LINC Summer High School Program

Youth must be a Bay Area resident attending a public high school. While we do consider all grade levels, we prioritize graduating seniors.  

Our priority audience are low-income, BIPOC youth who have limited access to the outdoors and nature-based employment opportunities. We also prioritize youth from immigrant communities. 

LINC is for you if:

• You want to make connections with other like-minded youth across the Bay Area who are interested in science and the outdoors 
• You are open to new and sometimes challenging experiences 
• You want to gain a better understanding of environmental impacts on your local and adjacent communities
• You are dependable and accountable when working individually and in a team 
• You are interested in challenging yourself to grow as a leader and a supporter
• You can commit and attend all program dates

The program typically consists of two cohorts, one in Marin County (LINC North) and another in San Francisco (LINC South). This year the LINC team will be made up of 24 participants (12 youth in each cohort) who will meet together often during the summer. Occasionally, LINC North and South will have separate but similar experiences based on activity location. 

What are the dates of the program? 
This program meets Tuesday –Friday. This year the program will start on June 17th and end on August 1st. 

We meet from 10:00 am-3:00 pm, except for overnight trips which have specific start times for departure and return. If you require transportation support, your pickup time will be 9:20 am and your drop-off time will be 3:30 pm. Depending on the location of the activities, this time is subject to change with advance notice.  

Key dates:  

• Application due date: Tuesday, March 18th at 11:59 pm 
• Family & Student Orientation: Saturday, May 18th at 9:00 am
• Program Starts: Tuesday, June 17th  
• Program Week Break: Tuesday, June 30th - Friday, July 4th
• Program Ends: Friday, August 1st

The LINC program does not cost anything. Upon successful completion you will receive an educational award of up to $2,400. 

We offer shuttles from public transit hubs to the program start location and back to that same hub. We do not pick up youth from their homes or other locations. It is the youth’s responsibility to get to the pickup site on time.  

LINC North pick-up location: 666 3rd St, San Rafael, CA 94901. Please wait in the parking lot of Citibank.
LINC South pick-up location: 52 Grove St, San Francisco, CA 94102. Please wait at the Assembly Café. 

If youth are transporting themselves to the program’s starting location, they need to provide advanced notice and confirm travel details with their lead mentor. Some locations have very specific routes including gated entry or off-trail starting points. 

The application for Summer 2025 is now closed

When applying please only apply based on where you live 
LINC North: Marin County, Solano County, and Contra Costa County 
LINC South: San Francisco County, Alameda County, and San Mateo County 

The application will include short answer questions. Please give thoughtful answers when applying to increase your chances of acceptance.

If you are able, please provide one reference; a reference cannot be a family member or friend. Examples of a reference: coach, teacher, counselor, mentor, etc. 

Q: How quickly can I expect a decision about acceptance into the program?

A: We will up accepted interns one to two weeks before interviews. We will also contact students who did not get accepted as well. Please check your email for any and all updates. Applicants who do not respond to communications regarding the hiring process may be removed from consideration. 

Q: How will interviews be conducted?

A: All interviews will be conducted in person at the Crissy Field Center. Interviews will be hosted by two people and snacks are generally provided. Please arrive on time. Professional attire is not required. 

Q: What should I do if I’m going to be late for my interview?

A: Please call your interviewer as soon as possible if you know that you will be late. Your interview confirmation email will provide a phone number you can contact in case you need to make any changes. Emails will not be responded to on the date of the interviews.   

Q. What will the interview questions be like?

A: We want to make the interview as comfortable as possible for you. We ask questions so that we can get to know you better and understand how you will fit into the LINC team.  Here are a few questions that we may ask during your interview:  

1. What part of this program are you the most excited about? 

 2. What role do you play in a group or team?  

3. What is your relationship with nature and the outdoors?  

4. What is a change that you’d like to see in your community?  

5. What is a project that you’ve been a part of that you are proud of?