GreenAllies

More About Us

Empowering students.
Driving environmental innovation.
Creating visionary leaders.
Changing the world.
That is GreenAllies.

We are the region’s largest provider of student environmental leadership trying to keep pace with a rapidly growing demand for our services. GreenAllies is looking to create the next generation of community leaders by creating moments for student to thrive. Whether it is by creating community programming led by students or developing a network where students can share best practices, GreenAllies is the one resource they can go to for support and assistance. We are backed by a strong Board of Directors looking to drive environmental innovation. We organized a national network of motivated and committed college students and community members willing to volunteer, advise and support student projects throughout the region and across the country. Our largest project to date is the Althouse Arboretum, an outdoor education facility created on an abandoned historic property and run entirely by student leaders.

Our impact is growing!

Locally: The Althouse Arboretum, Where Preservation and Education Intersect
GreenAllies created the Althouse Arboretum, an outdoor education and community center staffed and run by trained students. It is the site of a plethora of ever-changing events, philanthropy, community development, and environmental conservation. It is an ongoing experiment in student empowerment and innovative ideas, and the opportunities are as endless as the innovative powers of the student leaders who help to run Althouse Arboretum, year after year. Our student staff is taught leadership skills while providing free and low-cost outdoor education services to children throughout the region.

Over just this past year, staff and students have:
1. Led over 50 community programs, with nearly 40% of them free or reduced-cost
2. Impacted nearly 11,000 children and adults through our community programming and outdoor activity
3. Had more than 200 student leaders and volunteers plan, organize and run our community programming
4. Provided low-cost outdoor summer camps, recycling programs, free hikes, special family activities and more. All run by local students.

The Student-Run Organic Farm
We now grow organic vegetables that provides 25 regional families with nutritious food throughout the growing season.

Regionally: Rooted in the Environment, Branching into the Community
1. Held leadership training conferences, webinars and environmental summits for more than 400 high school and college students
2. GreenAllies trained college students for a one-of-a-kind mentoring program that helps schools in and around the city of Philadelphia. This is now part of a program funded through the National Science Foundation
3. Created a network where students can share best practices and learn from each other’s successful sustainability projects.

Nationally: Spreading the Seeds to a More Sustainable Future
GreenAllies has developed the National Challenge scholarship competition. A one-of-a-kind competition that rewards students who lead exceptional environmental projects in their communities. Students submit project proposals and are assigned a volunteer GreenAllies Adviser who provides assistance and resources to help guide the student to success.

Testimonials

GreenAllies has given me the opportunity to turn my own ideas into reality. Their support enhanced my leadership skills as well as my confidence. I would never have had this chance without them. – student

I now know that I can change the world – student leader

It’s a great learning experience for those of us working on the farm and it also gives us a chance to do something meaningful at such a young age. – student

GreenAllies brought together a group of eco-minded, passionate people who inspired me to continue learning about and serving the environment. – student

Amazing place! So lucky to have the Althouse Arboretum in our community. – community member

Monster Family Night—So much fun and a great alternative to scary Halloween events. My son loved the walk through the woods and that there were different stops along the way. Affordable and old school Halloween fun! So refreshing! We’ll be back next year! – community member

The students were amazing! So well prepared and delightful. The event felt like it was professionally done. – community member

My GreenAllies mentor was extremely supportive of my endeavors and always pushed me to think one step ahead. She understood the challenges I faced and helped me to tackle them head on. This project solidified for me my interest in community environmental action. – student

Getting to interact with these other clubs is a beacon of hope, and the fact that we can learn from each other will change how we connect with our own schools and communities. – student