@homerdog - I’m a UF alum but stuck in PA for the foreseeable future. Horrible school options here. Whine, whine, whine.
We’ll make it work somehow, but I doubt Lafayette is in the budget.
@intparent - Thanks, I’ve seen Whitman mentioned before, but that’s just so far for us …
Definitely do your homework.It’s a hot major right now so lots of schools have jumped on the bandwagon but the quality can vary. Programs do tend to be interdisciplinary at many colleges.
Based on this family’s research, here are some programs worth looking at:
Bates
Bowdoin
Carleton
Colby
Colorado College
Dickinson
Oberlin
Middlebury
St. Lawrence
Whitman
UVM
Thanks, @doschicos Why is it that most of these schools are also wildly expensive with very little merit money? 
Looks like Denison and Grinnell have programs too. I’ve heard Wisconsin’s is good as well. I wonder what makes a quality program? I assume placement in field opportunities would be important. Perhaps having professors who are on the cutting edge might be something to investigate as well.
St. Lawrence, Dickinson, and UVM are good with merit. Whitman to a lesser degree. Spend time looking at course offerings, professors (number and interests), major requirements. We found a lot of variation.
@doschicos - thank you very much for the list! But I echo @homerdog’s observation on costs… As for UVM, I have been slavishly following the Class of 2017 3.0-3.4GPA thread, and the amazing compiler of the list of acceptances/aid on that thread ended up with her son at UVM, but the aid was pretty dismal, iirc. At least at that level of stats, which is also where my kid will end up, barring a miracle.
I’d also love to see a summary of outcomes; we are headed to visit a couple of schools (not at that level) in the next week and I think I’ll pester people with such questions, just to get a better sense of how to assess.
Found this on another thread:
Several schools have great outdoors programs, including the University of Vermont and UNC-Asheville and lots of western schools like Prescott College, Northern Arizona in Flagstaff (cool town), Montana State, and lots more in WA, MT, CO, AZ, Utah.
Not sure they’re exactly env. sci. programs, though.
Also just found this:
http://ecoleague.org/who-we-are/
The EcoLeague is comprised of six member colleges across the United States including Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage, AK; College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, ME; Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA; Green Mountain College in Poultney, VT; Northland College in Ashland, WI; and Prescott College in Prescott, AZ. While modeling sustainability through programs and facilities may be commonplace in today’s world, many EcoLeague colleges chose this path years ago and became national leaders in environmental and sustainability issues. For example, Northland College chose to blend an environmental focus with a liberal arts mission in 1971. Examples of sustainability can be found throughout the college campuses.
While most college consortia in the U.S. are grounded in geographic proximity, the EcoLeague consortium is grounded in a mission of bio-regional education for sustainability. With member colleges across the U.S., the EcoLeague provides many of the advantages of a university – a large and talented faculty and unique, sophisticated facilities – while delivering individualized attention at small schools renowned for experiential learning. Through a student exchange program, students can attend any of the EcoLeague schools while enrolled at their home college. These diverse experiences help prepare today’s college students to work and live in a rapidly changing and increasingly global world.
@homerdog I would suggest Allegheny as a Safety school and Grinnell as a goal (target). Both have free application fees by the way and great combination merit/need-based aid. If you have any specific questions, I’d be happy to answer them (I’m a current student at Grinnell and I have family who lives near/went to Allegheny) here or in a PM.