The Boston Environmental Network is a group of public and private sector organizations and professionals in the environmental education, park stewardship, youth development and job training fields that aim to increase green youth employment and educational opportunities. As a network we work to connect young people to long term environmental careers. Points of connection include network meetings, professional development, youth events, this website, and numerous collaborations.

This network was created in 2005 to help connect and bring resources to the many individual organizations already engaging youth in environmental education related programming and employment. Organizations throughout Boston were working in isolation to acquire the same resources and knowledge needed to implement and maintain quality programmig. Many were facing similar challenges or challenges that another organization could remedy. Support of the sector will encourage organizations to work together to overcome barriers, share resources, unify in advocacy efforts, bring new assets and partners to the table, and most importantly better serve the young people of Boston. 

A small team of staff serves to facilitate interactions and the sharing of resources among network members. Dawn Chavez, Network Coordinator, and Helen Christou, Assistant Coordinator, lead this initiative. Member organizations and working groups support the work of network staff. Boston After School and Beyond and The Urban Ecology Institute act as umbrella organizations for the network. 

This website acts as the primary mode of communication for the network. The BEN Blog invites network members to post announcements, jobs, news, opportunities, and resources related, but not limited to, environmental youth employment. Members are invited to share the resources their organizations can bring to partnerships, including professional development training and free related youth events. Feel free to discuss your challenges and ask for suggestions. This page also provides links to other blogs relevant to our focus.

The Network Directory illustrates the diversity of our members, links visitors to their websites and countless opportunities. There you will find private and public sector organizations in the environmental, youth development, and job training fields.  

Read about, view pictures, and video footage high lighting our partners' programs, youth participants, and events in the Storybank. If you have content to include on the Storybank e-mail it to HChristou@bostonbeyond.org. Before submitting content for inclusion in the Storybank refer to the Visual Content Disclaimer.

Members may stay updated on Boston Environmental Network happenings and related News Feeds by looking at our Network Home page. To support the partnership of our members this site has the capacity to provide shared workspace, project management tools, and more. Only members have access to the Network Home page and must have a current username and password to do so. To create an account contact Helen Christou at HChristou@bostonbeyond.org.

All users are encouraged to view our Terms of Use page in order to become familiar with the site Prohibited Conduct, Visual Content Disclaimer and Links to Third-Party Websites.

To find out more about the Boston Environmental Network contact Helen Christou at HChristou@bostonbeyond.org.