Mandi Billinge, an elementary school teacher and a biologist, founded KIDS for the BAY in California in 1992. Mandi first began teaching in London, where she established a nature area and pond on the school grounds and a school wide recycling program. She worked tirelessly to improve the science curriculum and motivate the students and teachers to try hands-on science. She eventually moved to the United States and began teaching in local schools. Realizing the need to improve science and environmental education here and abroad, Mandi took action.

She created KIDS for the BAY to turn children on to science and inspire them to become environmentalists. It was not long before she began transforming classrooms and natural habitats into living laboratories for learning. Mandi’s philosophy of education through action helps students to believe that they can make a difference and change their environment.

With a dedicated staff, Mandi has expanded her vision to inspire a love of learning and change the environment, one neighborhood at a time, to thousands of elementary school students, teachers and parents throughout the San Francisco Bay Area.