About

The Brown Environmental Leadership Labs (BELL) is a field-based environmental studies and leadership initiative for students completing grades 10–12 (ages 16–18). Offered through Brown University’s Pre-College Programs, BELL operates across three distinct ecological sites for the Summer 2026 cycle: Alaska, Rhode Island, and the Florida Keys. Students engage directly with environmental systems through scientific observation, policy analysis, and community-based research.

BELL combines academic coursework with intensive fieldwork, prioritizing coastal, marine, and Arctic environments. Educators and researchers affiliated with Brown guide daily activities centered on data collection, ecological monitoring, and collaborative problem-solving. A hallmark of the program is the Action Plan, where each student identifies a pressing environmental issue and develops a concrete project to implement in their own community after the program concludes.

Admissions are selective and reviewed on a rolling basis, with a final application deadline of May 8, 2026. The program is open to international students, and a teacher recommendation is strongly suggested. Participants live in program-managed housing—ranging from residence halls in Rhode Island to field sites in Alaska—and follow a schedule that restricts cell phone use to foster deep community engagement. For 2026, residential tuition ranges from $4,708 to $7,642 depending on the location.

The program is institutionally supported by the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society (IBES), translating Brown’s academic strengths in climate and sustainability into a field-oriented model. Students leave with practical experience in research methods and a specific plan for local impact, making BELL ideal for those seeking to bridge the gap between environmental science and socially responsible leadership.