Start with a club or activity
- FFA / Future Farmers of America
- 4-H
- School garden or garden club
- Culinary or nutrition club
- Recycling / compost team
- Farmers market or food pantry volunteer work
Get Started where you are
It is your future. Our planet.
You do not need to have everything figured out to begin exploring green careers. Start with a club, activity, class, or volunteer experience that feels interesting to you. From there, build skills, try hands-on experiences, and explore college pathways that connect to each sector.
Step 1Join a club or activity
Step 2Build experience
Step 3Explore college paths
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Explore real local college programs
Every college bubble below links to a related program at UMD, the Universities at Shady Grove, or Montgomery College. The broad interest area is shown first, with the specific local program underneath.
Explore this sector
Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems
Begin with a hands-on activity or community-based experience, then connect it to college paths in food, agriculture, sustainability, and community systems.
Explore this sector →
Build experience in high school
- Take biology, agriculture, environmental science, or business classes
- Help grow food, manage compost, or track harvest data
- Volunteer at a local farm, food bank, or community garden
- Learn about food systems, food justice, and food waste
College choices to explore
Sustainable AgricultureUMD · Sustainable Food SystemsFood ScienceUMD · Nutrition & Food Science · Food ScienceAgribusinessUMD · Agricultural & Resource Economics · AgribusinessNutritionUMD · Nutrition & Food ScienceEnvironmental StudiesMC · Environmental Science & Policy A.S.Supply Chain & LogisticsUMD · Supply Chain ManagementPublic PolicyUMD · Public PolicyCommunity DevelopmentUMD · Public Policy · Community-focused pathway
Explore this sector
Renewable Energy & Clean Technology
Start with design, problem-solving, or technical experiences, then branch into college options related to energy, engineering, architecture, and climate-ready systems.
Explore this sector →
Start with a club or activity
- Robotics club
- Science Olympiad
- Engineering or makerspace club
- Environmental or climate action club
- Math team
- Energy-awareness or sustainability campaigns
Build experience in high school
- Take physics, chemistry, computer science, drafting, or engineering courses
- Try technical education, maker projects, or building design challenges
- Explore energy use, green building, or local infrastructure issues
- Look for internships, job shadowing, or summer STEM programs
College choices to explore
Renewable Energy EngineeringMC · Engineering Science · Mechanical Engineering A.S.Electrical EngineeringMC · Engineering Science · Electrical Engineering A.S.Mechanical EngineeringUSG / UMD · B.S. Mechatronics EngineeringEnvironmental EngineeringUMD · Civil Engineering · Environmental applicationsArchitectureUMD · Architecture B.A./B.S.Construction ManagementMC · Construction ManagementSustainability StudiesUMD · Sustainability Studies MinorHydrology / Earth ScienceUMD · Environmental Science & Technology · Soil & Watershed Science
Explore this sector
Natural Resources, Environmental Science & Conservation
Begin with outdoor, science, research, or service opportunities, then follow them into college paths connected to conservation, policy, data, and environmental problem-solving.
Explore this sector →
Start with a club or activity
- Environmental club
- Biology club
- Outdoor leadership or hiking club
- Debate or Model UN
- Scout or stewardship projects
- Volunteer with parks, nature centers, or animal organizations
Build experience in high school
- Take biology, earth science, chemistry, statistics, or GIS-related coursework
- Join cleanups, habitat restoration, or citizen-science projects
- Practice field observation, mapping, research, or data analysis
- Explore wildlife, forests, water systems, environmental policy, or conservation issues
College choices to explore
Environmental ScienceMC · Environmental Science & Policy A.S.Wildlife BiologyUMD · Environmental Science & Technology · Applied Ecology & Natural ResourcesForestryUMD · Plant Sciences · Urban ForestryEcologyUMD · Environmental Science & Technology · Applied EcologyGeography / GISUMD · Geographical Sciences · GISData ScienceMC · Data Science A.S.Environmental PolicyUMD · Environmental Science & PolicyEnvironmental LawUMD · Public Policy · Pre-law foundation
Your path does not have to be linear
These maps are examples, not rules. Students can move between sectors, combine interests, or discover new directions as they gain experience. The goal is to start somewhere and keep building.