Youth Corps
Join us in 2025 for UGC's Youth Corps!
To receive updates for our next program, sign up on the interest form linked below.
In partnership with After School Matters, our Youth Corps teen job training program engages over 180 youth annually. Across our farms, which serve as a brave spaces, teens explore their interests, work collectively, share their talents, learn from one another, and develop skills that they can apply to school, work, and life. During their time spent on our farms, our Youth Corps ambassadors expand their understanding of urban farming, community food systems, and business development through a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) curriculum.
The Youth Corps program aims to serve as both a job training experience and to encourage leadership development. It’s our goal that teens graduate with a comprehensive understanding of sustainable food system development and the ability to connect and communicate how the skills they’ve gained at the farm translate to any career path they may follow.
Youth Corps is a PAID Opportunity! We are looking for CPS Students, ages 14-19 interested in learning more about farming, nutrition, science, culinary, and food justice.
Locations: South Chicago Farm
Program Schedule: Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4:30 to 6 and Saturdays 9 am to 1 pm.
Max Pay: $325 (must complete all hours to receive stipend)
Apply Online: afterschoolmatters.org/apply and search for Urban Growers Collective. Applications will be available January 21st.
For questions or concerns contact:
Al Odell, youth@urbangrowerscollective.org or call our office at (773) 376-8882
Curriculum
Our hands-on STEAM curriculum is centered around:
Growing organic vegetables, herbs, and flowers
Composting and prepping growing beds
Creating value-added products, such as teas and candles
Art-making with natural materials inspired by our environment
Learning to market and sell value-added products
Leading tours of our urban farms
To compliment hands-on instruction at the farm, Youth Corps ambassadors explore the science behind farming through several inquiry-based experiments. Teens also take part in nutrition, hunger, cooking, art, food justice, and food politics activities.
At our farms, our Youth Corps manage on-site farms stand, increasing access to fresh, healthy, affordable produce for their community and providing a window into the economic and entrepreneurial opportunities that exist within food system development.
Eligibility
In order to apply for our Youth Corps program, teens must be:
At least 14 years old and have graduated from 8th grade
Enrolled in CPS High School in the fall (unless the teen just graduated high school and has participated in After School Matters before)
A Chicago resident
