SCCAEPA 6th Youth Environmental Summer Camp
Program at a Glance
Dates: Including opening and closing ceremonies dates
Eligibility: Incoming G7 to G12 students in Southern California, unless otherwise specified.
This popular and meaningful summer camp is celebrating its 6th year!
Check out our summer camp program main page for our vision, approach, and past camps.
This year, we are offering five camps – two returning (Air quality, Healthy Water) and three new (antibiotic resistance, bird ecology, and solid waste)!
Who Should Attend
- Inspired students considering environmental majors
- Curious minds exploring their future path
- Explorers looking to be AI-ready
- Motivated teens developing leadership, teamwork, and communication
Why Attend
- Small class sizes, mentorship that matters. Learn directly from passionate professionals dedicated to student growth. Our vision is to inspire and empower next generation, not for profit
- Hands-on, real-world learning. Fieldwork, lab activities, and guided research—not just lectures.
- Learn how to think, not just what to know. Build skills in problem-solving, research methods, and critical thinking
- Stand out in the AI era. Information is everywhere—experience, mentorship, and perspective are not
What to Gain
- Stronger presentation, communication, problem solving, and critical thinking skills
- The confidence to create a voice, take initiative, lead, and collaborate
- A mini research experience you can talk about in applications/interviews
- Greater clarity about your interests and future direction
- Lasting connections for support and future career opportunities
2026 Program Topics
Air Quality in Our Community
About the Program
Age Group: 9th to 12th grade students
Dr. Xiang Li, Program Supervisor, South Coast Air Quality Management District
About the Program:
How critical is clean air to our daily life? Research has shown the link between air pollution with many short and long-term health effects, particularly affecting vulnerable groups such as older adults, children, pregnant women, and individuals with underlying health conditions. Do you know that many underserved communities, especially minority and low-income communities, are disproportionately affected by air pollution? Do you want to learn ways to measure air quality and strategies to mitigate the harms from air pollution?
Come and join us in the Air Quality in Our Community team! We will learn the recent development of low-cost air quality sensors which offer public chances to conduct real-time air pollution measurement in our communities. Based on the measurement data, you will learn how to identify pollution sources, assess air quality trends, and help your neighborhood to implement targeted strategies to mitigate air pollution exposure and reduce harmful emissions.
About the Coach:
Dr. Xiang Li is currently the Program Supervisor for Quality Assurance under the Monitoring and Analysis Division at the South Coast Air Quality Management District, the regional governmental agency responsible for regulating air quality in the greater Los Angeles Region and the Coachella Valley. Dr. Li holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the Center for Atmospheric Particle Studies at Carnegie Mellon University. Before joining the South Coast AQMD in 2018, he was a postdoctoral researcher in atmospheric chemistry at the University of Minnesota.
Program Schedule
| June 20 |
10:00-12:00. South Coast AQMD |
| June 27 | 10:00-12:00. South Coast AQMD |
| July 4 | NO CLASS |
| July 11 | 10:00-12:00. South Coast AQMD |
| July 18 | 10:00-12:00. South Coast AQMD |
| July 25 | Final Presentation |
Healthy Water
About the Program
Age Group: 10th to 12th grade students
About the Program:
Clean beaches, healthy creeks, rivers, bays, and the ocean are important to the ecosystem as well as everyone living in the watershed. Residents in any watershed need clean and reliable water supply as well. Urbanization and human activities pose significant challenges in both water resources and water quality to maintain a healthy surface water system.
In this summer camp, the project provides an overview of the hydrological cycle and introduces the challenges and toolboxes to restore a healthy surface water system and to ensure safe drinking water supply. The course features four field trips throughout Orange County. Each field trip sheds light on a type of surface water management solution that environmental engineers and scientists are currently implementing in the area. Students will learn about these issues and solutions in the real world as they explore the scenic nature of local waterways.
About the Coach:
Program Schedule
| June 20 | 10:00-12:00. Lecture in Costa Mesa, introduction and guest speaker. |
| June 27 | 10:00-12:00. Field tour in Orange County |
| July 6 | Field Tour TBD |
| July 10 | Field Tour TBD |
| July 11 | 10:00-12:00. Lecture in Costa Mesa, discussion and guest speaker. |
| July 18 | 10:00-12:00. Lecture in Costa Mesa, Prepare presentation. |
| July 25 | Final Presentation |
Human Impact on River Antibiotic Resistance
About the Program
In collaboation with UC Riverside, led by renowned researcher Dr. Yujie Men, students will participate in a real EPA-funded research project, gain experience in field sampling, lab work, data analysis and reporting.
Project Objective: Investigate the impact of anthropogenic activities on the dissemination of antibiotic resistance along Santa Ana River
Hypothesis: Antibiotic resistance determinants (i.e., antibiotics, antibiotic resistance genes, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria) may be at higher levels downstream of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharge outlets than upstream.
Approaches: Monitor antibiotic resistance determinants in Santa Ana River water samples at locations upstream and downstream of a local WWTP.
What students will do:
- Sampling campaign: Sample pretreatment for antibiotic resistance determinant analysis.
- Antibiotics: Liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS).
- Antibiotic resistance genes: Quantitative PCR (qPCR) targeting specific antibiotic genes of interest and metagenomic analysis using high-throughput sequencing.
- Antibiotic-resistant bacteria: Enumeration using selective agar plates containing antibiotics of interest.
About the Coach:
Dr. Yujie Men: Associated Professor, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, UC Riverside
- Extensive research experience in environmental microbiology and contaminants of emerging concern (e.g., “forever chemicals” PFAS)
- Multiple publications in top tier journals such as Nature and PNAS
- Recipient of National Science Foundation’s most prestigious CAREER Awards
- More than 10 years’ experience in teaching and mentoring graduate, undergraduate, and high school students
Program Schedule
Meeting Address: UC Riverside | 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92521 (tentative)
| June 12 | 9:00-12:00. In-person safety training, lab overview. |
| June 19 | 9:00-5:00. Sampling campaign and sample processing/storage (five locations along Santa Ana River watershed near Riverside-Rialto area). Meet at UCR, need to carpool, and two parent chaperones. |
|
|
Choose at least one out of the three options depending on your availability: |
|
June 20 Option 1 |
9:00-4:00. Sample pretreatment and plating. |
|
June 21 Option 2 |
9:00-4:00. Sample pretreatment and plating. |
|
June 22 Option 3 |
10:00-2:00. LC-HRMS/MS analysis and Cell counting. |
|
|
|
| July 17 | 10:00-12:00. Data analysis and results summary with PI. |
| July 24 | 10:00-2:00. Final presentation rehearsal with PI. |
| July 25 | Final Presentation |
Youth Naturalist Birding Program
About the Program
Age Group: 7th to 12th grade students
Max: 6 students
Equipment: Binoculars (recommended), brimmed hat, hiking or walking shoes, water bottle.
Coach: Daniel Miao | Science Teacher, Anaheim Unified School District
About the Program:
Weekly birding guided by experienced biologists and bird specialists hikes to provide hands-on field experience.
Use tools like eBird & Merlin to collect and analyze data. Use insights to address local community needs.
Build confidence by presenting your findings and solutions.
About the Coach: Daniel Miao is an NGSS-certified teacher for biology, chemistry, and psychology. He specializes in developing models-based science curriculums that help students develop an understanding of first principles to effect real change in their communities.
Program Schedule
| June 13 | Camp Orientation: Determine Communities of Interest |
| June 18 | Zoom Class: California Biomes |
| June 20 |
8:00-10:00. Field Trip: Newport Back Bay 2301 University Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660 | $3 parking |
| June 25 | Zoom Class: Food webs and trophic levels |
| June 27 | 8:00-10:00. Field Trip: Location TBD based on Community |
| July 2 | Zoom Class: Digital tools & Sampling Techniques |
| July 4 | NO CLASS. Holiday |
| July 9 | Zoom Class: Modeling Ecosystems |
| July 11 | 8:00-10:00. Field Trip: Location TBD based on Community |
| July 16 | Zoom Class: Making Predictions |
| July 18 | 8:00-10:00. Field Trip: Location TBD based on Community |
| July 23 | Zoom Class: Practice presentations |
| July 25 | Final Presentation |
Waste to Solution
About the Program
Age Group: 7th to 12th grade students
Max: 6 students
Coach: Kun Liu, Ph.D., Biologist, Pax Environmental
About the Program:
Waste to Solution is a hands-on environmental program that helps students understand the full journey of waste—from where it ends up to how it impacts ecosystems, wildlife, and our communities. Through real-world experiences like landfill visits and home waste audits, students will analyze their own consumption patterns and learn the truth about recycling, including what materials can and cannot be processed. The program also explores how everyday purchasing decisions contribute to environmental challenges, encouraging students to rethink their habits and reduce waste at the source. By the end of the program, students will design and present their own solution—whether through reducing waste, improving recycling, upcycling materials, or advocating for change—turning awareness into meaningful action.
About the Coach:
Dr. Kun Liu is a Field Biologist at Pax Environmental, with expertise in habitat restoration, field botany, and nesting bird surveys. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of California, Riverside. With a background in ecological restoration and extensive field experience, Dr. Liu is dedicated to connecting students with real-world environmental science and fostering the next generation of environmental stewards.
Program Schedule
| June 13 | Camp Orientation: Determine Communities of Interest |
| June 20 | 2:00-4:00. Lecture. |
| June 24 | 8:00-9:00. Zoom Class. |
| June 27 | 2:00-4:00. Lecture. |
| July 1 | 8:00-9:00. Zoom Class. |
| July 4 | NO CLASS. Holiday |
| July 8 | 8:00-9:00. Zoom Class. |
| July 11 | 2:00-4:00. Lecture. |
| July 15 | 8:00-9:00. Zoom Class. |
| July 18 | 2:00-4:00. Lecture. |
| July 22 | 8:00-9:00. Zoom Class. |
| July 25 | Final Presentation |
Sponsors
