Realizing the full potential of embedded sensor networks to generate new scientific knowledge requires the sharing of data and expertise and the interdisciplinary collaboration of environmental scientists and information technologists and managers. The Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network (GLEON) is a grassroots network of limnologists, ecologists, information technology experts, and engineers who have a common goal of building a scalable, persistent network of lake ecology observatories. GLEON's technological and organizational innovations provide models for how a grassroots organization can function to catalyze science based on environmental observing networks. Evolving solutions within GLEON to technological and organizational challenges include ways for sharing expertise, the development and deployment of software to enable effective management and sharing of sensor network data, the generation and documentation of GLEON operating principles and procedures, and the training of students in the new technology and large-scale scientific collaboration.