CitySprouts Young Leaders Summer Program

By CitySprouts

We offer a tuition-free summer program where youth learn about gardening, STEM activities and experiments, environmentalism, leadership, and team building games.

Photo of youth smiling, with recently harvested vegetables in their hands, inside a local garden.
Monday, July 8 – ዓርብ, August 9
Monday through Friday.

Program runs 9:00AM - 2:00PM, 5 days each week. We plan to offer two sessions of summer programming this year on the following dates:

  • The Science of Gardening: July 8th - July 26th
  • Growing Green Communities: July 29th - August 9th

Ages: 11 to 14.

Grades 4th grade through 7th grade.

Cambridge residents only.

Eligibility is based on age or grade level, whichever applies. Grade level eligibility is for rising 5th-8th graders (meaning current 4th-7th graders). CPS and BPS students are both eligible, as well as students who live in Cambridge or Boston.

Attendance policy: Youth must attend at least 75% of the program. Participants are expected to do their best to maintain 100% attendance and are absent only when feeling sick or due to a family obligation. Youth or parents must notify staff if they will be late or absent.  Inability to maintain attendance may result in forfeiting the stipend and removal from the program.

Request assistance

Contact

Alex Frank
CitySprouts Middle School Programs
middleschoolprogram@citysprouts.org
617-876-2436

Registration required

  • Sign-up is ongoing

CitySprouts Summer 2024 Information and Registration Page.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. If we exceed the number of available spots, priority will be given to all registrations received before May 1st. Once the application is live you can fill it out online or on paper and we will get back to you with next steps. Applications are available in two languages:

Free!

We pay participants a stipend when they complete one or our sessions. For completing our first session, "The Science of Gardening", participants receive $100. For completing our second session, "Green Communities", participants receive $50. Students who complete both sessions receive $150.

ቦታ

  • In-person only.

Cambridge Street Upper School

850 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02141
ዩናይትድ ስቴትስ

East Cambridge
Peabody School

70 Rindge Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02140
ዩናይትድ ስቴትስ

North Cambridge
Higginson Lewis K-8 School in Roxbury

131 Walnut Avenue
Boston, MA 02119
ዩናይትድ ስቴትስ

Outside Cambridge

We've currently booked two school garden sites in Cambridge and one in Boston this summer.

Refreshments provided.

Participants currently receive a free daily lunch.

Additional information

Activities include: Gardening, Outdoor Exploration, Community Service, Field Trips, STEM

The CitySprouts Summer Program is a free opportunity designed for rising 5-8th graders to learn gardening, cooking, and leadership skills while working and spending time outdoors. Youth learn to be leaders and stewards in their community through a combination of garden work, STEAM-focused projects, and field trips to outdoor spaces within their community. By working on local urban farms and gardens and meeting with community leaders, the program aims to provide youth the opportunity to identify issues they are passionate about and envision an endless array of possibilities for their future.

This summer we're hosting 2 themed sessions:

  • The Science Of Gardening (July 8 - July 26) Light availability, plant density, and soil PH: these are just a few of the factors that go into planning and executing an urban garden. Join CitySprouts as we dive into the science behind our gardens in The Science of Gardening summer program. Youth will spend time tending the garden, running experiments, and discovering the underlying science behind what makes a garden grow.

  • Growing Green Communities (July 29 - August 9) Gardens are much more than places where plants grow! Join CitySprouts as we explore the myriad of ways that gardens and other green spaces impact our communities. From games and art projects to food pantries and beyond, we will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the gardens and other green spaces in our communities.