TYLTH
Tucson Village Farm’s Training Youth Leaders Through Horticulture (TYLTH) program is a 24-hour certification course that empowers youth and teens to strengthen their communities though the production of healthy food using responsible growing practices. Students at middle and high school level will experience a series of twelve two-hour educational modules designed to equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to grow food crops in their homes, schools and neighborhoods. As a working urban farm, TVF is uniquely positioned as a site where theory can be put into practice. Students learn concepts such soil biology, plant science, pest management, and arid land cultivation practices and see how they manifest in a real-world agricultural context. If the full 24-hour program is too challenging of a time commitment, groups can also choose any number of the 12 modules that comprise the program. For more information or to schedule a group contact tplasse@email.arizona.edu.
“Growing Forward” K-5th Grade Agriculture and Nutrition Program
“Growing Forward” is our K-5 Common Core agriculture and nutrition education program. This two hour hands-on program cycles groups of students through the “stations” of the farm, where they learn about food production, growing healthy soil, composting, vermiculture (worm farming), nutrition, pollination, etc. The farm also provides each student with a healthy snack. Cost is $5/child (adults are free). For more information about the Growing Forward program please email tvf.fieldtrips@gmail.com. To request a field trip for your group, please click here to complete and submit the form.
4-H Food Smart Families
Arizona 4-H is offering the 4-H Food Smart Families program in order to educate underserved youth and their families to take action around nutritional deficiencies, healthy food choices, safe cooking skills and food budget and management strategies. Food Smart Families is being offered to in-school and after-school program providers for youth ages 8-18. The program is being offered in Pima, Cochise and Santa Cruz Counties and includes a dynamic curriculum that will include hands-on lessons designed to teach youth, and ultimately their families, about healthy food options, food selection and preparation, as well as food budgeting. Optional programming is also being offered that focuses on home and school gardening as a means to provide additional fresh produce into family’s diets. Contact Natalie Shepp at nshepp@cals.arizona.edu or 520-626-5161 for more information on joining the program. Click here to download the program overview.
“Lil' Sprouts”
4-H Healthy Living Ambassadors
Tucson Village Farm offers middle and high school students the opportunity to be trained as leaders to promote healthy lifestyle choices and sustainability within our community. The Healthy Living Ambassador 4-H Club allows youth the opportunity to participate in projects on nutrition, cooking, local food production, mycology, beekeeping, team building, outdoor adventures and farm art. Participating students are required to attend the monthly community meetings, complete at least one project and volunteer at the farm or community events for at least 10 hours per semester. The idea is that youth can be encouraged to be instigators of change toward more healthy habits within their communities. Similar programs are also offered in Santa Cruz, Cochise and Pinal Counties. Contact Natalie Shepp at nshepp@cals.arizona.edu or (520) 626-5161 for more information.
Volunteer Mondays
Experience desert gardening first hand and learn by doing at the farm. Join us for Volunteer Mondays, from 8:30am to noon every Monday. Email us at volunteertvf@gmail.com for the full list of opportunities.
U-Pick
Join us at our weekly U-Pick and grab your veggies for the week while supporting your favorite urban farm for kids at the same time. Our U-Pick is open every Tuesday afternoon from 4-6. Our produce is sold at market prices and we accept cash or check. Check on our Facebook page to see a weekly update of available produce for sale.
Camp Experiences
Tucson Village Farm believes in experiential learning, and this summer your campers can experience it all! From farm-to-fork to canning and carpentry, our friendly, seasoned educators will give your child the best summer experience and skills to last a lifetime. We are taking the winter months to plan an amazing 2018 camp season. Our camp registration will open in the spring of 2018. Check back here or sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of the home page. People who receive our newsletter will be alerted 1st about our camps.