About The GREEN Program

The GREEN Program (TGP) is an award-winning, experiential education program focused on our world’s most pressing issues in sustainable development.

 Our innovative model for experiential education is driven by a desire to provide purposeful, real-world experience through impactful education, responsible travel, and adventure. We envision a sustainable future driven by global citizens who catalyze change and propel communities and organizations towards progressive sustainability goals and climate resilience.

Since 2009, we have traveled with more than 4,000 interdisciplinary student leaders and professionals from 470+ universities and 70 countries around the world. Our programs provide hands-on, global experiences at the fraction of the time and cost of traditional study abroad models.

At The GREEN Program, we believe in using business as a force for good, and to help create a sustainable future for our community and planet. We’re proud to be a triple-bottom line, woman and minority-owned, public benefit corporation.

Programs designed with learning outcomes for the 21st century workforce:

Nearly 91% of employers prefer that their candidates have experience, and 65% prefer relevant experience.  Our programs are designed for participants to gain new knowledge, skills, and competencies to prepare them for an impactful career – for themselves and our planet. 

How it All Started

Melissa Lee (she/her) discovered her love for the environment at a young age, and was travelling before she could walk. No matter where she was, she always found a sense of comfort with nature and discovering new cultures outside of her own.

At the age of 11, Melissa completed her first open-water dive off of a remote island in Malaysia, (where her family is from) which empowered her passion for our oceans and environment. She realized that if you can provide someone with the opportunity to connect with nature, you can unlock a passion within them for protecting it too.

Since then, she knew that she wanted to dedicate her future to help protect our environment and vulnerable communities who bear the brunt of the climate crisis. Fast forward to 2009, The GREEN Program was created by a few Rutgers University students who had a knack for adventure, and a mission to empower the future generation of sustainability leaders around the world. Today, the TGP team continues to expand and share our knowledge, passion, and experience with nearly 4,000 students and professionals globally. We are advocates for climate justice and exploring the intersections of pressing challenges that both people and planet face today.