Youth Learning as Citizen Environmental Scientists

03/02/2026

"Before this event, I thought some people weren't that good at STEM and that some people were better. But now I know it's less about what you think and more about HOW you think; not about what you know, but how hard you try."
–A 7th-grade student who participated in a YLACES-funded grant (Salt Lake Center for Science Education)

Want to inspire a passion for STEM and environmental research in your students? Educators can now apply for a YLACES grant to help access equipment, transportation, supplies, and more. We also issue grants to fund local student research symposia. 🌱🔬

Apply by March 31, 2026, by visiting YLACES.org/grants-and-awards

(Photos from various 2025 grantees.)

02/17/2026

We’re proud to support environmental education! 🌱

YLACES is a Gold Level Sponsor of the Conference Feb 19-22 in Towson. Come visit our booth or attend our presentation to connect with us!

MAEOE.org/conference/

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02/05/2026

What do our grantees have to say? Scroll through to find out!

Are you interested in receiving a grant to get your students involved in environmental research in your community? Apply for a YLACES grant!

International applications accepted! Visit ylaces.org/grants-and-awards to apply by the deadline of March 31, 2026.

02/01/2026

Our grant application for US and international applicants is now open! 🚨🔬🧫

We want to support educators and students that are conducting environmental research in their own communities.

Scroll through this post to see if you or an educator you know may have a project that qualifies for a YLACES instruments/supplies grant. US applicants may apply for up to $5,000 for local .

Visit ylaces.org/grants-and-awards to apply by the deadline of March 31, 2026.

01/09/2026

Happy second week of 2026! Thank you to our supporters and grantees for a great 2025. We want to share our final 2025 numbers with you all:

- Total number of grants awarded: 49 🥳
- Total amount awarded: $100,000+ 💵
- 8 Student Research Symposia were held in seven different states involving 60 schools 📝
- With 49% of projects reporting, 6,722 students and 12,270 community members engaged in YLACES-funded initiatives 👏👏👏

Several 2025-funded projects span the 2025-2026 school year, and we look forward to receiving their reports this spring.

We hope to have another record-breaking year in 2026! Visit YLACES.org/grants-and-awards to apply for a grant starting on Feb 1, 2026.

12/02/2025

Today is and ! We are so grateful for all of our donors who have made our work possible over the last ten years.

Donating to YLACES will help make our mission of assisting and rewarding the implementation of inquiry-based, experiential science education where students do science and contribute to understanding of our environment possible.

With the help of donors like you, YLACES can:
- Offer grants to equip the rising generation with scientific thinking ability
- Support GLOBE and local SRSes
- Present the YES Medal to recipients for years to come

You can donate here on Facebook or visit: ylaces.org/donate

10/17/2025

The Tri-state Steelheaders is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting healthy salmon and steelhead populations in Southeastern Washington, Northeastern Oregon, and north central Idaho. 🐟🏞️

The organization's 'Salmon in School' students got to go out to their local creek and use professional stream sampling methods to assess the health of their creek. As a recipient of a 2025 YLACES grant, the organization's students were able to use water thermometers, dissolved oxygen kits, Macroinvertebrate nets, and pH test kits. The data collected was used to decide if the creek is a healthy habitat for salmon.

"I will always think about the fish in Dry Creek. I feel like they are now part of our community.” —'Salmon in School' student

Learn more about this program: https://www.ylaces.org/2025-grants-domestic/tri-state-steelheaders

08/15/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Dixon Butler who was honored with a special Lifetime Achievement Award for his long-standing commitment to GLOBE and citizen science during the 2025 Conference for Advancing the Participatory Sciences (CAPS). Dr. Butler worked with the GLOBE Program as chief scientist and GLOBE director from 1996 to 2003. He currently serves as a consultant for NASA on the GLOBE Program and is the founder and president of Youth Learning as Citizen Environmental Scientists (YLACES). Learn more about his contributions to GLOBE here: https://www.globe.gov/news-events/globe-news/-/newsdetail/10157/globe-2025-caps

07/18/2025

“That was so fun. Are we going to do this again next year?”

With $1,500 in YLACES grant funding, Chase STEMM Academy made a meaningful impact on 100 5th–8th grade scholars.

Students focused on collecting and analyzing environmental data using GLOBE protocols, as well as studying native bird species inhabiting the Manhattan Marsh—a Metropark located directly behind their school.

In the spring of 2025, their scholars presented their expanded research at the Student Research Symposium held at The Toledo Zoo. This event brought together over 400 scholars from across Northwest Ohio to share their scientific discoveries with local experts, educators, and judges.

With YLACES grant funding, Chase STEMM Academy students not only gained valuable STEM experience, but also contributed to the broader community through environmental awareness and data-driven research.

07/18/2025

05/08/2025

"I love that my students get to participate in real world citizen science. I think it allows them to see science
in action." -Kristina Downing, Sandusky High School teacher

With a 2024 YLACES grantee, Sandusky High School was able to purchase equipment for their classes to complete GLOBE protocols for atmosphere,
specifically clouds, and surface temperature. Students collected data and, through their research, made
connections on how surface temperature and cloud
data affect one another.

Learn more about our grantees: https://www.ylaces.org/grantees

04/11/2025

Local Student Research Symposia offer students an authentic science learning experience with the opportunity to present their research to peers and STEM professionals.

Data indicates that participation in a student research symposium positively influences students' science interest, self-efficacy, and identity.

To learn more about local SRS and their impact, check out our blog post:

https://www.ylaces.org/post/local-srs-evaluation-report