Cultivating Youth at High Point Elementary

Cultivating Youth works to help low-income youth lead healthier lives through gardening-based nutrition education in Seattle Housing Authority communities. Cultivating Youth’s goal is for students to participate in a complete cycle from seed to mouth. Through our programs, students plant, care for, and harvest the garden; learn to cook what they?ve harvested; and explore new foods. Through hands-on gardening and nutrition education, volunteer opportunities, and partnerships, our program shares nutrition and community gardening knowledge with students of diverse economic, racial, ethnic, ability and gender groups; promotes healthy eating and builds community through youth volunteer programs.

“ Thanks for teaching us great recipes that we can make with our friends and families. ”

— Dominique

Cultivating Youth provides gardening and nutrition education to over 200 students ages 6-12 at three garden sites in Seattle Housing Authority communities — High Point, Rainier and New Holly. In our hands-on garden program, children have an opportunity to eat vegetables and fruits fresh from the gardens and learn simple culinary preparations.

Most of the youth in our program are first-generation immigrants. The gardening program helps link them to their parents&rsqo; culture while educating them about where their food comes from, its nutritional value, and how to grow it.

From October through June, classes are held in a classroom and in the youth garden at High Point Elementary School. Nine classrooms learn about nutrition through gardening one hour per week.

“ I had a great time at garden - it was fun cooking, and making salad. ”

— Carmen

In addition to the High Point Elementary school-based program, we offer year round after-school programs, in partnership with community organizations at Rainer Vista Community (with The Nature Consortium), New Holly Community (with Atlantic Street Center), and High Point Community (with SafeFutures).

The after-school offerings have expanded to include John Muir Elementary School/Powerful Schools. Each after-school session is one hour per week.

We welcome volunteers to assist with classes and after school programs and also help with set-up, clean-up, and garden maintenance.

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