WHAT IS the CITYSPROUTS Green TEam summer PROGRAM?

The CitySprouts Green Team Summer Program (formerly the Summer Young Leaders 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.

All CitySprouts summer programs run Monday-Friday, 9AM-2PM, are free to Boston and Cambridge families and include free daily lunch and weekly field trips.


Summer 2024 sessions: Choose One or both!

Each session has a distinct focus. To recognize participants’ work in maintaining gardens and to encourage financial literacy, all youth who participate fully in the program receive a stipend.

  • 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.

Or email middleschoolprogram@citysprouts.org for a paper application

Sí quieres aplicaciones de papel, enviar un correo electrónico a: middleschoolprogram@citysprouts.org

the program takes place at 3 sites

Attendance policy: We ask that youth miss no more than 25% of the program. CitySprouts participants are expected to do their best to maintain 100% attendance and are absent only when necessary, for example when feeling sick or due to a family obligation. If a youth is going to be late or needs to leave early, or absent, then the intern or their parents should call the Summer Site Lead or CitySprouts office.  Inability to maintain attendance may result in forfeiture of the stipend and removal from the program.