August 8, 2025 | Education
Summer Stories: Youth Development Program, Week 6
Identity, Community, and a Breath of Fresh Air
The Youth Development Program is a paid opportunity for high-school-age students to develop and hone various skills in preparation for life beyond the classroom. The summer session is called the Seed Crew, and is 8 weeks of working, learning, and connecting as a team.
After weeks of intense summer heat, we were grateful for a welcome change in the weather. The cooler temperatures gave us the perfect backdrop to dive into this week’s themes: Identity and Community.
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We kicked things off with a short group game and our usual morning farm work. After lunch, the students played a new team-building activity designed to help them get to know our staff better. We read 40 different statements aloud, and after each one, students had to guess which staff member it applied to by standing behind them. The guesses were often creative—and hilarious—and the game sparked plenty of laughter while building deeper connections between students and staff.
On Tuesday, we prepared the Urban Farm for our National Night Out celebration. One crew baked cookies and helped with food prep at Groundswell Cafe, while another stayed behind to clean and harvest for the upcoming market. That afternoon’s workshop brought the week’s theme to life as students were challenged to design their own community-building event for Matthew 25. With budgets, staffing, and space limitations in mind, each group pitched their ideas. Highlights included a neighborhood block party, an open mic night, and an interactive art event that encouraged community members to explore different forms of artistic expression.
Wednesday was a field trip to remember. We visited West Fork Farmstead, where students got an up-close look at rotational grazing and regenerative agriculture. They fed windfall apples to pigs, walked pastures to visit cows and chickens, and learned about sustainable farming practices. For many, this was a completely new experience—and a powerful one. On the way home, we made a special stop at the Kalona Creamery to enjoy some well-earned ice cream and cheese curds.
Thursday brought us back to the farm to catch up on weeding and harvesting. We also wrapped up a Transform Week home repair project in the neighborhood and sent another crew back to Groundswell to bake. In the afternoon, students practiced giving and receiving constructive feedback, then began preparing their final presentations. This year, we encouraged them to think beyond posters and get creative with how they want to share the story of their journey—through video, skits, art, or other formats.
It was a week full of fresh air, fresh ideas, and a growing sense of connection—with each other, with the community, and with the land.
