YOUTH & SCHOOLS

Growing Hope serves youth and schools in the Ypsilanti community and beyond. Our programs include garden-based nutrition education on the Growing Hope Urban Farm, in classrooms, in after-school programs, and in summer camps.

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TEEN PROGRAMS

We employ teens after school and every summer to train them as leaders in the local food movement. Learn More

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SEED TO PLATE

Our Seed to Plate program is a cooking and gardening series aimed at Ypsilanti students pre-K through 8th grade. Learn More

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FARM TO SCHOOL

Growing Hope is an active member of Ypsilanti Community School District’s Farm to School Committee. Learn More

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YOUTH FIELD TRIPS

Through hands-on, interactive lessons, youth explore gardening practices and cooking seasonal produce on our urban farm and at the Ypsilanti Farmers Markets. Learn More

Your Dollars Support Future Food System Leaders

Growing Hope supports garden-based nutrition education on multiple levels, helping to shape future local food system advocates and leaders to expand upon the food justice work we do in all of our Impact Areas. Please consider donating to our Youth & Schools programs to help us continue to support Ypsilanti youth.

SUPPORT

teen programs

Teen Leadership Program

Growing Hope’s Teen Leadership Program cultivates young food justice leaders in Ypsilanti by developing skills and knowledge in sustainable farming, healthy eating, education, and community organizing. These skills are gained through our year-round summer and after school programs.

This is a paid opportunity open to all high school aged youth who live in Ypsilanti and the surrounding townships. Youth are paid $13/hour for their work. 


Join our Summer Program! 

Click here to apply for the 2025 summer teen program!  Applications close on March 29.

In our Summer Program, Teen Crew Members spend 8 weeks working on our Urban Farm and in community gardens while dedicating their afternoons to workshops in sustainable agriculture, food justice, cooking lessons, and community organizing. Youth will build community amongst themselves and their neighbors while developing skills to change our food system.

Program dates are June 17th – August 8th, Monday – Thursday, 9 am – 2:30 pm. Crew Members are paid $13/hour and receive free weekly produce bags. Youth must have completed 9th grade and cannot miss more than 4 days over the summer to be eligible.

Feel free to reach out to our Teen & Schools Manager, Jenny Pritchett, with any questions at [email protected].


Continue in our After School Program!

During the school year, Crew Members continue in our After School Program. Youth deepen their understanding of food justice, plan and maintain a part of the Urban Farm, and lead community gardening and cooking workshops. Crew Members will learn and practice leadership skills like public speaking, group facilitation, and community asset mapping.

After School program dates are September – May, Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday from 4-6 pm. Teens are paid $13/hour and receive free weekly produce bags (during the growing season). Youth must have completed the Summer Program in good standing and cannot miss more than 3 days per month over the school year to be eligible for this program. 

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A group of people wearing masks are working in a garden.

seed to plate

Our Seed to Plate program is a cooking and gardening series aimed at Ypsilanti students pre-K through 8th grade. Through interactive lessons, youth harvest food from school and community gardens and use seasonal recipes to prepare fresh food. Additionally, youth learn about where and how to access fresh, seasonal food in their neighborhoods.


Through this program we partner with:

  • EMU Bright Futures
  • Parkridge Community Center
  • Sauk Trail Community Center
  • West Willow Community Center
  • Ypsilanti Community Schools
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Farm to school

Did you know that Ypsilanti Community Schools has a Farm to School Committee? Farm to School is a national network of educators and school administrators working to influence food purchasing and education practices at schools and education sites to include more fresh, locally grown food. Growing Hope is an active member of the Ypsilanti Community School District’s Farm to School committee.

As a result of this initiative, school gardens have been built at every YCS school and are overseen by a newly-created School Garden Coordinator position and we are working to increase procurement of fruits and vegetables from local Michigan farms for school lunches.


Learn More About the National Movement

Learn More About Farm to School Efforts in Ypsilanti Community Schools

youth field trips

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Growing Hope provides interactive field trips at the Depot Town Farmers Market.

REQUEST A FIELD TRIP

The Growing Hope Urban Farm provides fun and experiential field trips for youth PreK-12th grade.

REQUEST A FIELD TIP

Each field trip includes a tour of our urban farm, an age appropriate hands-on lesson in nutrition/cooking, and a STEAM based garden activity.

REQUEST A FIELD TRIP

Growing Hope offers field trips at our newly refurbished incubator kitchen.

REQUEST A FIELD TRIP

Students will participate in a hands-on lesson on the benefits of local food systems and prepare a seasonal meal in our Incubator Kitchen.

REQUEST A FIELD TRIP

Book your field trip now!

Field trips are available to book for 2022. Fill out our Field TripRequestForm for more information.

Our in-person field trips run for 2 hours and include a tour, an age appropriate lesson in nutrition/cooking, and a hands-on seasonal garden activity. We offer three different field trips at our two locations.


On the Farm

The Growing Hope Urban Farm provides fun and experiential field trips for youth PreK-12th grade. Each field trip includes a tour of our urban farm, an age appropriate hands-on lesson in nutrition/cooking, and a STEAM based garden activity. Urban farm field trips are offered March – May and September – mid-November.


At the Market

Growing Hope provides interactive field trips at the Depot Town Farmers Market. At the market, students will take a tour, meet local farmers, and learn about local food, seasonality, and the benefit of supporting small scale farmers through fun, hands-on activities. Field trips at the Farmers Market are only offered on Saturdays between 10am – 12pm, June – October (when the market is running).

In the Kitchen

Growing Hope offers field trips at our newly refurbished incubator kitchen. Students will participate in a hands-on lesson on the benefits of local food systems and prepare a seasonal meal in our Incubator Kitchen.

Field trips at the Growing Hope Incubator Kitchen are offered September – May, and are capped at 15 students due to limited space.


Ready to Schedule a Field Trip?

Fill out our Field Trip Request Form or contact Esha Biswas, our Youth Programs Coordinator, by phone 734-786-8401, or email [email protected] with the following information:

  • Name, phone number, email, and best way to reach you
  • Organization name and address
  • Group size
  • Field trip location preference
  • Ideal dates and times


Growing Hope offers free and paid in-person field trips. Our field trips are a minimum of $150 for groups up to 10 participants and $15 for each additional student. We offer FREE field trips for groups where a majority of students qualify for free & reduced school meals, including all YCS students.


Assistance with transportation costs is available upon request.

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