YOUTHCAN

The UCAN Youth Community Garden, YouthCan, is dedicated to instilling hands-on experiences and opportunities to learn and understand agriculture, economics, and the compassion of providing for your community.

Youth Advisory Board

Youth-led environmental & social justice

The YouthCan Advisory Board is where young leaders ages 12–18 shape programs, lead projects, and build skills at Catawba Trail Farm—while earning paid stipends.

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Ages 12–18 — No prior farming experience required.

We especially welcome BIPOC, low-income, immigrant, LGBTQIA+, and neurodiverse youth. All experience levels are encouraged to apply.

    • Food Justice

    Grow, harvest, and sell produce at farmers markets to improve neighborhood access to healthy food.

    • Urban Poultry

    Care for hens, manage coops, and run compost systems that support sustainable farming.

    • Environmental Conservation

    Lead pollinator gardens, native plantings, and river-restoration projects to protect local ecosystems.

    • Economic & Entrepreneurial Skills

    Create branding, build market plans, and run pop-up sales to practice business skills.

    • Historical Justice & Community Events

    Research the site's history and organize community gatherings that center local stories.

    • Monthly meetings: 1–2 hours (hybrid: on-farm + virtual)

    • Project hours: ~6 hours/month for planning, market work, and events

    • Term: 1 year with option to renew or take on leadership roles (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer)

    Two adult advisors support the board while youth maintain decision-making authority.

  • What you'll do

    ✓ Advise staff on YouthCan curriculum, market operations, and community events


    ✓ Co-design and lead youth projects like compost workshops, plantings, and memorial projects


    ✓ Research and organize community gatherings around the farm's history


    ✓ Recruit participants and build partnerships as UCAN ambassadors


    ✓ Practice financial stewardship by advising on youth-managed budgets

    • $25 per advisory board meeting attended

    • Device loan (laptop/iPad) available during your term

    • Travel support for in-person meetings and field trips

WHAT YOU’LL GAIN

  • Build leadership & mentorship skills

    Work alongside farm mentors and peers to develop teamwork and project management experience.

  • Strengthen your future
    Add real-world leadership to college applications and résumés.

  • Get paid to learn
    Earn $25 per meeting, plus device loans and travel support.

  • Lead meaningful projects
    From farmers markets to native plantings to community events—you'll shape what happens here.

For more information contact Davu Keels, UCAN Youth Development Coordinator, at davu@ucan.today or 847-414-0225

Duke Men’s Basketball & YouthCan!

The work performed by the Duke Men’s Basketball Team in 2022 for the YouthCan Community Garden helped us tremendously! They completed the building of every single raised garden bed and our compost bins. Their hard work and leadership skills were shown. The Duke Men’s Basketball Team and Coaches had a positive impact on the youth volunteers and provided memories they’ll never forget!

Our YouthCan project of building raised beds for the YouthCan high tunnel was recently completed, thanks to an amazing group of youth volunteers! They were so excited to get hands-on, and we had incredible adults on-site to safely guide them through constructing the raised beds. Be on the lookout for more YouthCan opportunities in the future!

(And don't worry – the little one with the drill was safe, as the drill didn’t have a battery or bit in it 😉)

Recent Project