City Sustainability Experience

The Spence School’s City Sustainability Experience (SCSE) empowers Grade 5-7 students to engineer solutions for New York City’s most pressing sustainability challenges, like rising sea levels, water and food insecurity, and poor air quality. 

This summer program is offered free of charge for students and made possible by Spence's Starr Foundation Grant.

Students will learn how engineers solve problems to make the world more equitable and resilient by participating in fun and ambitious design projects. Challenges will concentrate on building a vibrant democracy, thriving neighborhoods, and a livable climate.

All students participating in SCSE will need to follow our full safety protocols for the duration of the camp.

Over the course of the week, students will design a city block for a part of the city that will struggle when facing the mounting climate crisis. Each year a different area will be chosen. 

Students will engage in projects and inquiry-based learning activities, eventually moving to design basic schematics and blueprints for different types of buildings. 

 

Guests, including working engineers, Spence Eco-Fellows and community members, will join the students throughout the camp.