Global Sustainability Project

San Clemente High School

2027

Partner School
San Clemente High School
Trip Date
July 2027
Destination
Costa Rica
Application Deadline
Sep 25, 2026 4:00 PM
The application deadline for the Global Sustainability Project (GSP) at San Clemente High School is Friday, September 25, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. (No exceptions.)

‍Interested students and their parents are encouraged to attend an information meeting on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Room P36 at San Clemente High School. Eligibility requirements, applications, important dates, and everything else you need to know about the GSP are provided below.

Ms. Stacey Finnerty is leading the GSP at San Clemente High School. Students may contact Ms. Finnerty in Room P36 or by email with questions about this opportunity. The program is open to SCHS juniors who will be taking Advanced Placement (A.P.) or International Baccalaureate (I.B.) courses during the 2026–27 school year.

I. Overview

The Picerne Family Foundation has created The Global Sustainability Project (GSP) to provide high school students the opportunity to perform meaningful service in support of their community’s environment and to do intensive international environmental field research. The Foundation awards full scholarships to ten students, a teacher and a scientist to participate in a 9-day research expedition to the Pacuare Reserve on the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica for 9 days of fieldwork with Ecology Project International scientists. It is an intensive educational, experiential and service program. The Picerne Family Foundation initiated and is leading this program in collaboration with Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate science teachers in Southern California, Ecology Project International, and local universities, nature conservancies and nonprofit organizations.

II. Goals

There is increasing recognition and acceptance that greater international cross-cultural understanding is necessary to achieve global ecological sustainability. Environmental threats do not stop and start at national borders. International collaboration requires a deep understanding and appreciation of other cultures. It is the goal of this project to provide students who have evidenced the potential to be future leaders the opportunity to:

  • Develop an understanding and life experience with another culture very different than their own
  • Contribute their skills in sustaining their environment, both locally and internationally.

The GSP is a rigorous program with the potential for enduring college, career and life style impact. This program emphasizes critical thinking and objective research-based decision making. These are important skills for students to have as they will soon be assuming responsibility for ensuring the well-being of the environment.

III. Project Leadership

The Picerne Family Foundation provides overall leadership, ongoing management and financial support of the program. The Foundation selects award winning A.P. and I.B. science teachers who have a demonstrated interest in engaging students in off-site ecological programs to lead the preparatory study and the service components of the project. They are also invited to accompany the students on the Costa Rica research expedition.

The Foundation selects students enrolled in A.P. or I.B. courses through a written and oral application process. The Foundation provides funding for materials to universities, nature conservancies and nonprofit organizations that are supporting the students’ local service. The scientist or individual supervising the students’ local service project is invited to accompany the group on the overseas research expedition. The Foundation has engaged Ecology Project International to manage the overseas tour.

IV. The Global Sustainability Project

There are three components of the GSP program: (1) local service, (2) expedition preparation and (3) the overseas research expedition.

  1. Local Service. Selected students are required to provide 40 hours of service during their junior year of high school on a project that will have significant impact in their community. The teacher develops an off-campus sustainability project in collaboration with a university, local conservancy and/or non-profit organization in their community.
  2. Expedition Preparation. In order to enrich the overseas experience and make it more meaningful, participants as a team will prepare a resource guide to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. The guide will focus on the geography, climate, economy, history and culture of the area as well as the flora, felines and primates. Students will create an interactive electronic presentation on their research that they will present to Foundation members, parents and peers.
  3. Overseas Expedition. During the summer after their junior year, 10 students, the teacher and scientist overseeing the local service project participate in a 9-day international conservation research program conducted by Ecology Project International. Ecology Project International has connected more than 40,000 students with scientists on active research projects in the world’s most important ecological hot-spots for more than 20 years, and provides the infrastructure and resources needed for an international program for teenagers. The Costa Rica experience gives students the opportunity to do actual scientific data gathering in a field setting as well as immerse them in another culture.

This innovative three-part program designed by the Foundation is unique for American high school students. It is a first of its kind for the Ecology Project International. The Picerne Family Foundation is currently evaluating the personal impact and social value of the program as well as the potential for replicability of the program by funders in other interested communities.

V. Application & Information

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VI. Costa Rica Expedition Details

VII. Required GSP Documents

Download and complete Picerne Foundation documents. Turn in hard copies to Ms. Finnerty in room P36.

Click Enroll on the Ecology International Project website at ecologyproject.org. You will then be able to log in, download and complete the required Ecology Project International documents below on the EPI Portal.

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