The Ecology Center’s Horticulture Training Program launched in the spring of 2023. Partnering with the Henry Street Settlement and the LES Girls Club, youth from the Lower East Side learn about stewarding their local neighborhood. 

During this eight-week training program, local youth ages 16-24 receive stipends to participate in educational workshops to build their knowledge and skills in stewarding the urban environment. Participants learn how to identify common native and non-native plants; develop horticulture skills such as planting, weeding, and soil management; learn about the relationship between people and nature; and receive exposure to careers in urban horticulture and sustainability.