Through interaction with the natural world children can form an appreciation for the environment as well as interest in the natural sciences. It was with this in mind that a youth neighborhood ecology program was launched in 2009 with a second program offered in 2010. The SEEDS Neighborhood Ecology program aims to link youth in underprivileged neighborhoods to the environment in their own backyards. The program culminates in visits to the local university, linking the summer activities to career possibilities in ecology. This field report documents the early stages of this program and future prospects for SEEDS.