One thing I love about gardening is that it is such a natural and beautiful way to create community. The garden at Elm Grove Elementary did just that when a group of students decided to come together to harvest and get the school garden ready for its next season of planting.

Today’s spotlight post comes from our community partner Kari Clevenger, with Girls on the Run KC. 

Girls on the Run Serving Greater Kansas City (GOTRKC) is a physical activity-based positive youth development program that is designed to enhance girls’ social, psychological and physical skills and behaviors to successfully navigate life experiences. GOTRKC operates with a mission to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. The program teaches girls to build lives of purpose and to make a meaningful contribution to society, including a season culminating, girl-led, community impact project.

This spring, two GOTRKC teams supported their communities by maintaining school vegetable gardens. These intentional actions help reinforce healthy habits and provide opportunities for exposure to nutrient-dense produce. Community garden exposure increases the sustainability of engagement with nature while also empowering life-long participation. Elm Grove Elementary Coach, Kaitlin Collins states, “This work goes right back to the girls, as the produce that is collected from the school garden is used in the cafeteria to make their lunches. This is a great way for the girls to see the product of their hard work”.

We love connecting with other community partners and growing together. Thanks so much to the girls who got involved in gardening at their schools while also participating in GOTRKC!