Youth Leadership Program
Alan Day Community Garden and MSAD 17's Roberts Farm are teaming up again in 2024 to offer a collaborative Youth Leadership Program! Youth leaders will spend two weeks at each location, where they will develop skills in leadership, gardening, cooking, environmental science, and community resilience-building. This program is totally free, and open to all aspiring or current youth leaders entering grades 7-12.
Learn all about organic gardening, strengthen leadership skills, make healthy meals together, and have fun every day!
Program details
Overview
The Alan Day Community Garden and Robert's Farm Youth Leadership Program is a transformative summer experience where teens work together to build resilience in themselves and in our community. Program participants are youth entering grades 7 - 12 who will work hard, learn all about organic gardening, strengthen leadership skills, learn to make healthy meals together, and have fun every day! They will learn, practice and model good interpersonal communication and feedback skills. Youth leaders will gain an understanding of global and local food systems and learn about a variety of gardening topics from community leaders and educators.
Date and time
July 8th - August 1st 2024, Monday - Thursdays, 8am - 1pm
Cost
The program is free
Getting to the garden
Bus transportation is available for students in Oxford Hills School District
Leaders
Annie Kern and Cyndy Tinsley at ADCG, Sarah Kearsley and Sara Partridge at Roberts Farm
What you'll learn
At Robert’s Farm, youth leaders will design and facilitate lessons for elementary summer school students, learn to navigate the trails and forest ecosystem at Robert’s Farm Preserve (as well as nearby trail networks!), and learn to communicate effectively with each other as peers and leaders. The two weeks at Roberts Farm will culminate in a two night camping expedition!
At ADCG, youth leaders will learn to grow their own food, cook healthy and locally-sourced meals, and step into leadership in our community. Each day will be spent tending to fruit and vegetable crops, preparing community lunches, and practicing leadership through self reflection, group activities, and community engagement.
Who can apply?
Open to all youth aged 12-18 in the Oxford Hills area, enrollment in the MSAD17 is not required. There is no prior knowledge of gardening or experience growing or hiking required. We welcome students who are excited to spend time outdoors, want to learn more about where food comes from, and are interested in developing skills that will help them to be leaders for positive change in their community.
How to apply
Applications are closed for the 2024 YLP. Please check back next May for the 2025 application!
Look inside the program
Internship opportunities
The Alan Day Community Garden and Roberts Farm Youth Leadership Program is a transformative summer experience where teens work together to build resilience in themselves and in our community.
Returning youth can apply for competitive, paid internship positions at both Roberts Farm and ADCG. We believe that creating paid jobs and empowering young people to play an active role in our local food systems can make positive change in our community and world.
Who can apply?
Hired Youth Leaders will have completed a previous summer of the program, agreed to meet specific expectations and attendance requirements, and have been selected from a competitive group of youth applicants.
What's involved?
The interns will take significant leadership roles within the program, mentoring other youth and representing the program during public events.
How to apply
If you are interested in applying to work as a paid youth intern, reach out to us at either:
-
s.kearsley@msad17.org (Roberts Farm)