— Photos provided by Rochester Ecology Partners

Growing Good: Where Curiosity Takes Root

Shouldn’t every child understand where food comes from, and feel connected to it? 

At the Rochester Public Market, Olivia carefully scanned tables piled high with fresh produce. She had $5 to spend, part of a lesson on how food moves from gardens and farms into the community. 

She chose cucumbers. A lot of them. 

For just one dollar, she bought nearly 10 pounds. Before this summer, she didn’t like cucumbers, but helping them grow and tasting them fresh off the vine changed her mind. She brought her haul back to the farm, proudly setting up a stand at the end-of-summer mini-market, overflowing with cucumbers and excitement. 

Moments like this are possible when young people have chances to connect with food, nature, and their community in meaningful, hands-on ways. 

Through the Growing Good summer enrichment program by Rochester Ecology Partners, in partnership with Foodlink, local youth explore food systems, environmental stewardship, and their role in shaping a more sustainable world. Rooted in hands-on learning and community connection, the program created space for curiosity to grow alongside vegetables and pollinator habitats.

Learning That Sticks 

Summer learning loss can contribute to significant gaps in academic achievement when students return to school in the fall. Growing Good is designed to engage young people in science, writing, math, and social-emotional development through real-world activities, putting as much emphasis on inspiring wonder as transmitting knowledge.

Each day of learning introduced new experiences, from journaling in the orchard to tending garden beds at the Foodlink Community Farm; kayaking on the Genesee River to connecting with vendors at the Rochester Public Market. Weekly themes like “soil and the life below” and “food can change the world” helped youth build a deeper understanding of the natural world and their place in it. 

• 90% of parents reported their child maintained or improved academic skills over the summer 

• 100% said their child developed a deeper connection to the environment 

• 100% shared that their child learned where food comes from and why it matters 

• 100% of youth valued spending time outdoors and learning in natural spaces

One parent noted being “blown away” by how her child “confidently interacted with the vendors at the public market, without even glancing in [her] direction.” 

What the Numbers Don’t Show 

Two young people illustrate just how transformative this experience can be. 

When Mars arrived, his mother shared that he was terrified of bugs and would freeze if one came near him. During a week focused on soil and the life within it, he cautiously observed at first. Then curiosity took over. By the end of the program, he had become the group’s resident insect expert, searching for bugs during free time and sharing his discoveries with other kids. 

Another participant, Connie, found her place in the garden. A self-described picky eater, she began exploring new foods by tasting what she helped grow. She spent her days walking the farm and working on her own garden bed. Before long, she was talking about starting a garden at home and working on a farm someday. 

These are the kinds of shifts that don’t always show up in data: building confidence, overcoming fears, and expanding what futures seem possible. 

Generosity Past and Present 

People who gave flexible gifts in the past made it possible for the Community Foundation to give a grant of $50,000 to support the Growing Good program. Later that year, Community Foundation fundholders who care deeply about environmental learning contributed an additional $7,400 to expand Rochester Ecology Partners’ eco-interns program.

Dozens of individuals and their care for people and planet are coalescing to fuel this powerful organization and connect young learners to the natural world.

Growing What’s Next 

In 2025, Growing Good filled its available program slots and formed a waitlist within 24 hours. That demand shows that families are eager for opportunities like this that connect kids to nature, build skills, and open doors to new ways of thinking. 

In response, Rochester Ecology Partners plans to expand, offering three two-week sessions instead of one six-week session. This shift will allow more young people to participate and make Growing Good more accessible for families. 

If you believe every child deserves experiences like these, we invite you to help grow the resources available for environmental grantmaking.