Greening STEM Projects

Hands-on environmental investigations that make STEM relevant and connected to young people's lives.

making STEM learning local

NEEF’s Greening STEM projects engage youth in hands-on STEM activities on public lands of all sizes—from creeks and canyons to prairies and mountains. NEEF works with community partners, educators, and land management agencies to create learning experiences that connect students with real-world environmental challenges. By making STEM learning local, these projects equip young people with the skills and curiosity to explore, protect, and shape the world around them.

Explore our interactive StoryMap to see how Greening STEM connects communities across the country through place-based learning rooted in local environments.

GreeningSTEM map showing the project pins across the United States

See Our StoryMap

Successful Greening STEM Projects

Greening STEM projects provide authentic learning experiences that deepen learning while reinforcing a sense of belonging and pride in the local environment.

A Comprehensive Experience

Outdoor Education

Greening STEM in Action: Experiential Education

Students from Central High School in Grand Junction, Colorado, discovered the rugged beauty in their backyard while collecting scientific data and learning about the impact of invasive species. NEEF partnered with the Bureau of Land Management and the Colorado Canyon Association to give these students an unforgettable experience.

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Connecting Communities

Youth and the Environment

Greening STEM in Action: Students and the Environment

Students from Benjamin Franklin Middle School (BFMS) in Teaneck, New Jersey, learned about the local watershed through hands-on water quality monitoring and biomonitoring studies in a nearby river. NEEF partnered with Teaneck Creek Conservancy, Samsung, and BFMS to help students make important connections between the health of the river and the community.

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Prairie landscape with grasses, meadows, trees and a bright blue sky with white clouds

Highlighted Story

Greening STEM Project Gives Students Hands-On Outdoor Experience

Seventh grade students from Bettendorf Middle School in the Quad Cities are spending two weeks restoring and learning about this valuable ecosystem as part of a Greening STEM project supported by the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) and Arconic Foundation.

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