Garden of Youth | Denver Public Schools Sustainability

We are planning on a Garden of Youth program for summer 2021. We plan on working at our garden sites in-person in our small groups. We will not be having our large group gatherings and will not be working at farmer’s markets. We will adapt as necessary to follow DPS guidelines. Interns who were scheduled for summer 2020 are automatically given the opportunity to participate in summer of 2021.

Interns: You must sign up with the School to Work Alliance Program (SWAP) and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). You will need a state ID if you will be 18 or older before September 1st, 2021. Please contact SWAP to set up an intake so you can be paid. You will need your ID, Social Security number and signed parent release form.

Golden River Walk 2017 — Garden of Youth interns spent the day cleaning up the river walk in Golden, CO.

What is Garden of Youth?

Garden of Youth is a job skill development program for youth ages 16-21 with Individualized Education Plans (IEP). We work in small groups with a job coach for 10 weeks over the summer to learn and practice soft job skills that will be applicable for any future employment. Interns spend three mornings a week planting, maintaining and harvesting organic produce at 8 school garden sites across Denver.

Groups of 3-4 interns work alongside an experienced job coach to learn and practice skills such as showing up on-time, working together, professional communication and behavior, problem solving and work stamina.
Over ten weeks, interns grow their skills as they grow their gardens. Each week we learn new job and garden skills. We have hold students to clear and high expectations and find they rise to meet them.

We work Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 am to 11 am from June 2nd through August 6th. We have two days of Job Readiness Training, May 5th and 6th, to complete intake paperwork and prepare interns with expectations and guidelines.

We partner with Division of Vocation Rehab (DVR) to provide intern pay for Garden of Youth and continued employment support through age 21.

More on DVR :

DVR provides supported employment opportunities in Colorado for individuals with the most significant disabilities through partnership with employers, the Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council (CDDC), Office of Community Living, Office of Behavioral Health (OBH), Mental Health Service Organizations, and the Behavioral Health Planning and Advisory Council (BHPAC).
Supported employment services are provided by DVR as ongoing support services, including Customized Employment and Individual Placement and Supports, and other appropriate services needed to support and maintain an individual with a most significant disability in Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE), including a youth with a most significant disability. Employment must be consistent with the client’s strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice.
A SWAP Specialist with Denver Public Schools will reach out to you to get your student connected with DVR for supports to participate in Garden Of Youth.

Our Mission:

The Denver Public Schools Garden of Youth (GoY) program provides paid work experience and extended job skills training to students with IEP’s to prepare them for future employment through growing and selling organic produce.

Our Vision:

Students with obstacles to employment receive the opportunity to grow their job skills, independence and life skills through extended job skills training in a small group setting.

Garden of Youth making headlines.

Garden of Youth interns planting at the George Washington HS garden.

The DPS Garden of Youth (GOY) program provides job and life skill training to high school students with disabilities. Students complete interviews and are hired as paid interns, working in teams at eight schools across Denver. Interns experience work as active and vital participants in their community; bringing healthy, fresh food to local residents and businesses while simultaneously learning about nutrition, healthy lifestyles and practicing their job skills.

Students engage in planting, maintaining and harvesting fresh vegetables and herbs. Seedlings are cultivated in special education classrooms by students. Plants are transplanted to garden plots and tended by paid student interns selected to continue with the program during the summer. Garden of Youth interns sell harvested produce at local Farmers Markets.

Dedicated DPS staff mentor students through the summer to successfully market and sell produce, providing training in the areas of independence, job readiness, merchandising and customer service. These skills are transferable to any job a student may pursue after the season is complete.

Interns participate in cooking classes led by a local chef offering instruction in preparation techniques and nutrition. Students are encouraged to take home any produce that their family will use. We are dedicated to connecting the organic produce to school cafeterias through the DPS Garden to Cafeteria program and local food banks.

All participants earn high school credit for work hours completed. Those who wish to continue working during the summer will earn both school credit and an hourly wage. Currently, eight schools across the host Garden of Youth program.