A Mountain Classroom is a residential environmental education program that works with the community’s schools.  During one- to five-day sessions, students stay at AMC’s New Hampshire huts or lodges, and study curriculum such as Watersheds or Geology that includes how humans affect and are related to the natural environment.  Many of the program's concepts and activities are taught while on the trail.  There are also team-building exercises, games, and evening activities.

After-school environmental science provided to 9 sites. Programs create action projects.

Outdoor environmental program in the setting of a private working farm.

REEP's begins with a 4-5 month environmental justice curriculum that is delivered to more than 75 youth each year in 4 Roxbury public schools (5th-12th grade).  Through this once-a-week program, youth define their own priorities and then gain skills through a hands-on project in their community.  In addition, REEP does 15-20 workshops a year, engaging an additional 300-400 youth.  The most intensive level of involvement in REEP is our three-year youth leadership and organizing internships.  Five to seven teens participate in the internship program, gaining additional skills and developing into organizers and leaders.  REEP youth leaders work with ACE year-round earning a stipend and job skills.  They work on ACE's existing campaigns as well as their own initiatives.

The Youth Opportunities Program (YOP) works with urban youth agencies and schools to connect urban youth with the natural world through hands-on experiences in backcountry environments.  YOP provides the structure and support necessary to help Boston youth workers and teachers become comfortable taking their youth into the wilderness by providing leadership and outdoor skills training, equipment, trip planning support, and reduced rates for groups to stay at AMC lodging facilities. 

A seasonal program offered in the spring that examines how flowers make seeds.

The Arboretum is just beginning outreach to local Headstarts, providing buses so children can come to the Arboretum.

This program was designed to address 5th grade lifesciences standards. It looks at the changing hemlock population and asks students to predict how the ecosystem will change.

A tree identification program designed to teach the differences between evergreen and deciduous trees and to link each tree to the way Native Peoples used it to meet basic survival needs.

A seasonal program offered in the fall for grades 3-5 that examines seed dispersal strategies.

The South Bay is a new development area in downtown Boston that is located adjacent to Chinatown and falls 2/3 within Chinatown zoning jurisdiction.  A community task force has been assembled to provide community input into this 10 acre develpment project, however, notably missing from this task force is the presence of youth.  The South Bay Youth Project is a branch of ACDC's youth program, the Young Leaders Network (YLN), that aims to represent the voice of area youth concerned about the project and its' impact upon the Chinatown community.

The Youth Roots program works to preserve the Asian American character of the Berkeley Street Community Garden.  The Berkeley Garden is located in the South End, one of the most diverse and rapidly changing communities in all of Boston.  When the garden was originally founded over 80% of the parcels were Asian owned, it is now around 50% Asian occupied.  Youth Roots works with all of the gardeners in the Berkeley Garden to break down linguistic, cultural, and societal barriers that exist between many of the long time Asian gardeners and the non-Asian gardeners.

An experiential education program that builds environmental awareness and pre-vocational skills.   While young people (ages 12 & up) earn a bicycle, they completely recondition themselves.  Environmental Ed activities include "The Great Commuter Race" and lots of field trips by bike.

An experiential educational program that builds environmental awareness and pre-vocational skills.  While young people (ages 12+) earn a bike, they recondition themselves. Older teens are hired as assistant instructors.  Environmental Ed activities include the "Great Commuter Race" in which speed, environmental and social costs of a trip by bike, car and by "T" are considered.

Ten to thirteen year old girls build new, positive relationships to themselves, each other, their community and environment as they get physically active through bike-riding.

Nine to eleven year old children attending all-day summer camps come to Bikes Not Bombs for 4-8 days to learn urban bike riding skills, learn about transportation and the environment, and have fun!  Older teens are hired as assistant instructors.

Hands-on object based units on social studies, science, art, math and health.

Collaboration with Greater Boston YMCA and South Boston Neighborhood House, Camp connects children from Boston's neighborhoods to downtown waterfront and harbor.

Live animal program once a month

Healthy eating is promoted through activities which are based on sound nutrition, eating 5 fruits and vegetables per day.

 

Physical activities are staff-led: jump rope, soccer ball dribbling, hopscotch, dance, self guided rock/wall climbing, indoor climbing, tunnel structures.

Hands-on exploration of salt marshes.

Works with a whole school population and neighborhood-based programs to design, construct, and use school grounds as an educational resource.

Launched in 1995 to promote and carry out a conservation Good Turn in their home communities.

The conservation program is designed to incorporate throughout the Scouting program and activities an awareness and understanding of conservation as wise use of natural resources.

Individual or Unit award.  For distinguished service in conservation.

Individual Award - "To Think Globally", "Act Locally" Awareness Award.

Hands on environmental and community service education in the Charles River Parklands.

A teen peer leadership program, BOLD (Breath of Life: Dorchester) TEENS, works with Dorchester Environmental Health Coalition & Codman Square Health Center to educate, prevent, advocate and seek policy to improve the environment in Dorchester.

An environmental curriculum with elements in each of the Five Steps of our Summer Youth Program, including activities such as Fishing 101 and Harborweek, done in cooperation with Save the Harbor/Save the Bay.

Custom designed per school/youth group.  We have a special mobile adventure, nature, farm program that can be done virtually anywhere contracted.  We have mini buses, canoe trailers, inflatable mountain, animals, project adventure mobile initiatives, mountain bikes, hiking, rockclimbing gear to run programs in situ.

3+ Day traditional enviro/outdoor education retreats at one of our three camps - most are at Camp Wing in Duxbury.

We work with specific partner schools to run their 6th grade outdoor education retreat, send their children to our 21 day Summer Camp and follow up 1x per month in their classrooms with asset development model outdoor education.

Works with partner organizations to provide support for Learn About Forest Programs as a basis for urban community stewardship building.

Environmental learning and stewardship, peer leadership training.

Career bridging program exposes young adults to career paths to green industry professions.

The Outdoor Classroom Program provides hands-on environmental education to Boston public school children by using schoolyard orchards and gardens as a learning space.

Public fruit tree plantings are installed and cared for by Earthworks and Volunteers.  These are theaters for learning and serve workshops on tree care and horticulture.

Restoring recently protected natural areas in the City of Boston using the help of volunteers.  We introduce residents, schoolchildren, and others to these unknown areas anbd offer educational programming in addition to volunteer opportunities

Park(s) tour with distribution of educational material and presentation of information on history, design, current conditions, etc.

Youth stewardship program providing hands-on activities in the parks, including a rose garden.

We offer workshops and instruction to children enrolled in Egleston UMCA Summer Program at the Egleston Peace Garden.   Topics are urban gardening.

Summer jobs in the park doing horticulture, forestry, landscape maintenance.

School and youth groups come to the park for a single or occasional volunteer stewardship or learning activity.

Park volunteer projects for community members doing everything from trash pick-up to landscape design.

The Earth Force program is a year long environmental initiative involving 250 girls and 30 volunteers who take part in community projects in which the girls will identify an environmental problem, take part in workshops to learn about the issue and finally create a plan to solve the problem.  The culmination of the program will be "Earth Week," where the groups will put into action their plan in their community, and present their projects at Camp Cedar Hill in Waltham at the first ever Girl Scout Environmental Awareness Fair.

GHB has combined efforts with Hale Reservation to provide environmental lessons to urban kids in outdoor summer camps.

 

For more information about this experience, please refer to the "Agency Camp Programs" program offered by Hale Reservation.

Urban teens create environmental science/nature newsletters for 3rd to 8th graders in an afterschool program. The newlsetters (in JR and SR editions) are distributed for free to 30,000 students in public schools in greater Boston.

A pilot Nature/Environmental afterschool club held in school and led by a teacher with a GHP intern and using Greentimes materials and focus.

Teens interview local corporate executives and write articles about their environmental involvement to publish a special edition newsletter.

Environmental education, resources, and leadership development to youth attending seven camps serving youth from Greater Boston.

Programs for schools, youth groups, churches, scouts, etc.

An environmental education program that focuses on service learning, community service and diversity.  Participants elect a governing council for youth leadership, plan service learning projects, get together for social events and engage in field studies related to science.

An outdoor adventure program that is full of challenges.  In High Flight teens are introduced to team building initiatives, hiking, indoor and outdoor rock climbing, camping, basic survival skills, social events, volunteerism and more.  Program activities encourage each teen to develop a sense of autonomy while gaining a better understanding of group dynamics and their responsibility to other participants.    

The Hyde Park YMCA has an indoor climbing wall that is available persons at all levels.  The wall is open to members Tuesday nights from 6:30-8PM.  Member may enjoy the wall for free, a guest fee is applied to non-members, contact the Hyde Park YMCA front desk about guest fees at (617)361-2300 ext. 225.  The wall is also available for private rent, i.e. birthday parties.

BEAN is an afterschool program focusing on environmental issues for urban teenagers 14 to 18. BEAN provides hands-on experience as well as career exploration, stewardship projects, college prep, environmental education, and community service outreach.  This program is implemented in collaboration with the National Park Service (see organizations).

Harbor Connections is an environmental education program that introduces teachers and Boston public school students to the Boston Harbor Islands as a rich resource for teaching about physics, the environment, and social history. Students have in-class teachings, special guests, and on island expeditions two times a year. The program currently serves over 1700 students in 10 Boston area schools.

Mass Energy provides support to schools interested in pursuing renewable energy projects.  We offer classroom presentations, resources for teachers, and assistance with project management.

Supports 37 schools within a two mile radius enabling approximately 4,000 students to explore science and the natural world in their classrooms, schoolyards and at the BNC, while helping teachers integrate ecological concepts into science, mathematics, social studies, and lanuage arts.

Builds on an environmentally themed school with BNC and Haley educators as partners.  Over 300 students explore natural environments, carry out minds-on/hands-on extended investigations in science, and use a child centered and interdisciplinary approach to foster critical thinking strategies.

Professional Development Programs and Resource Learning Center provide opportunities available for educators, out-of school time providers and others interested in developing an understanding of the environment as a setting for integrated sciences.  BNC promotes an audience-centered, inquir-based approach where staff, volunteers, interns, cultural organization partners and participants create together a community of learners.

Quarterly design based on Interactive Educational exhibit theme.

BNC offers on-site weeklong, all day fun adventures and exciting learning opportunities.

In partnership with five other city organizations and Mellon City ACCESS and utilizing the internship model,  allows urban teens to work and learn during out-of-school time.  It integrates training in leadership, conservation, and civic involvement.  The teens provide directs service in implementing urban ecology programs and projects that will enable them to effectively share their science expertise and serve as ambassadors for BNC in their communities.

Offers 6th through 8th grade students a meaningful alternative during out of school hours.  This program focuses on the exploration of the BNC's grounds through the design and implementation of science experiments and sanctuary research, art projects, academic support, and exposure to Boston's cultural organizations, while enhancing social and problem solving skills.

An educational partnership between commercial fishermen and K-12 classrooms.  Program goal is to have teachers utilize fishermen as a resource to teach about marine resources and life of a fisherman.

Utilizing recirculating aquaculture systems to grow fish in the classroom.

Building and utilizing an ROV (remote operated vehicle) for monitoring the environment.

Semester-long program designed to engage students in the urban river environment in their community, learn quantitative skills and environmental stewardship.

Workshop to engage students in the urban river environment in their neighborhood and to build water safety awareness as well as environmental stewardship.

7 Member paid youth crew - work 6-10 hrs/wk school year - 25 hrs/wk in summer.   Learn organizing, environmental stewardship, community activism, conduct field studies, etc.

Environmental education based on veterinary practice at the New England Wildlife Center.

Kayak by moonlight off the coast of Maine, build accessible trails in a local state park, or learn how to rock climb in the greater Boston area—all in a fun, supportive, and inclusive environment! Participate in one of our many programs for people with and without disabilities, of all ages and backgrounds, and be a part of our mission for social change.

Hands on activities for preschool children at Re-Vision House and Lena Park DayCare Centers.

For groups and individuals that find us, we provide a tour and a service learning program on the farm.  Topics of work and discussion include agriculture and farming, sustainable development and recycling, environmental justice, food and nutrition, homelessness.   Groups that use this program include girl scouts, camps, and the food project, as well as individuals.

All Access combines the history of Boston Harbor and the Harbor Islands with environmental education and hands-on learning to make sure youth have fun while learning.  Community groups from all over the Boston region meet at Fleet Boston Pavilion, participate in a history skit with Boston by the Sea and explore Georges Island with a National Park guide.

Save the Harbor/Save the Bay educates sailing center instructors about Boston Habor history, ecology and biology.  The instructors in turn pass their new knowledge to the young sailors with the help of our youth program coordinator. 

 

Boston Harbor Week allows sailors to learn more and participate in special activities, like going to a salt marsh, whale watching, visiting harbor islands, etc.  Sailors also paritipcate in the Fishing 101 program once a week.

At various locations around Boston, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay staff teach young people how to explore the marine environment in the field – using field guides, lobster pots, dip nets, fishing rods, etc.

In the spring, Save the Harbor/Save the Bay takes 300 young people out into Boston Harbor to witness the seasonal migration of seals and porpoises.  For many youth, this is their first trip out on the water.

The Ocean in Our Backyard is an afterschool program designed to enable underserved,middle school students to explore the Boston Harbor environment and to gain new academic skills and a sense of environmental citizenship.  The Ocean in Our Backyard program will engage students through experiences in science discovery, including field trips to the Harbor's estuaries, salt marshes, and outer areas.  Students will collect specimens, learn lab techniques, analyze data, and document their findings in written and oral presentations in their communities.  The curriculum will also reinforce concepts in the Massachusetts Science Framework while enabling students to become stewards of our urban environment and natural resources.

Children in 5th grade and up stay with us for five days on the farm and together we do all of the work of the farm.

Groups of middle-school students come for three to five days to work the farm with us.  They come as a class with their teachers.

Students who complete the summer program can join the AYP where they lead volunteers, work in shelters, and learn about agriculture/environment/hunger/service/leadership/communication.

Elementary school students come to our urban farms to plant, harvest, and cook food.  Focus is hands on learning so children experience gardening/science outside the classroom.

2,000 Volunteers per year work on our Lincoln and Roxbury Farms in spring and fall to plant, weed, harvest vegetables for shelters, farmers markets and our farm customers.  They learn about hunger and sustainable agriculture through a mini-curriculum.

We hire 50 teenagers, ages 14-16 and 10 crew leaders and assistant crew leaders, ages 17-24, to grow food on urban and suburban farmland for shelters, soup kitchens and farmers markets.  Youth go through a broad curriculum about land, food, community and personal development.

Summer camp for children grades 4-9.

Outreaches: programs delivered for a fee in schools throughout the North East;  Overnights: for private groups (including scouts) at the Aquarium; Family Programs: for young children and families; Community Programs: free for afterschool programs and projects.

Individual classes come to the aquarium for tours.

WoW Explorers is targeted at middle school students. An 8-week course on Saturdays that trains volunteers.  Teen Interns are 16-18 year olds that work paid during the summer (85 students) and year round (15 students).

B.U.S. is a hands-on community tree stewardship training program for middle and high school age youth.  The teens work with and learn from professionals whose job it is to care for and maintain the urban environment, especially public street trees.  It is a partnership with the Boston Parks Department.

A carefully designed one-day experience which brings 6 to 15 young people from low income urban communities to a rural forest environment.  It introduces urban young people to the beauty and care of trees, builds bridges to careers in forestry and natural resources, and opens opportunities to develop further environmental programming, stewardship and leadership development.  The program was developed by Eagle Eye Institute

Participants develop and learn techniques and skills for teaching others angling and aquatic ecology including water testing using biological and chemical indicators, fishprinting, macro invertebrate sampling, population dynamics, fish anatomy, identification and behavior.

Through the Community Foresters Program, graduate students work with community groups in underserved communities in Greater Boston to design and implement planting projects on sites the groups have identified.  The graduate students also lead workshops on tree planting and plant care and maintenance with their groups.

Social Ecology examines how human society interacts with the natural environment. By asking questions, students gain an appreciation for their place within the ecological data they collect. The highlight of the curriculum is a student-driven community action project in which students identify a local environmental issue, research it, and act to positively influence the health of their local social ecosystem.

Students learn about the concepts and importance of urban bird biodiversity and improve their research skills by quantifying bird biodiversity at a local field site. Through continuous observation and monitoring of urban bird biodiversity, students also help scientists to recognize potential problems in local ecosystems and to improve the overall health  of these ecological communities.

Urban Wilds uses volunteers to restore recently protected natural areas in the City of Boston. We introduce residents, schoolchildren, and others to these little known areas and offer educational programming in addition to volunteer opportunities.

Long-term monitoring of urban waterways enables scientists and students to determine the relative health of acquatic ecosystems. Through exposure to scientific research methods, students learn the importance of long-term field studies and generall become more aware of water quality issues.

Teaches students in high school how to make audio stories about environmental change.