Over the course of the school year, CitySprouts’ school gardens became spaces for hands-on learning, growth, and joy. Students explored plant life cycles, ecosystems, and the rhythms of the seasons while asking some silly questions along the way. From shy first encounters with worms to confident garden leadership, we watched young people grow in knowledge, confidence, and curiosity. This blog looks back on the moments, lessons, and laughter that made this year unforgettable.

Meet Krity, CitySprouts’ Development & Communications Manager, whose childhood love for nature continues to shape her work in youth garden education. She shares how gardening helps kids slow down and tune into the world around them, and why she believes every urban school should have a garden. From fundraising to storytelling, Krity plays a key role in growing CitySprouts’ impact. Plus, find out which TV character she’d trade places with and her favorite unexpected snack combo!

CitySprouts’ afterschool Green Team at the Cambridge Community Center spent the year digging into plant research, hands-on gardening, and joyful learning. Each student chose a plant to study—like apples, orchids, or mangoes—and created vibrant posters showcasing their discoveries. At CCC’s end-of-year Awards Night, families celebrated the students’ hard work with a colorful display of plants and research. Read the full blog to learn how curiosity and community blossomed throughout the year!

Melissa Wender joined CitySprouts as a Garden Educator in 2021 and now leads as Program Director, shaping the garden science curriculum used across our partner schools. With a deep belief in joyful, curiosity-driven learning, she brings creativity and care to everything from lesson design to Canva layouts. Outside the garden, Melissa is a Scrabble enthusiast, nature wanderer, and devoted fan of The Golden Compass universe. Find out more about Melissa in the blog!

Alex leads CitySprouts’ afterschool and summer Green Team programs, drawing on over a decade of experience in environmental education. He’s passionate about using gardening to inspire curiosity, build life skills, and connect young people to nature and community. Outside of work, Alex enjoys jazz, spring walks with his dog, and exploring hidden green spaces around the city. Learn more about Alex in the blog!

CitySprouts TerraCorps members are digging into a year full of hands-on learning, connection, and growth in Boston and Cambridge school gardens. Whether they came in passionate about the environment, curious about education, or simply looking for a meaningful way to give back, each member has found something valuable through their service. From joyful moments with students to learning unexpected skills like plumbing or lesson planning, their days are filled with variety and purpose. Along the way, they’ve built stronger ties to their communities, discovered new strengths, and helped create spaces where kids can learn, grow, and thrive!

Meet Kira Kueppenbender, CitySprouts’ TerraCorps Youth Education Coordinator for the 2024–25 service year! Kira brings curiosity and care to every school she visits, helping students explore worms, pumpkins, and the wonders of the natural world. Whether she’s leading lessons at Russell Elementary or spotting birds at Mount Auburn Cemetery, Kira is all about discovery, connection, and growth.

Maddie brings heart, humor, and a hands-on spirit to every garden they support. As our Garden Operations Manager, they make sure every space has what it needs to thrive—tools, plants, and a whole lot of love. From welcoming new volunteers to dreaming up artful signs, Maddie helps turn our gardens into places where students and community members alike can grow, explore, and feel at home in the natural world.

This year’s Dig It! was bursting with joy, gratitude, and garden-grown love for the incredible educators who make our work possible. We celebrated longtime CitySprouts champions Janet Forte and LeRoy Attles, whose passion has inspired generations of young learners, and heard heartfelt reflections from chef and keynote speaker Irene Li. With nearly $30,000 raised and a room full of laughter, hugs, and shared stories, the night reminded us just how magical this community really is.

Hazel brings a love of the outdoors and a passion for growing food to every garden lesson. Now in her second year with CitySprouts, she finds joy in watching students grow more confident in the garden—from recognizing plants they planted as kindergarteners to high-fiving bumblebees. Whether she’s connecting cafeteria food to farms or encouraging students to notice nature in their neighborhoods, Hazel makes the garden a place of wonder, learning, and fun.