Biodiversity Builders℠ (BB) is an environmental education program designed to inspire and empower youth to be Earth Stewards and make an ecological impact in their communities. BB is committed to inclusion and diversity in our programming by providing an accessible, six-week, paid environmental internship to 18 high school students from Arlington, Belmont and Cambridge, who reflect a diverse range of demographics and environmental knowledge. Students learn how to: build and restore biodiversity and local ecosystems; identify, install, and remove native and invasive plants; design gardens using native plants; operate a business where they collectively define mission, vision and values and implement a large native plant sales event; and, advocate for nature-based solutions to climate change. Help us grow our program. Your donation ensures healthy youth development, biodiverse habitats, and a resilient community!

“When I was tasked with creating a slideshow about Marketing and teaching a lesson based around that, I stepped out of my comfort zone to learn up on a subject I did not have extensive knowledge on, so that I could teach it adequately. I will take with me the confidence and trust in myself that this experience taught me."

-Paige Gromfin, College Mentor 2024 (Alum Belmont/Arlington Pilot 2022)

“I was so glad I was able to have a hands-on summer job with bosses who gave me a seat at the table and allowed me to share my opinions."

-Krista Chan, College Mentor 2023.

“I loved this program and really learned a lot… It was nice to meet other people my age who are also interested in the same things. I just wish that it had lasted longer because it went by so quickly. The format of teaching about native plants and then working with them really cemented it in my brain.”

-Lilah Rege, Belmont 2024

“I’m glad I was able to work with like-minded kids my age and being able to go beyond the basic gardening work to work with more technical financial tasks.”

-Griffin DesRoches, Cambridge 2024

“It was a great introduction to many of the local causes for environmental protection and …the mix of people we met working to help our local environment provided me with a lot of encouragement and hope for a better world in and around Cambridge.“

-Vivian Kalik, Arlington 2024

The purpose of BB℠ is to give youth agency in solving environmental and societal challenges on a local level. Using project-based, youth-directed learning, we expose youth to nature and give them a connection to native plants, pollinators, and people whom they may not otherwise encounter - activists, entomologists, entrepreneurs, and stewards. On the science side, students learn ecology, plant-pollinator connections, soil health and climate change. On the business side, students learn how to build a business selling native plants, and designing and installing gardens for customers. We teach them how to navigate marketing, customer relations, finance and project management. We stand apart from other programs by offering guidance to teens from niche community leaders and exposing them to different types of conservation and environmental projects inside and outside of the city. Visit our website to see photos, learn more, and read what our students have to say!

The success of our programming is not possible without generous support and financial donations from community members like you! Thank you for believing in our mission and our students.

Biodiversity Builders℠ : educating our youth, saving our planet.

Team Members