The Youth Garden Project (YGP) is changing and growing as it continues to develop its programs.
The YGP staff announced that its annual spring plant sale fundraiser was a success and provided Moab residents with organically grown local plant starts.
YGP’s summer camp is in session with a few dozen students busy with outdoor garden-based activities.
Garden produce is available at the Moab Farmers Market (beginning on Aug. 17). Fourteen community supported agriculture (CSA) shareholders are receiving a bounty of produce each week.
YGP is always working to expand and improve existing youth programs. This year, YGP is developing more opportunities for middle and high school students through a new “garden ambassador” teen job-training program.
The garden ambassador program is in its pilot year, employing two Moab teens this summer, and is planning to expand through a partnership with the Grand County High School College Technical and Education (CTE) program in the coming school year.
Also new this year, YGP gives a “care share” CSA box of local produce from the garden to an in-need family through a partnership with the Moab Valley Multicultural Center (MVMC).
“We are always striving to better serve the kids and families in our community,” the YGP’s board of directors announced. “We are excited to work with other local organizations, high school teachers, students, parents and administrators to develop more opportunities for further growth through the garden.”
YGP will continue to provide an outdoor space and curriculum emphasizing hands-on learning for high school special education students, art classes, 8th grade environmental science elective courses and BEACON Afterschool Program.
YGP is continuing to collaborate with the Helen M. Knight Elementary School teachers each spring and fall to provide garden classroom field trips, bringing each class to the garden for hands-on core curriculum aligned lessons.
In this time of change and growth, YGP said goodbye to its executive director, Ruth Linford.
Linford worked to develop new teen programming and broadened community outreach, and YGP will continue to implement and build on her ideas.
“We thank Ruth for her work and wish her success in the future,” YGP Board of Directors said in a recent statement.
Kate Niederehe, formerly YGP’s operations and development director, will serve as the interim executive director through the summer.
YGP is now hiring for an executive director. For more information visit youthgardenproject.org and to apply, send a resume and cover letter of interest to director@youthgardenproject.org.
YGP values its dedicated community of supporters. It is with the community’s support and help that it continues to provide programming, events and learning opportunities in its garden classroom to better serve kids, teens and the Moab community.
YGP says goodbye to executive director Ruth Linford
“We thank Ruth for her work and wish her success in the future.”
