.
$525
What if you could design buildings that help heal the planet instead of harm it? This week, join award-winning architects Michael Farewell (Farewell Architects LLC) and Jason Kliwinski (The Green Building Center and Designs for Life) to explore how sustainable design can shape a greener future.
You’ll work side by side with professionals to learn the foundations of green architecture, renewable energy, and eco-friendly materials. Then, put your knowledge into action: analyze real buildings on the Watershed Reserve, explore ways to make them more sustainable, and design your own environmentally friendly structure using Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD), architectural software, and physical modeling tools.
You’ll also visit a sustainably built office and workshop and take a walking tour of historic Lambertville, discovering how towns along waterways can balance preservation, design, and nature. At the end of the week, you’ll present your project to local architects and community leaders—just like a professional designer.
If you’re passionate about architecture, environmental science, or creative problem-solving, this is your chance to build something that truly matters.
Water and Climate: Princeton High-Meadows Environmental Institute
Explore the Future of Water and Climate Solutions
$575
Dive into one of the most pressing challenges of our generation—climate change—and discover how water connects it all. This summer, step into the world of cutting-edge environmental research at Princeton University’s High Meadows Environmental Institute.
Work alongside Princeton scientists and engineers to explore how climate change affects our planet’s water systems—from rivers and rainfall to groundwater and oceans. Through hands-on experiments, lab tours, and interactive activities, you’ll learn how climate and water science can lead to real solutions for a sustainable future.
You’ll meet experts from Princeton’s Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and the Integrated Groundwater Modeling Center, see research in action, and experience what it’s like to be part of a top-tier university’s environmental science community.
If you’re fascinated by the intersection of science, sustainability, and discovery, this is your chance to make waves—literally.
Field Research: Science in Action
Explore. Discover. Make an Impact.
$525
Step into the world of real environmental science right here at The Watershed Reserve. This week-long adventure gives you the chance to meet researchers in the field, get hands-on with active projects, and experience what it’s really like to study nature up close.
Work alongside scientists studying water quality, native trees, endangered species, and migratory birds! You’ll see how research helps protect ecosystems and learn the field skills used by professionals in biology, ecology, and environmental science.
Meet and learn from:
- Alex Kisurin (NJ DEP) and Dr. Steve Tuorto (The Watershed Institute) — investigating freshwater mussels and water quality.
- Dr. Randye Rutberg (Hunter College) — exploring how invasive species affect native tree growth.
- Allison Jackson (The Watershed Institute) — researching bluebirds and other local wildlife.
- And more
If you’ve ever dreamed of being a field scientist or just want to spend a week outdoors engaging with researchers, this is your chance—and have fun doing it.
Green Infrastructure Pro:
Build Your Resume or College Application. Get Certified.
$525
Ready to design a greener future—and your next career step? Join us for a week of hands-on learning that will set you apart on college applications and job resumes. In The Watershed Institute’s summer Academy, you’ll work alongside River-Friendly Coordinator Olivia Spildooren and local industry mentors to explore how sustainable landscaping can combat climate change.
Learn the fundamentals of green infrastructure, gain real-world design and analysis skills, and discover how native plants can restore ecosystems and protect waterways. You’ll get dirty (in the best way possible) while practicing soil testing, native plant identification, and rain garden design.
By the end of the week, you’ll not only have built a professional network and portfolio—you’ll also earn the Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Associate Certification, a credential recognized across the region.
If you’re passionate about the environment, interested in landscape design or ecology, or just want to stand out to colleges with hands-on sustainability experience—this is your summer to grow.
