The Roots of Our Team

Claire Murphy, CitySprouts Summer Intern [Forest Foundation]

CitySprouts is not just made up of staff and educators: it thrives thanks to a strong community of volunteers and interns who support our programs and tend our gardens when school is out. 

Volunteers at the Summer Appreciation event!      

Each year we celebrate our incredible summer volunteers - individuals who take time out of their busy schedules to help maintain our school gardens over the summer. This year, more than 150 volunteers from across Boston and Cambridge have come together to support our program through their diligent work in the gardens, facilitating the growth that makes CitySprouts programs possible. However, what makes these volunteers special isn’t just the help they provide, but also the sense of community they create. This sense of community was clear to see this year at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Celebration, where CitySprouts volunteers came together to enjoy an evening of gathering at the Kendall Urban Park Roof Garden.

The evening brought people together, chatting about their lives, sharing their experiences in the garden and reflecting on their time at CitySprouts. Volunteers who had very little gardening experience going into the summer shared their rewarding experiences of learning from the other gardeners, while one pair of friends explained that they had met in the garden. This community and the work that volunteers pour into the gardens over the summer are vital for CitySprouts, serving a key role in the organization’s growth.

Stan celebrates with students on the last day of the Science of Gardening session!

Alongside our community of volunteers, another vital part of the CitySprouts team this summer are our Cambridge Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program interns, who are partnering with us for the first time to support our Cambridge sites this summer. Interns Stan, Asher and Dua are Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School students with a strong passion for educating youth and getting them out into the gardens. Their roles range from helping prepare and lead lessons, working individually with youths both in the classroom and garden and providing support during events and field trips. Stan described the importance of their connection with the youths stating that the most impactful part of his job was, “having fun with the kids.”  Stan, Asher and Dua can always be counted on to engage with the youth, whether it’s participating in a game of kickball at recess, leading a morning gardening session or connecting with students while cooking with fresh ingredients from the garden. They go above and beyond to ensure that all summer program participants feel welcome and included, and we are deeply grateful to have their passion and support as an integral part of CitySprouts’ Green Team this summer.

CitySprouts volunteers and interns are essential to our success. We sincerely thank everyone who helps our programs flourish!