Check out this video to learn more about Arboretum Young Scientists from Director Ned Friedman and staff.
For four decades the Arnold Arboretum has offered exceptional learning programs in the life sciences in our landscape, reaching more than 4,000 students annually in Pre-K through grade 5 in Boston Public Schools. In 2022, we established a new summer program called Arboretum Young Scientists (AYS).
AYS is a specialized, immersive experience for BPS middle school students. By expanding our reach—and focusing on grade levels that are currently underserved at botanical gardens nationally—we are building a bridge of science learning for students we currently serve in elementary school and high school. By engaging young learners at a critical stage in their academic careers, we hope to cultivate the next generation of scientists, horticulturalists, gardeners, and plant science educators in our community. We need your support to continue this program in 2025.
AYS is a tailored program of vibrant, hands-on learning grounded in outdoor field studies in the Arboretum landscape. Partnering with select BPS middle schools, the Arboretum recruits rising eighth grade students to participate in the four-week program focused on ecosystems, the heart of life science curriculum at this grade level. Taught by professional educators and assisted by Arboretum scientists and horticulturists, AYS is designed to allow students to work individually and cooperatively as researchers, orienting participants to a range of investigative methods as well as potential careers in scientific research, botanical gardens, and the green industry. Like all educational programs at the Arnold Arboretum, AYS is completely free of charge and includes transportation to the Arboretum landscape.
Annual evaluation has helped the Arboretum build on its success and ensure AYS maximizes its impact on the development and life paths of young middle school students in Boston, and democratizes the experience of learning in the natural environment. AYS presents a special opportunity for the Arboretum to play a significant role in community education and change in Boston and beyond.
Read more about AYS in Public Garden magazine and The Bay State Banner.
AYS needs your help!
Donations made now to benefit AYS will support the fourth year of our program in July 2025.
We thank the donors who have helped us create and sustain a program to serve BPS middle school students over the first three years: The Liberty Mutual Foundation, Cedar Tree Foundation, Highland Street Foundation, Arnold Arboretum Committee, Eastern Bank Foundation, Clinton H. and Wilma T. Shattuck Charitable Trust, Cabot Family Charitable Trust, Devonshire Foundation, Schrafft Charitable Trust, and numerous families and individual donors. Every donation makes a difference to this program.
Click below to visit the Arboretum’s Giving Page. Select “Arboretum Young Scientists/Middle School Initiative” from the drop-down menu to direct your donation to AYS. Thank you!