MEarth

What MEarth does

MEarth is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 26-2973625) that delivers place-based environmental education at the Hilton Bialek Habitat, a 10-acre LEED-certified campus in Carmel, California, adjacent to Carmel Middle School. The facility combines a green-building culinary classroom with wood-fired oven, a 1-acre organic garden, an off-grid solar greenhouse, a native bee garden, a watershed education zone, an heirloom fruit and berry orchard, and eight distinct habitat "laboratories." MEarth's programmatic portfolio is organized into four pillars — ClassroomConnect (in-classroom support for Carmel Unified School District teachers), NatureConnect (field-based habitat exploration), FoodConnect (farm-to-table cooking and harvesting), and CommunityConnect (workshops, wellness, chef dinner series, and adult engagement) — supplemented by summer camps, fee-based field trips, the annual Glass Pumpkin Patch fundraiser, and a library of virtual video resources.

The organization primarily serves K-12 students in Monterey County, with deep curricular integration at Carmel Unified School District (~1,500 students annually through a six-week Ecoliteracy curriculum for 6th-graders) and Monterey Peninsula Unified School District. Secondary audiences include youth ages 6-12 via summer and break camps, adult community members through workshops and events, and university partners (Stanford Hopkins Marine Station, CSUMB) supporting service-learning placements.

MEarth operates a hybrid revenue model combining program fees (field trips at $650/2 hours with $325 per additional hour; summer camps at $499-$549/week) with a donations-led funding base that includes individual giving, grants, and event sponsorships (Acorn $500 to Cinderella $1,500+ tiers at the Glass Pumpkin Patch, which attracts 2,000+ attendees). Donations and fundraising are explicitly described as the primary funding source for operations. MEarth employs 14 staff and is governed by a Board of Directors; it has no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no disclosed funding rounds.

Name

MEarth

Legal name

MEarth

Website

https://mearthcarmel.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

MEarth is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers place-based environmental education at the 10-acre LEED-certified Hilton Bialek Habitat in Carmel, California, primarily serving K-12 students in Carmel Unified and Monterey Peninsula Unified School Districts, with supplemental youth camps, adult workshops, and an annual Glass Pumpkin Patch fundraiser.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Education Services

NAICS

Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219), Educational Services (611)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Science & Sustainability Programs (Ecology, Climate, Conservation) (EDAMABAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)

Keywords

• Environmental education programs
• Place-based learning
• School field trips
• Summer nature camps
• Organic garden workshops

Headquarters

HQ city

Carmel

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Field Trip Fees: School field trips priced at $650 for 2-hour programs, with additional program hours at $325 each. Maximum 30 students per trip. Provides revenue from institutional customers.
2. Summer Camps: Week-long summer camps for children ages 6-12, priced between $499-$549 per week. Includes cooking camps and eco-explorer camps with partial scholarships available for Title I schools.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from community members, grant funding, and sponsorships. EIN 26-2973625. Primary funding source for operations.
4. Event Sponsorships: Glass Pumpkin Patch sponsorship tiers: Acorn ($500), Butternut ($1,000), Cinderella ($1,500+). Major annual fundraising event attracting 2,000+ attendees.
5. Workshops and Community Programs: Hands-on workshops in cooking, sustainability, gardening, and wellness taught in LEED-certified teaching kitchen. Also includes nature journaling and community connection events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

MEarth delivers place-based environmental education programming at the Hilton Bialek Habitat, a 10-acre LEED-certified facility in Carmel, California. Its core offerings comprise four program lines — ClassroomConnect (in-school curriculum support), NatureConnect (habitat exploration), FoodConnect (farm-to-table cooking), and CommunityConnect (workshops and camps) — served alongside School Break Camps, Field Trips, Workshops, signature fundraising/education events, and a Volunteer Program for Monterey County residents.

Product overview

MEarth is an environmental education nonprofit organization that offers a suite of place-based hands-on programs at the Hilton Bialek Habitat. Its core offerings are organized into four program areas: ClassroomConnect, NatureConnect, FoodConnect, and CommunityConnect. These programs are delivered alongside signature events (Glass Pumpkin Patch of Carmel, MEarth Day, Workshops), seasonal School Break Camps, Field Trips, and Volunteer Programs. The organization also maintains a Virtual Resources library and operates the LEED-certified Hilton Bialek Habitat facility as its primary teaching site. Together, these products and services provide environmental stewardship education to youth and adults throughout Monterey County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ClassroomConnect A program where MEarth staff supports Carmel Unified School District teachers to bring classroom learning to life at the Hilton Bialek Habitat through science and culinary-based curricula complementary to Science, Math, Social Studies, 6th Grade CORE, and World Language classes. Targeted at partner school teachers and K-12 students.
• NatureConnect A field-based educational program inviting students to explore and restore local habitats, awakening curiosity about local flora and fauna, watersheds, human-natural landscape relationships, and environmental sustainability. Targeted at K-12 students and partner schools in Monterey County.
• FoodConnect A farm-to-table program where students of all ages experience harvesting, cooking, and connecting to their food in the LEED-certified culinary classroom, wood-fired oven, organic edible garden, heirloom fruit orchard, off-grid solar greenhouse, and native plant nursery. Targeted at K-12 students and adult community participants.
• CommunityConnect A program providing local residents opportunities to learn about self-care, community, and the environment through culinary and garden workshops, speaker series, sustainable chef dinner series, summer camps, community restoration events, eco-volunteerism, and environmental partnerships. Targeted at adult residents and families in Monterey County.
• School Break Camps Immersive summer and break camps for children ages 6-12 at the Hilton Bialek Habitat, including Microgreens and Green Tweens cooking camps and Microgreens eco-explorer camps featuring gardening, outdoor exploration, and hands-on sustainability activities. Targeted at families with youth ages 6-12.
• Field Trips Curated hands-on educational experiences at the Hilton Bialek Habitat including MEarth Garden Games, Eco-Literacy Field Trips, Food and Garden Systems, Build Your Own Field Trips, and Site Visits, priced at $650 per 2-hour program for up to 30 students. Targeted at K-12 schools and youth groups in Monterey County.
• Volunteer Programs Volunteer opportunities including Edible Garden/Habitat Workdays, Youth Classroom Support, Native Plant Nursery work, Community Outreach and Workshops, and Summer Camp support, open to Monterey County residents age 15 and older.
• Glass Pumpkin Patch of Carmel MEarth's largest annual fundraising initiative featuring thousands of hand-blown glass pumpkins by award-winning artists Nick Leonoff and Kevin Chong, drawing over 2,000 guests to a two-day event in its 14th year.
• MEarth Day An annual free community event celebrating Earth and community with hands-on activities, local vendors, environmental education, live music, educational exhibitors, and family fun at the Hilton Bialek Habitat.
• Workshops Hands-on educational experiences in MEarth's LEED-certified teaching kitchen and Hilton Bialek Habitat grounds covering wellness, cooking, sustainability, gardening, nature journaling, and arts and crafts.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 1,500 CUSD students served annually through school programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KRMLminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Media sponsor for the Glass Pumpkin Patch of Carmel 2025 event.
• David and Lauren NoelminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Event sponsors for the Glass Pumpkin Patch of Carmel 2025.
• Grounded Health & WellnessminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Event sponsor for the Glass Pumpkin Patch of Carmel 2025.
• Julia's Vegetarian RestaurantminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Event sponsor for the Glass Pumpkin Patch of Carmel 2025.
• Ad Astra Bread CominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Event sponsor for the Glass Pumpkin Patch of Carmel 2025.
• Monterey Chapter California Native Plant SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNPS horticulture group actively grows native plants for propagation efforts at MEarth's native plant nursery. Hosts themed gardens including butterfly, bee, and bird gardens. Open to the public monthly with native plant sales.
• Carmel Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary school partnership delivering Ecoliteracy curriculum to all 6th-grade students at Carmel Middle School, plus customized programming for various subject areas. MEarth is a separate 501(c)(3) from the district.
• Monterey Peninsula Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool partnership providing environmental education programs to students throughout Monterey County.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Monterey CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAfter school programs and camp experiences for youth through collaborative partnership.
• Stanford University's Hopkins Marine StationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecruitment in Science Education program partnership.
• California State University at Monterey Bay (CSUMB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecruitment in Science Education program partnerships. CSUMB service learners support on-site programming for youth across Monterey County.
• Post Ranch InnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-end chef demonstrations produced in partnership with Post Ranch Inn culinary team.
• Casanova/La Bicyclette RestaurantsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly partnership (2003) with local restaurants for culinary education support.
• Middlebury Institute for International StudiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal Work-Study positions available for students. Intern program support.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Edible Schoolyard Project: Alice Waters–founded nonprofit integrating organic gardening and cooking into K-12 curricula — closely aligned with MEarth's LEED-certified teaching kitchen and FoodConnect program.
• Slide Ranch: Coastal Marin County farm-based environmental education center offering overnight and day programs connecting youth to food systems and ecosystems — directly comparable to MEarth's farm-to-table and nature programming.
• Center for Land-Based Learning: Sacramento-area nonprofit operating farm-based youth education, internships, and SLEWS ecological restoration programs — comparable in mission, audience, and school-district partnerships.
• Occidental Arts & Ecology Center: Sonoma County nonprofit offering place-based environmental education, organic gardening, and sustainability programs on a working land trust — closely mirrors MEarth's Habitat-based pedagogy.
• Life Lab: UC Santa Cruz-affiliated nonprofit that designs and supports school gardens and garden-based curricula — a direct functional analog for MEarth's ClassroomConnect and Ecoliteracy programming.
• Hidden Villa: Los Altos Hills nonprofit operating a farm and wilderness preserve with year-round environmental education, summer camps, and school programs — the closest functional analog to MEarth's place-based learning model.
• Pie Ranch: Pescadero farm and education center that uses regenerative agriculture as a classroom for youth and adult learners — analogous to MEarth's FoodConnect and organic garden programs.
• The Ecology Center: San Juan Capistrano nonprofit offering hands-on environmental and sustainability education, workshops, and community programs — operates a comparable model with community workshops and garden-based learning.

Regional players

• Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History: Local natural history museum in the same Monterey Peninsula region delivering environmental education and exhibits — overlaps with MEarth's nature-based programming for similar community audiences.

Broad incumbents

• Monterey Bay Aquarium: Regionally dominant marine and environmental education organization with much larger scale, audience, and budget — overlaps thematically with MEarth's coastal ecosystem and conservation education mission.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC49GLKG8aPDvlCAr057HlaQ/featured?view_as=public
• Facebookfacebook.com/MEarthCarmel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mearthcarmel
• Instagraminstagram.com/mearthcarmel

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MEarth