High School Youth Leadership Program targets youth in Philadelphia. Teens engaged in the program explore sustainable, organic, and local foods including growing and cooking techniques, nutrition education, food justice, organizing & advocacy, job skills, and opportunities for leadership advancement and employment.
Previous Program Offerings
Girard College Garden Club
An after-school program focused on service, STEM, and entrepreneurship for 3rd & 4th graders and high schoolers at Girard College. Garden Club participants spent the fall reclaiming the large school garden, will spend the winter exploring nutrition and garden science through cooking, classroom activities, and experiments, and will spend the spring planning (and planting) the garden, with full ownership over distribution of the produce. The program is co-led by the High School Youth Leaders.
Interns
An entry-level work opportunity for youth ages 14-18, which uses urban gardening, environmental stewardship, cooking, and entrepreneurship as vehicles to develop leadership capabilities. Young people are employed through the Philadelphia Youth Network’s WorkReady program at Guild House Farm, where they learn valuable lessons about nutrition, entrepreneurship, farm management, and teamwork. Youth also participate in weekly workshops, led by the SOL Food Youth Leaders, on themes including introduction to the food system, the Youth Food Bill of Rights, advocacy, and leadership. This program allows youth to develop and refine skills that will support them as they move into the workforce. Youth also have the opportunity to work with, learn from, and teach the senior residents at Guild House West, providing intergenerational mentorship and support. In 2016, SOL Food Interns will also be responsible for running a neighborhood veggie stand, to increase access to fresh produce for nearby neighbors of the farm. Youth will be responsible for staffing the table, handling inventory and money and marketing products to the neighborhood.
High School Youth Leaders
A program for alumni Interns designed to enhance leadership and facilitation skills. Participants are responsible for leading weekly workshops, developing garden work plans for the Interns, and leading regular garden volunteer days. High School Youth Leaders also plan and lead workshops for the after-school garden program at Girard College and support programs for GHW residents.
If you are a young person interested in being involved with any of these programs please contact Helen Nadel, Greener Partners’ education director at helen.nadel(@)greenerpartners.org.
Read the awesome article that The Notebook published about our Youth Leaders program.