Youth Education and Employment Initiatives

Through its education, community service and job training programs for Lawrence youth, Groundwork Lawrence cultivates respect for the environment, social awareness and healthy behavior, preparing young people to be positive role models and future leaders in their community.

Green Team

The Groundwork Lawrence Green Team is a year-round program that offers part-time, paid employment for 10 Lawrence high school students each year. Members learn about and lead local environmental and healthy community initiatives, conduct research, raise awareness, challenge their peers to do community service and participate in hands-on improvement projects throughout the city. The program is intended to promote the protection and restoration of Lawrence’s critical ecological systems, natural resources and public health by engaging teens in advocacy and service-learning focused on the community’s parks, streets, gardens, waterways and vacant open spaces. The Green Team program has dual goals: to prepare Lawrence’s youth for a lifetime of environmental and healthy community leadership, and to invest in Lawrence’s future capacity to improve its physical environment.

Schoolyard Gardens

Groundwork Lawrence aims to cultivate healthy habits at a young age with schoolyard garden programming that promotes healthy eating, fitness and environmental awareness. In collaboration with administrators and faculty at local elementary and middle schools, Groundwork, in partnership with Mass Audubon, is creating a “seed-to-harvest” schoolyard garden curriculum that takes place after school within the growing season. It currently operates schoolyard garden programs at the Leonard and South Lawrence East Middle Schools, and Tarbox Elementary, as well as the Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence on Water St.

Urban Adventures Summer Program

New this summer, we are offering an Environmental Education Summer Program in partnership with Mass Audubon, for ages 7-12. The Urban Adventures Summer Program is a nature-based day camp right in the heart of Lawrence! Our fun, summer program is designed to give children the experience and adventure of an authentic nature camp. Each week features a unique theme, tailored for every age group and each day is packed with outdoor exploration, science activities, arts & crafts, games, and songs! Our 2010 Summer Stewards program will be wrapped into the Urban Adventures Program this summer.

Please contact Nia Keith at (978) 974-0770 ex 8 for more info on the Urban Adventures Program.

Please contact Anna or call her at (978) 974-0770 ex 4 with any questions regarding any of our youth programs.