Shore Corps

Shore Corps is RISE's most popular teen program, providing high school students with experience working on environmental conservation, food justice, community planning, and civic engagement projects that allow them to hone their skills and find their voice in representing their community.

Thank you for your interest in Shore Corps! RISE will officially open the spring 2026 application portal on Monday, December 1, 2025, through Tuesday, January 6, 2026. High school students who apply within this time frame will receive an invitation to an in-person group interview the week of January 12, which is required for acceptance into program. 

Students in ninth through twelfth grades, who live in New York City and attend school in or near the Rockaway peninsula, are eligible to apply. Shore Corps participants receive stipends for participation in the program.

Shore Corps serves as a platform for teens to cultivate a road map for their high school and post-high school journey, become more civically engaged, and inspire other young people. The program is designed to teach students to advocate for themselves and the environment by addressing challenges and issues within their community. Students meet with special guests and professionals in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), urban planning, and the public sector.

Expectations:  Students must fully participate in Shore Corps on regularly scheduled class days, as well as assigned weekend community events.

Dates/Class Days/Times: January 21, through May 28, 2026; Wednesday or Thursday; 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Locations: RISE, 58-03 Rockaway Beach Boulevard, Arverne, NY 11692, and RISE Native Plant Nursery, 190 Beach 44th Street, Edgemere, NY 11691

Note: Application portal for Shore Corps Summer 2026 will open in April.

For more information about Shore Corps, e-mail programs@riserockaway.org.