A Return to the Garden: A First Look Into CitySprouts' 2021 Summer Program
Youth are back in the garden at CitySprouts. With a redefined mission, a dedication to inclusion and equity, and a well-prepared curriculum, our Young Leaders Program launched in-person last week. Last summer, our middle schoolers powered through a virtual summer program during a very uncertain time. This year, we are ecstatic to welcome them back in the garden, and have spent months ensuring a safe learning environment for all. Each week this summer, we will be showcasing one of our sites and their dive into our curriculum.
At the Haggerty site, the week was dedicated to the fundamentals of STEM learning in a garden: botany. Students arrived on the second day of their program to find “nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium” written on the board, a clue into their activity of the day. But their first duty was to take care of their garden, and they spent their morning watering, weeding, and harvesting raspberries. With their hands already dirty, Gardener Heather revealed their activity of the day: soil testing! It was an opportunity to have the young leaders run experiments in the garden they care for, and get direct feedback for what they need to do to nurture it. Thanks to the donations from our sponsors, each youth was able to run a unique test with variables they wanted to know about - “How would sun affect these nutrients?” “What if I dig deeper than my peers?”
On top of leading an activity every day, Gardener Heather also guides students on field trips into their surrounding environment. A trip to Fresh Pond Reservation was the perfect opportunity to let our experiments settle! Upon arrival we met Ranger Tim, an urban ranger who contributes to the preservation and maintenance of the area. He had a plan to help us identify poison ivy and its naturally occurring antidote, but his lesson was interrupted by the pleasant surprise of a pregnant turtle! Youth got to witness the conservation profession in its truest form as Ranger Tim identified the species, age, and status of the turtle before our very eyes. Students watched as he scouted out the perfect area to relocate her, and had plenty of questions to keep the conversation going! By the time we returned to Haggerty, we were so full of knowledge we almost forgot we had experiments waiting for us!
After deciding if their experiment hypotheses were correct, youth worked together to come up with answers and solutions for the nutrient deficiencies they identified. Gardener Heather kept track of these suggestions, valuing the input youth have in their own program. Youth ended the day with a better understanding of their role in the garden, a deeper sense of ownership in their community, and a wonderful story of a turtle -- lovingly nicknamed “Freshie” -- who taught them an unforgettable lesson.
