MEarth

MEarth (pronounced Me-Earth) is an environmental education nonprofit that is growing the next generation of environmental leaders through education, collaboration, partnerships and community action.

HABITAT Our programs are rooted at the Hilton Bialek Habitat, an inspirational ten-acre property at the mouth of Carmel Valley, adjacent to Carmel Middle School. Here our students learn by tending an organic garden and fruit orchard, cooking in our LEED-certified kitchen classroom, and exploring our outdoor amphitheater, watershed center, solar powered greenhouses, and native plant microenvironments.

PROGRAMS All of MEarth's programs provide participants with skills that empower them to adopt healthy lifestyle choices for themselves, their immediate community and the planet. Because of grants and generous contributions from our supporters, more than 2,000 students of all ages from across Monterey County have the opportunity to learn and grow in our four signature programs each year:

• FoodConnect: Students immerse themselves in the simple joys of learning how to grow, harvest and prepare foods that are healthy for both the people who eat them and the land on which they were grown. Utilizing our organic garden and "green" cooking classroom, we invite students to nourish their minds and hearts by forging real connections and lifelong healthy habits involving food.

• NatureConnect: Through explorations of native plant gardens surrounding the Hilton Bialek Habitat, observing diverse bird, insect and small mammal ecosystems, tending native plants in the Habitat's nursery and participating in habitat restoration at various regional sites, students gain genuine appreciation for the interconnectedness of the natural world in which they live.

• ClassroomConnect: For nearly a decade, MEarth staff has collaborated with teachers to create standards-based middle, elementary and high school curriculum, connecting indoor and outdoor learning in core subject areas of Science, Social Studies, English-Language Arts and World Language classes. Classroom teachers and students alike delight in the change of pace of outdoor learning, and enjoy growing in understanding together in the rich hands-on environment.

• CommunityConnect: Healthy, connected, resilient communities are the key to our sustainable future. MEarth provides numerous opportunities for adults in our local community to get involved with the Habitat property and the programs that MEarth delivers, such as volunteering, participating in mission-driven events, weekend workshops, garden-to-table chef dinners and annual giving.

Our programs are run by a staff of six full- and part-time employees who are supported by seasonal interns and hundreds of community volunteers.