Youth Land Labs Farm Intensive Registration Form

Youth Land Labs Farm Intensive Registration Form
Are you a student who’s interested in growing your own food or farming? Do you want to make deeper connections with your peers? Join Earth Convergence for our 5-night, 6-day overnight camping Youth Land Labs Farm Intensive at Grandpa Farm!

You are invited to apply to participate in a week-long pre-apprenticeship farm intensive co-created with Grandpa Farm, a small family-run and bilingual (Spanish-English), Latino farm in Chester, NY!

Who is Earth Convergence?

Earth Convergence is a BIPOC-led non-profit advancing environmental justice, mutual reciprocity, and healing through culturally rooted and scientific education. We're actively strengthening youth leadership and community infrastructure through projects that center healing, land stewardship, urban agriculture, mutual aid, green workforce pathways, and civic engagement. By investing in youth and community-led solutions, we're building physical, emotional, and cultural resilience across communities while equipping the next generation to shape a just and sustainable world.

What is the Youth Land Labs Farm Intensive?

Earth Convergence will bring up to 20 high school students for a 5-night, 6-day camping trip on Grandpa Farm's land to attend a co-created experiential, hands-on learning intensive of large scale, organic agricultural farm practices. Participants will engage in hands-on learning through a curated itinerary that supports the farm’s day-to-day labor needs—ensuring the experience strengthens, rather than disrupts, farm operations.

This structure builds a reciprocal exchange: you gain real skill-building experiences in farming and land stewardship, while the farm receives meaningful labor support and invests in mentorship relationships that can evolve over time.

This experience will connect the environmental justice and ecological knowledge gained at the Walton Campus Garden—where students spend nine months cultivating over 5,000 square feet of campus lawn into an agricultural garden hub—with real-world land stewardship, empowering them to apply these skills locally. While open to youth throughout NYC, Bronx youth and Walton Campus students will be prioritized.

This farm intensive will be challenging, involving hard outdoor work on hot summer days and a lot of movement.

PROGRAM DETAILS:

Ages: 14 - 18 (Updated: now accpeting spots for folks up to age 18 & in high school)

Program Duration: June 26th 5:00 PM - July 1st 1:00 PM

Location: Grandpa Farm, 168 Meadow Ave, Chester NY 10918

Pick Up/Drop Off Location: Walton Campus, 2780 Reservoir Ave Bronx NY 10468

Rolling Application Period: 05/18 - 06/23 5:00 PM

Cost: A $25 deposit required to hold your spot. All deposits are refundable. Refunds can take 3–5 business days to reach your bank account. Please note that payment processing fees are non-refundable, as they cover the cost of payment processing services.

If cost is truly a barrier but you're enthusiastic about the program, please reach out to us at education@earthconvergence.org — we don't want that to stand in your way.

Info Session:
- Thursday May 28th, 6:00 PM on Zoom (Recorded)
  - Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/920oI-BzSxCRduPt7Ku7Zw
- Tuesday, June 9th, 6 PM (Live)
  - Register in advance for this meeting: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/muVYuiN7Tge5Uas14f0tIw
Welcome Call and Orientation: Thursday, June 25th 4:00 PM on Zoom

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & FAQ
High school youth will participate in a week-long pre-apprenticeship farm intensive co-created with Grandpa Farms, a small family-run and bilingual (Spanish-English), Latino farm in Chester, NY. Students engage in hands-on learning through a curated itinerary that supports the farm’s day-to-day labor needs—ensuring the experience strengthens, rather than disrupts, farm operations.

✿ The farm intensive will connect the environmental justice and ecological knowledge gained at the Walton Campus Garden—where students continue to cultivate over 5,000 square feet of campus lawn into an agricultural garden hub—with real-world land stewardship, empowering them to apply these skills locally.

✿ Additionally, students will learn up to 24 hours worth of curriculum from the Landscape Nursery Manager apprenticeship based on the NYS Department of Labor syllabus. Students will leave with intermediate knowledge and skills in the following agricultural areas: plant identification, planting practices, organic farming, general pest control, nursery practices, and operation of equipment in accordance.

✿ This work builds on our previous program, Seeds of Sovereignty, a youth development, land restoration, and community resilience project that builds the next generation of land stewards, farmworkers, and food systems leaders, while advancing ecological repair and food justice in communities most impacted by environmental racism.

This year, we continue to offer practical pathways to respond to the crises shaping our present moment: entrenched pollution burdens, extractive development, food insecurity, and the shrinking opportunities for young people to access land-based livelihoods.

Through legacy planning, community-rooted education, and intergenerational exchange, we are building durable infrastructure for land and climate justice that can multiply across boroughs—and beyond!

Please download the preliminary program itinerary here. Itinerary is subject to change.

Frequently Asked Questions:

✿ Do I have to camp onsite?
Yes, cohort building by proximity is part of the design. We will live and work together for the duration of the program.

✿ Is food provided? What if I have dietary restrictions?
Yes, meals are provided, and the registration form will capture dietary restrictions and seek to accommodate needs.

✿ Can I attend for only a few days if I have other obligations?
The intent of this program is to provide a week-long experience and we will ask for a deposit for registration in the program of $25 that will be refunded in full upon program completion to encourage each participant commit to the duration of the program.

✿ Is it okay that I've never camped before?
Yes, we will support you with a list of things to pack, and what to expect.

✿ Will I have Wi-Fi?
We encourage you to keep your data topped up for the duration of the program. WiFi access will be limited but our team has ensured that we can receive calls and texts while on the premises should your parent and/or guardian needs to reach you directly as an additional support.

For specific engagements, for example, when we are learning about farm machinery, we may collect phones or ask that you put them away, in order to minimize risk of harm or injury due to lack of attention.

Overall, as a part of the program, we invite you to build rapport, socialize, rest, and a disconnect as much as is feasible for you to be present with us and support our cohort's work and development.

Have more questions? Reach us at education@earthconvergence.org
How did you hear about this opportunity?

Other

Disclaimer
Grandpa Farm is a working agricultural farm. There is no running water and participants must ensure they are disposing of any water used for (self)-cleaning properly.

Port-a-potties will be available for bathroom use, but there is no shower.

Biodegradable shower wipes and ecological safe soap will be available. However, participants should bring the neccesary hygiene items for themselves.

We encourage participants to embrace living differently than you do in the city.

Submitting a registration form means you understand the hygiene restraints and are ready to participate in the program.
Participant, please type following below: "I have read the disclaimer and understand there is no running water, flushable toilets or showers. "
Participant, please type your name full name below.

Participant Info
Your Name

First NameLast Name
Pronouns
Birth Date

MonthDayYear
Cell Phone Number
Format: (000) 000-0000.
NON DOE Email Address
example@gmail.com
High School Name
Year in School
Primary Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Getting to Know You - Participant Questionnaire
Do you speak and/or understand Spanish?
How comfortable are you with spending time outdoors?
What are you most excited to learn while participating in this farm intensive?

0/300
Tell us about where you are from and your connection to or experience on (farm)land.
Farm work requires physically demanding activity including but not limited to walking, bending, lifting and carrying, digging, cleaning, pulling weeds, watering, and other repetitive movement and long hours.

Participants should prepare to move items between 25-50 pounds (with assistance), be sweaty, and in full sun for at least 4 hours a day.

**Please consider these conditions as they may impact accommodations needed.**

Please review the preliminary program itinerary here to help identify any accomodations needed.
Do you have any physical needs that should be taken into account? If so, what adaptations can be made?

0/300

Sleeping Arrangements
Please indicate your preference for sleeping arrangements. (If participants know each other they may elect to share a tent. If an onsite change must be made, parents will be alerted ahead of time -- e.g. a rainstorm washes out part of the grounds and we have to reduce the number of tents and combine a single and a double tent into a triple to stay dry).
I have a tent and will bring it on the trip.
Parent/Guardian please sign to confirm consent of sleeping arrangements indicated above. (Changes can be requested through email)

Parent/Guardian Information
Parent/Guardian's Name

First NameLast Name
Contact Phone Number
Format: (000) 000-0000.
E-mail Address
example@example.com
Relationship to Participant
Address

Street Address

Street Address Line 2

CityState / Province

Postal / Zip Code

Emergency Contacts
Emergency Contact Name

First NameLast Name
Relationship to Participant
Emergency Contact Phone Number
Format: (000) 000-0000.
Emergency Contact Name

First NameLast Name
Emergency Contact Phone Number
Format: (000) 000-0000.
Relationship to Participant
Confirm Emergency Contact

Signature Must Match Parent/Guardian Name Above

Confirmation and Waiver Release
THE INFORMATION ABOVE IS CORRECT AND ACCURATELY REFLECTS THE STATUS OF THE STUDENT TO WHOM IT PERTAINS. THE PERSON DESCRIBED ABOVE HAS PERMISSION TO PARTICIPATE IN ALL CAMP ACTIVITIES EXCEPT AS NOTED BY ME (THE GUARDIAN) AND/OR AN EXAMINING PHYSICIAN. I UNDERSTAND THE INFORMATION ON THIS FORM WILL BE SHARED ON A "NEED TO KNOW" BASIS WITH EARTH CONVERGENCE STAFF.

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE RISKS OF INJURY ASSOCIATED WITH THE LISTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND I CONSENT TO MY CHILD’S PARTICIPATION IN ALL THESE ACTIVITIES.

I ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT THIS RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY IS INTENDED TO BE, AND IS, A COMPLETE RELEASE OF ANY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE RELEASED PARTIES (EARTH CONVERGENCE STAFF AND OTHERS ACTING ON EC'S BEHALF) FOR ANY AND ALL PERSONAL INJURIES, TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE SUSTAINED BY MY CHILD WHILE IN TRANSPORTATION TO/FROM AND WHILE AT THE YOUTH LAND LABS FARM INTENSIVE PROGRAM.

I GIVE PERMISSION TO PRINT THIS FORM.
DOWNLOAD THE MEDIA RELEASE HERE.
Please upload media release here.

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Parent/Guardian Signature
Participant Signature
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Youth Land Labs Farm Intensive Registration Form

Are you a student who’s interested in growing your own food or farming? Do you want to make deeper connections with your peers? Join Earth Convergence for our 5-night, 6-day overnight camping Youth Land Labs Farm Intensive at Grandpa Farm!

You are invited to apply to participate in a week-long pre-apprenticeship farm intensive co-created with Grandpa Farm, a small family-run and bilingual (Spanish-English), Latino farm in Chester, NY!

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION & FAQ

Disclaimer

Participant Info

Getting to Know You - Participant Questionnaire

Sleeping Arrangements

Parent/Guardian Information

Emergency Contacts

Health Inquiry

Confirmation and Waiver Release