Biodiversity Builders℠ is fiscally sponsored by the Tiny Seed Project, Inc. 501(c)3.
Read: “How to Be a Biodiversity Builder” in Belmont Citizen’s Forum
2024 Biodiversity Builders℠
Arlington, Belmont, and Cambridge program. Students sold 334 plants at their native plant sale!, planted 5 native plant gardens, maintained and labeled 7 native plant gardens, participated in 4 invasive plant pulls, designed and implemented 4 container gardens and 4 home gardens, hosted 1 moth ball, and removed 270 baskets of invasive water chestnuts from Arlington Reservoir with the Mystic River Watershed Association.
2023 Biodiversity Builders℠
Arlington, Belmont, and Cambridge combined program. Students planted 4 gardens, cleaned up and labeled 8 gardens, participated in 7 invasive pulls, learned how to design 2 garden templates, designed 3 home gardens (as part of independent projects), and sold 201 plants at their native plant sale!
2022 Biodiversity Builders℠
Arlington/Belmont Pilot Program & Cambridge MSYEP. Through two programs, students designed 4 and installed 3 gardens, cleaned up and labeled a handful of gardens, participated in 8 invasive pulls, helped host Jerry’s Pondfest, and sold 184 plants at their native plant sale!
HEAR FROM OUR STUDENTS
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“The work in client gardens was definitely a high point, as well as our meetings with outside experts, such as Save the Alewife Brook and the tours of Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Habitat, and the Charles River.”
-Kira, College Mentor 2024
(2022 Alum) -
“A high point was working alongside Kira and bouncing ideas off of her. I think we complemented each other's strengths well. I will take with me the confidence and trust in myself that this experience taught me."
-Paige, College Mentor 2024
(2022 Alum) -
“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. I am super excited to use the skills and knowledge I learned…”
Krista, College Mentor 2023
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“It was an amazing experience, I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to be a part of it… we got to explore a lot of places, some that I didn't even realize were around where I live."
-Leia, 2024
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“Belle Isle marsh I particularly enjoyed because I was exposed to a place I’d never been to before... There was always something to look forward to and something to learn... the mix of people we met provided me with a lot of encouragement and hope for a better world."
-Vivian, 2024
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“I think the program really managed to excite and inspire the students, myself included, regardless of prior familiarity with plants or gardening.”
Ryan, 2023
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“I thoroughly enjoyed this program, all of the activities and all of the people were wonderful... It was all so engaging.”
-Bernie, 2024
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"The format of teaching about native plants and then working with them really cemented it in my brain. I loved this program and really learned a lot...I just wish that it had lasted longer because it went by so quickly."
-Lilah, 2024
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“It was amazing, I learned a lot. There was an atmosphere of learning and doing that wasn’t like school, because everyone was passionate about what we were doing.”
Melvin, 2023
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“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, 2024
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“Signing up for this program was the best decision I made this summer!”
Leo, 2022
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“It was a nice experience and went by pretty fast. Whenever I had questions I got answers.”
-Noah, 2024
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.
Biodiversity Builders is made possible by
Judy Record Fund
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Humani Foundation
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NE Grassroots Fund
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Cambridge MSYEP
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Belmont Cultural Council
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CDQ Trust
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The Garden Conservancy
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Our Community Members!
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Judy Record Fund • Humani Foundation • NE Grassroots Fund • Cambridge MSYEP • Belmont Cultural Council • CDQ Trust • The Garden Conservancy • Our Community Members! •