YouthGrow Program History

The Laurel Valley Educational Farm was established in February 1999 by three Northwest Youth Corps AmeriCorps members as part of the Helping Youth Learn Grant. It was created to augment Northwest Youth Corps (NYC) youth programs and has grown to become an important resource for serving youth and the community.

YouthWorks began as the first program to use the garden in 2000; employing youth ages 11-15 in an on-site work and education program. YouthWorks focused on outdoor education, conservation and recreation combined with work in the garden.

When grant funding for YouthWorks was phased out, the program ended with it. NYC wanted to keep the farm a robust educational vehicle, so in 2009 NYC Outdoor High School staff member Angela Andre helped start the YouthGrow program.

Beginning in the summer of 2009, as an outgrowth of the YouthWorks program, YouthGrow employed AmeriCorps members to run a gardening summer camp and volunteer with other community gardening programs. Connecting with Farm to School and School Garden Project, AmeriCorps members volunteer in the spring and fall while recruiting for summer camp.

YouthGrow continues to be a positive resource in the community, serving youth of the Eugene, Springfield area and providing generous tuition support to those who cannot otherwise afford camp.

YouthGrow is a partnership between AmeriCorps, the Northwest Youth Corps, Eugene’s Farm to School program and the School Garden Project supported by tuition and small grants.