YouthGROW is an 8-week urban agriculture youth employment and leadership development program for 14-16 year old young adults that takes place in the Main South and Bell Hill neighborhoods of Worcester each summer. 

Youth apply in April to participate in the summer program and are interviewed and selected by youth leaders who participated in the previous year's program.  Youth participants are paid for 8 weeks over the summer, up to 25 hours per week.

Program participants learn organic farming, participate in skill-building workshops, develop group projects and participate in youth empowerment and leadership development activities. 

Youth are divided into 2 urban farm campuses, and each group works 3 days per week.during the program period. We work at the Oreanic Farm (on Oread St in Main South) on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 9:30am-3:30pm and at the Granby Rd Farm (in Bell Hill) on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 9:30am-3:30pm.  Each Wednesday we go on a field trip to another farm or youth program to volunteer for the day and share experiences.  There are also some additional support hours required each week for special events/clean-up/set-up. 

We run our program by consensus which means that staff and youth participants have an equal say in program decisions.  Youth input is highly valued and expected within the program. 

We are always open to getting more people involved with YouthGROW through applying as a youth, interning, being seasonal staff or volunteering.  Contact Casey Burns if you are interested. 

YouthGROW Summer Program 2010 Now Available!

To apply, download this form and email the completed application as an attachment to REC's Food Justice Program Director, Casey Burns, at foodjustice@recworcester.org or 508-799-9139 or hand-delivery to Casey Burns at 9 Castle St. Apt 1.

Deadline for applications is April 23rd.

A Typical Week at YouthGROW