Growing Together: Youth Clubs That Build Community

Summer-Fall 2026

Our youth programs bring families and kids into the community through shared experiences, whether connecting through stories in our Dog Eared Days of Summer book club or turning soil in our Thyme Well Spent garden.

Free and open for grades K-12 and their families.

Thyme Well Spent

Thyme Well Spent is a multi-season, family-friendly gardening club where kids and families learn to grow food, support pollinators, and connect with nature together.

From spring planting to fall harvest, participants will care for vegetable gardens, cultivate native flowers, observe pollinators, and learn sustainable gardening practices through hands-on experience. Weekly group sessions provide education and community building, while open garden hours allow families to tend their plots and spend quality time outdoors between meetings.

Whether you're an experienced gardener or have never held a trowel, Thyme Well Spent welcomes all ages and skill levels. Kids will develop responsibility, patience, and environmental awareness while families create shared traditions and harvest fresh, homegrown produce.

When: Every _____, Spring through Fall (March/April - October/November)
Ages: All ages welcome, family-friendly, geared toward K-12th grade
Where: The backyard @ The Arts League
Cost: Free

Registration: Use the link below to register and receive a Welcome Packet!

Register

Dog Eared Days of Summer

Dog Eared Days of Summer is a free summer book club for youth ages 10-13 that builds community through the power of stories and reading together.

Over six weeks in July and August, participants will read three engaging books featuring characters from different cultures and backgrounds, explore meaningful themes through guided discussion, and express their ideas through creative art projects. Each weekly meeting blends thoughtful conversation with hands-on activities in our welcoming arts space, with the occasional author Q&A!

Whether your child is an avid reader or just discovering their love of books, Dog Eared Days of Summer offers a supportive environment to make friends, share perspectives, and see themselves and others reflected in literature.

When: Every ____ in July-August (6 weeks total)
Ages: 10-13 (roughly 5th-8th grade)
Cost: Free
Registration: The book club is capped at 10 readers, so register here!

Books:

  1. The First Rule of Punk by Celia C. Pérez

  2. Donorboy by Brendan Halpin

  3. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

Register

Meet the Facilitators