Youth Grow Program

Program Overview

Youth Grow uses positive experiences in school gardens to help young people gain new perspectives on food, health, and the world around them. The program operates across multiple school levels with age-appropriate programming.

Geographic Scope

• Portland Oregon Metro area
• Current schools include: Scott Elementary, Lent Elementary, Rigler Elementary, David Douglas High School, Cherry Park Elementary

Early Childhood & Elementary (K-5)

• Indigenous Seeds Program: Dual-language immersion curriculum (English/Spanish) for grades K-5

- Focus on Three Sisters crops: corn, beans, squash
- Culturally relevant lessons incorporating traditional knowledge
- Grade-specific approaches: storytelling/puppets for K-2, detailed cultivation for grades 3-5
- Hands-on activities, fine motor skill development
- Cooking classes integrating garden produce
- Take-home kits for family engagement

High School Programming

• Afterschool Clubs (David Douglas High School):

- Garden Club: Maintain school gardens and community garden plots
- Garden Leadership Club: Develop teaching leadership skills, volunteer at elementary schools
- Environmental Action Club: Student-led community environmental projects
- Cooking Club: Basic cooking skills, cultural food exploration, food security support

• Summer Internships: Paid 8-week positions for 2-3 students

- First half: Teaching gardening elective to incoming 9th graders (Ninth Grade Counts program)
- Second half: Field trips to local food systems leaders (farmers markets, farms, greenhouses)
- Leadership and teaching skill development

Program Goals

• Provide safe, peaceful outlet for students
• Build student confidence, leadership, and agency
• Develop practical gardening and cooking skills
• Foster emotional well-being and healthy relationships
• Introduce career pathways in food systems
• Address food insecurity
• Empower critical thinking about food systems equity and climate
• Create spaces where students bring their lived experiences and cultural backgrounds

Contact Information

• Organization: Growing Gardens
• Address: 3114 SE 50th Ave, Portland, OR 97206
• Phone: 503-284-8420