by Jean Devine
An open mind, eagerness to learn new things, a willingness to work with peers from different schools, and a tolerance for hot weather, a bit of rain, and getting dirty are all it takes to be a Biodiversity Builder.
Youth don’t join Biodiversity Builders (BB) to fill out their resume. They join because they’re curious about nature and maybe gardening, they worry about climate change, and they want to do something positive to help the planet. Youth who become Biodiversity Builders learn how to solve environmental and societal challenges, get down and dirty removing invasive plants and planting native ones, and run a business all while making friends and having fun!
BB is a six-week, paid environmental education summer program serving high school students from Arlington, Belmont, and Cambridge. The program is designed to inspire and empower high school students to be Earth stewards and make ecological impacts in their communities while understanding the connectivity of watersheds, soil, native plants, pollinators, wildlife, and human health.
Our 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
- Advocate for nature-based solutions to climate change
“I think the program really managed to excite and inspire the students, myself included, regardless of prior familiarity with plants or gardening.” – Ryan Yang, summer 2023 student
2023 Biodiversity Builders with Representative Dave Rogers (top left) and Executive Director Jean Devine (front, second from left). Photo courtesy of Jean Devine
We created BB in late 2021 to give students agency in environmental projects and policy. BB is a small operation. For most of the year, it is run by Jean Devine and program advisor Skye Schirmer and is fiscally sponsored by the Tiny Seed Project, Inc. The Project’s mission is to “empower community-led projects that conserve the environment, encourage creativity, and strengthen communities.” We raise funds for student and staff salaries, plants, printed materials, tools, and transportation. In the past we’ve had generous support from the Humani Foundation, the Judy Record Fund, individuals, and the Belmont Cultural Council.
Because we operate across three towns, students learn to be flexible and adaptable while gaining the confidence to speak up about successes and failures each week. This youth-directed model allows students to explore nature and eco-careers, express their concerns about the natural world and their futures, and feel empowered to make a difference in the health of their community. We are proud to see many BB alums establish environmental advocacy and action groups at their high schools, study adjacent fields in college, and transfer their enthusiasm and knowledge about nature-based solutions to friends, family, and community members. We stay in touch with many of our students, and Jean often writes recommendations for students applying for jobs, colleges, and scholarships.
“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 from both of you [Jean & Skye] in my life at college and beyond.” – Krista Chan, college mentor 2023
BB stands apart from other programs in that it exposes youth to real ecological restoration projects and introduces them to ecologists, activists, and niche community leaders. The students also work in the field to advance their understanding of ecosystems, plant-pollinator connections, policies, and actions that support nature. Youth also practice entrepreneurship (as a problem-solving tool) and devote an hour or two per week to an independent research project.
“Every person and community plays such a key role in environmental change, and that idea is demonstrated through our activities. Students learn what they are passionate about in a non-judgmental environment where asking questions is promoted.” – Ellie Espelin, summer 2023 student
Each BB session builds upon the successes from the prior year and the public and private projects Devine has secured during the off season. For 2024, we aim to have 18 students: six each from Arlington, Belmont, and Cambridge. Devine and two college student mentors will guide them.
Our home base is the teaching garden on the north side of Alewife Reservation, called the Alewife Showcase Pollinator Biodiversity Garden. Students will travel to work on projects or explore ecosystem restoration sites twice weekly in Cambridge and twice weekly in Arlington or Belmont. On Fridays, students are dismissed from school early to pursue independent projects or conduct citizen science research at one of our work sites.
We are working on a new module to increase youth understanding of green infrastructure solutions to stormwater management, and we plan to include new activities around foraging, native plant substitutions for invasive plants, and environmental justice.
“It brought me so much happiness to be outside with everyone and in a fun group of young people with some amazing college mentors and Jean. I am very happy with the program this summer, and I’m going to miss it very much.”
– Matteo Kennedy, summer 2023 student
We are now accepting applications for BB Summer 2024! For more information, please visit www.devinenativeplantings.com/biodiversity-builders-education.
Jean Devine is a Belmont resident, cofounder of the Mystic Charles Pollinator Pathways Group, and is executive dIrector of the Biodiversity Builders youth environmental education program and Devine Native Plantings, LLC.
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