Growing Together at the Cambridge Community Center

Marcus Kassick, Community Engagement Coordinator [TerraCorps]

The students’ projects on display at the CCC’s awards night!

As another school year draws to a close, we’re looking back and reflecting on our time at the Cambridge Community Center (CCC), where CitySprouts held the afterschool Green Team program. From the first seed planted in the fall to the shared memories at the year’s end, this group of young learners showed just how powerful curiosity and community can be.

Throughout the year, Green Team members took part in a unique research project focused on individual plants of their choosing. Each student selected a plant, ranging from apples and mangoes to orchids and canepas, and took a deep dive into exploring its life. They investigated questions like: What climate does the plant grow best in? What time of year is it harvested? What are its uses in the kitchen or traditional medicine? Are there any threats that endanger it? These questions sparked conversations and inspired students to look at plants not just as greenery, but as living organisms with history, culture, and purpose.

Amen and Louis adding soil to the garden

This project stretched beyond the garden and into the world of research. Students practiced observation, asked questions, gathered information, and made connections. They worked hard on their posters, which became beautiful displays of their discoveries. Through this work, students built not just knowledge, but confidence.

That confidence was on full display at the CCC’s end-of-year Awards Night this month, where families, friends, and staff gathered to celebrate all of the students’ work. The posters were on display and families were able to see all of their hard work throughout the year. And to bring their projects to life, we brought in the very plants they had studied. The table was filled with mangoes, apples, orchids, strawberries, and more. It was a hands-on moment that bridged learning with lived experience.

And none of this would have been possible without the warmth and support of the Cambridge Community Center. The CCC has been more than just a partner for CitySprouts, it’s been a home for garden education. From the staff who welcomed us into their routines, to the families who encouraged their children every step of the way, to the students who showed up with curiosity and open minds, this is a place where real community thrives.

Zilaya and Gio planting seedlings

The spirit of the CCC was present in every garden lesson, every conversation, and every discovery. It’s the kind of place where students can be themselves, explore what excites them, and be celebrated for their efforts.

We’re so grateful for this partnership and already looking forward to how we can grow together next year. With the CCC, we know that learning doesn’t just happen in classrooms, it happens in conversations, in gardens, in shared meals, and in the connections we build with each other.

Here's to the students, families, and staff at CCC who made this year so memorable. Thank you for growing with us.