PROJECTS

The results are in. United Green CORE’s grant-funded Native Plant Olympics has concluded. We recognize the students and schools who participated in this youth-led climate education competition.  

🏆 Traveling Trophy Winners

24 Students competed on behalf of their schools.

1st Place: George Washington Elementary School
2nd Place: Highland Middle School
3rd Place: White Plains High School

Students across Westchester County planted and grew Bee Balm, a native pollinator plant. Through hands-on learning and friendly competition, students explored how native plants support pollinators such as bees and butterflies, and why pollinators are essential to ecosystem health and food systems.

• Understanding how native plants support local biodiversity 
• Recognizing the role of pollinators in food production and ecosystem health 
• Developing practical planting and care skills 
• Participating in collaborative, project-based science learning 

Each participant received a certificate and commemorative coin in recognition of their work. This project reinforced a clear outcome. Healthy pollinators support healthy ecosystems, and these systems support our food and communities.

We thank the students, families, educators, and partners who made this project possible:

• City of White Plains Mayor’s Office 
• Youth Bureau 
• White Plains School District 
• Bloomberg Philanthropies Youth Climate Action Fund

🌱 Project Status Update: Native Plant Olympics

Status: In progress. Winners to be announced at the end of September 2025.

The first Native Plant Olympics, a student-led environmental competition in White Plains, is underway and approaching its final stage.

Participation:
Students are planting on behalf of 9 district schools.

Activity:
Students planted and cared for a mystery seed, now revealed as Bee Balm, a native plant that supports pollinators.

Challenges Overcome:
An early-season storm destroyed many initial seedlings. Students replanted, demonstrating resilience, teamwork, and commitment.

Educational Impact:
Participants are gaining hands-on experience in native plants, pollinators, biodiversity, and climate awareness through a student-led competition model.

Next Milestone:
Final plant measurements will be completed at the end of September. Winning schools will be announced, followed by traveling trophies and community recognition.

The Native Plant Olympics is building momentum and demonstrating a youth-led approach to climate education in White Plains.

We were invited by the Youth Climate Action Fund and the City of White Plains Mayor’s Office to showcase our projects at an Earth Day event.

Grant approved for the Native Plant Olympics and Solar Bench projects.

This support enables collaboration with the community, local businesses, and government partners. Additional details will be provided as the City finalizes the contract.

We were invited by the City of White Plains to submit a grant application supporting youth-led climate initiatives.

This opportunity allows the City to fund micro-grants that help launch and scale local climate action projects.

Arbor is making waves in our community! 👏

Through her dedicated efforts, Arbor is inspiring and guiding our youth towards environmental stewardship. Her work is planting seeds of change that will grow into a more sustainable future.

"Round of Applause" 👏 

Board of Directors Arbor is participating in the "Cleanup Your Happy Place on Coastal Cleanup Day" initiative. You can, too! 

Whether it's a beach, a park, or any outdoor space you cherish, let's unite to keep our community beautiful. 

Every piece of litter collected matters. Your effort, no matter how small, contributes to a cleaner, healthier environment for all of us and the wildlife we share it with. 

🌊🌳 

We are 100% of our targeted 100 plastic items.  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/127A0WHon8dRLegbatFenk7Q5aEEYV7WmAc1px0AGwfM/edit?usp=sharing  

The majority of our plastics are not properly labeled or recycled. Over 90% end up in our environment, inadvertently becoming hazards to all life.

We believe education and action on policy are the keys to a healthier future.

 We are actively collecting and cataloging plastics that have the potential to become pervasive in our society and harm innocent animals.   Scientific evidence also shows microplastics and nanoplastics have infiltrated our tissues.  Plastics do not discriminate based on social stratification; they affect all members of society.