Broadening participation of diverse groups in Science, Math, Engineering and Technology (STEM) fields is critical to future science success. The MH-YES project aims to raise awareness of options to study and work in the environmental sciences among diverse groups of students. Teams of high school and college students work with teachers and scientists to conduct authentic water quality research to build their knowledge, skills, motivation, and confidence for pursuing environmental science. In 2019, the Marist-based MH-YES team compared rural and urban streams and the factors that influence harmful algal blooms. The Cary-based team studied the effects of dams on the ecology of the Fall Kill Creek. At the end of the six week program, teams presented their results in posters at the MH-YES Final Symposium and each wrote a final report that will be used by their mentors in their future research. Students and teachers participated in enrichment activities that supported their skills, interest and identity as scientists. They also joined students in partner programs in New York City and the lower Hudson Valley to share their experiences, attend a panel discussion on diversity in science, a workshop on science communication, and a forum on opportunities in translational ecology.