Learning, Leading and Growing: A Summer of Impact at San Carlos Community Garden ...Middle East

This summer, the San Carlos Community Garden brought its mission of “Growing Community” to life through two summer-long programs that engaged young people at different stages of learning: the Youth Ambassador Service program for local high school students and Playtime in the Garden for children ages 3-6.These programs demonstrated the powerful role that youth volunteers can play in educating, serving others, and creating a more engaged and connected community.Through the Youth Ambassador Service program, Patrick Henry High School students participated in nine weeks of hands-on lessons about soil health, botany, native plants, beekeeping, orchard care, seasonal gardening and sustainability.

Students also experienced lessons in nonprofit leadership by attending one of the San Carlos Community Garden’s board meetings and supporting the garden’s community give-back activities, such as its monthly produce swap and Stuff the Pantry Summer Concert Series.Leading the program for the second consecutive summer was Payton DeGroote, an environmental studies college student whose enthusiasm for ecology and experiential learning helped bring each lesson to life.For DeGroote, one of the program’s greatest strengths is its emphasis on learning by doing.“I love how this program exposes the youth ambassadors to real-world examples of foundations in ecology and sustainable food production through our weekly sessions,” she explained. “But what makes this program worthwhile is that the ambassadors get to apply their knowledge to better all areas of the garden and then take these lessons out into the world.”The Youth Ambassador Service program also helps give students a sense of ownership, confidence and pride in their abilities. Jack, one of the Patrick Henry High School ambassadors, said he valued learning about soil and plant health, developing relationships and seeing how his work made a visible difference.“Working in the garden every Saturday and learning from so many different experts taught me the importance of teamwork, patience, and taking care of the environment,” Jack said.“Knowing that I was giving back to my community was a real positive takeaway.”One of the ambassador’s weekly lessons was working with James Hyde, San Carlos Community Garden’s resident volunteer soil-scientist who works for the USDA as an Agronomist focusing on soil management, plant growth and crop production. Hyde also helps maintain the San Carlos Community Garden’s orchard.“During our time in the orchard, we explored several priorities that directly influence tree health and crop production, including irrigation, nutrition and overall plant health,” said Hyde. “The Youth Ambassadors measured tree canopy dimensions to better understand water demand, recorded soil moisture levels based on the existing irrigation schedule, and tested soil pH and salinity to evaluate nutrient availability and potential salt-leaching needs. I was pleasantly surprised by how strong the results were—a true reflection of the heroic investment of our volunteers that supports a healthy and productive orchard.”Added Hyde, “Healthy soil is the foundation of a productive orchard. By building soil rich in organic matter and beneficial microorganisms, we help our fruit trees develop stronger roots, retain water and nutrients, and produce healthier, more abundant crops for our community.”Jasper, another Patrick Henry High School ambassador who will attend UC Davis in the fall to study entomology, said the program changed how he views community and individual impact. He was especially inspired by a beekeeping lesson that showed how one person’s dedication to a natural phenomenon can bring people together.Playtime in the Garden, led by Lily Wood, a second-year college student pursuing her degree in early childhood education, was just as stimulating for its younger participants (3-6 years), with weekly nature-based and garden-themed activities.

“This opportunity has reaffirmed my interest in early elementary education,” Wood said, explaining that the most rewarding part was working directly with the children.“Most came to our program every week, excited to play and explore new things in the garden,” she said. “I love seeing their excitement and curiosity blossom when they discover new blooms from the fruits and vegetables growing throughout the garden – and, of course, they love finding bugs.”DeGroote, who supported both programs – Youth Ambassador Service and Playtime in the Garden – believes the value of these experiences extends far beyond gardening.“Gaining skills in any area will strengthen your wisdom and make you more well-rounded,” she said. “Knowing how to make rich compost, build garden beds and recognize native plant species may come in handy in the future. And, for the ‘little ones,’ just exposing them to the miracles of nature found in the garden is planting a seed that we hope will inspire them to grow into future caretakers of our planet.”

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