It’s been nearly a year since these three Green Teens- Luul, Nasro, & Jasmin - started working at Highland Youth Garden. They began in June as Summer Green Teens, graduating in mid-August to Assistant Educator positions. In their new positions, each of them developed STEM-based curriculum for our After-School Garden Club program, rising to the challenge of not only working with elementary school children, but engaging them in the work of gardening.

These young women did an incredible amount of reflection throughout the year as a part of their learning process, but we asked them to do one more to share with the world!

Check out their responses below:

What have you learned during your time leading Garden Club?

Board Volunteer Teresa and Garden Club student Imani planting spinach seeds

Nasro: During my time leading Garden Club I learned how to effectively plan and create a schedule of activities for children within a short amount of time. Every Saturday we would meet at the office to plan for the next 2 garden clubs within a 3 hour period. In the beginning, it would take us a while to finally be done but with practice we are now able to plan a whole Garden Club day of events within an hour or less.

Jasmin: During my time leading I learned that you have to be flexible and expect the unexpected to happen. And that it's always okay go ask for help.

Luul: I have learned how to be a leader. What I mean is that I was able to step up and teach these kids and it’s amazing. I have also learned that teaching kids isn’t so hard when you get to know them.

I always wonder “how do teachers do it?” Or “why do teachers do this” even “I don’t ever want to be a teacher it seems hard” but then I realize it isn’t just about making sure they know it, it’s also about how to make them understand it. I have been able to teach these amazing kids by getting to know them. I have been able to know what they strive for and how they learn. Even though some lessons don’t go as planned, I still find that they enjoy it. So I am happy that I get to teach our kids and am hoping they take what they learned and apply it to what they wanna do, if it is gardening than so be it.

What advice would you give yourself in September, or what advice would you give newcomers about the Garden Club program?

Nasro: A piece of advice I would give myself in September is to learn what kids are into these days so when I want to have a conversation with them and build a relationship I can start with talking to them about things that they love to do or watch or even play.

Garden Club student Lois chopping radish slices while Green Teen Jasmin supervises. All Garden Club students have an opportunity to learn how to correctly use a chef’s knife.

Advice i would give to newcomers at GC is to just talk to the kids and get to really know them because 9/10 they want that too. Kids just want someone to listen to them even if it is crazy. The more you listen and participate, the more familiar and comfortable they become with you and then you've officially passed the Miss/Mr what's his/her name again? Stage!

Jasmin: Always remember that they’re younger than you, so always have patience. And that it doesn’t have to always be serious, have fun with them.

Luul: The advice I’d give myself and newcomers would be that all you need to be is yourself but also know that even though they are younger than you don’t underestimate them. They can surprise you so always have a back up plan. For example one of the kids could be having an off week and don’t want to hang around the other kids and try to be alone but you know that they have to learn this lesson so just make up a small plan where they can learn but be by themself.

What surprised you about leading the Garden Club program?

Green Teen Nasro holds a baby chick at the OEFFA Conference

Nasro: What's surprised me about GC was how much I like it and how easy it is to work with kids. I always thought it would be super difficult because of the maturity level, having to remember that kids think differently and something that may be common sense to you may not be the case for them. It’s made me be a much more patient and understanding person and with not just kids but with everyone by seeing things in the other person's perspective like I would for a kid.

Jasmin: Something that surprised me is that we had kids who liked being more Hands-On than anything else rather than just learning through a textbook way.

Luul: What surprised me was that I had a different mind set of how the kids would be. Meaning how they acted is totally different than what I had expected; let’s just say it was a good surprise. So another thing is don’t stereotype them.

What would you have changed about the program? This could include anything from the actual clubs themselves to how we organized ourselves.

Garden Club students and Green Teen Nasro make sautéed spinach, radish, and rice

Nasro: I would have added more ice breaker activities for the teen GC leaders to know every kids name and face. It’s really difficult to remember the name of a kid who may be a bit shy or quiet so maybe finding icebreaker activities that will allow quiet kids to open up more would be great.

Jasmin: I would like to make the program be more hours. Due to the fact that the kids really loved it and unfortunately we wouldn't really have that much time to do all the things that we had planned out.

Luul: (If I could I would change the weather😂😂) What I would really change is how we planned the lessons. I mean we come up with some really good lessons but we need to find our way of doing things but it’s still a good way we plan.

What were some of your favorite memories from the program?

Nasro: My favorite memories of the garden club program are whenever we played a team centered game because it was so nice to see kids working together and forming a plan and doing the plan they created stronger bonds and really formed unity amongst the kids.

Green Teen Nasro leads her Garden Club group, reading a book about worms as they work together to make a poster.

Jasmin: A favorite memory of mine was when we had a lesson on worms. We had worm boxes which we allow the kids to explore and examine the worms in. Later on we gave them books with facts and stories about worms. After they read those books we had them make a poster with drawings and facts that they thought were cool about worms. This is one of my favorite memories because everyone was engaged and having fun.

Luul: My favorite memory is when I got to see everyone working together. It wasn’t a specific day but they all really did help each other everyday some how if it was little like getting a pencil or asking a question for the other than it was well. Another favorite memory was when we were doing an egg race and there was a team that was just amazing but they all were anyways what they did was also me they worked together to make sure the egg didn’t fall. It didn’t fall not once.

Anything else you want to share with the world about the garden or Garden Club?

Nasro: IT IS AMAZING!!!! that's all

Green Teen Luul plants radish seeds with Garden Club students, practicing using measurement

Jasmin: This is a type of Club you'd want to sign your child up for; it is not only an educational club but also gives them connections about what they learn in school and in the club connected to real life experiences. It also causes them to make more connections with peers outside of their own school.

Luul: If you ever plan to do a Garden club I would support it and it would amazing teaching kids.

Garden Club: The Teen Take-Away on an Amazing Year