Looking Back, Growing Forward: Project Learning Garden’s Journey!

Captain Planet at Veazie Street Elementary garden installation planting pollinators in 2017, funded by Dole Packaged Food Company

2012 was a big year around the world. The summer Olympic Games took place in London. The US won 46 gold medals – four of them going to swimmer Michael Phelps. And, the Mars Rover “Curiosity” successfully landed (and is still operational today). At Captain Planet Foundation, the first operating program, Project Learning Garden, began … Read more

Micro-Harvest Kits, Soil Compaction, and Sand Loss solutions at the 2026 Green Heart STEM Challenge Miami Finale

GHSC Miami Finale 2026

On March 18th, nearly 100 Miami-Dade County middle school students filled the Betty T. Ferguson Auditorium as finalists in the first Green Heart STEM Challenge (GHSC) in Miami. Captain Planet [himself] danced with students as excitement built for the pitching competition that would determine which solutions would take home the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place … Read more

Welcome to winter gardening’s seed exchange

Garden Bed

While garden beds rest until the cycle of planting begins again, the first step in germinating seeds is sharing, swapping, collecting or “borrowing” seeds. “Seed library checkouts” are infinite, with no late return fees, as seeds grow into plants, that generate seeds, that grow into plants and so on. Or, you can return extra seeds … Read more

Planeteers Team Up with CNN to Guard their Green Space

Elong Ngole Amtrong and his team conducted a stream clean-up at the University of Buea in Buea, Cameroon– bringing young people together and even answering questions to curious bystanders.

“It felt meaningful and alive. Like planting seeds of awareness even before the trees themselves.” – Emery Cyabashire, Burera, Rwanda This past October, Planeteer Alliance powered 21 youth-led CNN Call to Earth Day events in Brazil, Cameroon, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Rwanda, and The Gambia. Across these 7 countries, more than 300 Planeteers participated in various climate-related activities and action.   … Read more

Planeteers at COP30: Youth Voices Take the Global Stage

Mafer Lara Buenaventura, Dejea Lyons, Natalia Moragrega, and Becca Bullen.

This November, five young leaders from the Planeteer Alliance traveled to Belém, Pará, Brazil, for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP30)—one of the world’s most influential spaces for climate policy and negotiation. Amid heads of state, diplomats, scientists, and civil society organizations, they carried the perspectives of youth across Latin … Read more

WINDS of Change: Meet the REAL Changemakers 2025 Green Heart STEM Challenge Winners

The BMS Green Victory Team accepts their 1st place trophy alongside Atlanta Judges

Each year, Captain Planet Foundation’s Green Heart STEM Challenge asks youth in metro-Atlanta and metro-Houston to form teams and identify an environmental problem in their community connected to the WATER, WIND, or EARTH. Student teams must then develop a feasible solution to solve the problem they identified. Because 2025 was the year of WIND (circular … Read more

Seed Balls, Banana Circuits, and Garden-Fresh Soup! Celebrating STEM Day at Emma Hutchison Elementary’s Project Learning Garden in Atlanta

Emma Hutchison’s STEM Ambassador student leaders pose in front of volunteers and staff from Delta Air Lines, Captain Planet Foundation, Emma Hutchison Elementary, and Atlanta Public Schools.

On left, Principal Melissa St. Joy addresses Emma Hutchison Elementary STEM Day volunteers, staff, and students. Pictured right, a Delta Volunteer teaches students about solar-powered cars. From creating their very own seed balls in the garden, building solar-powered cars and snap circuits, to learning about the science behind their school’s powerful Vitamix blenders– STEM Day … Read more