GENERAL
Who do your programs serve?
City Growers offers educational programs for NYC youth in grades preK-12.
What kinds of programs do you offer?
City Growers facilitates after school programs, summer camps, school garden residencies, and high school job training programs that use the natural world to cultivate lifelong learners. City Growers offers educational field trips to Brooklyn Grange’s two rooftop farms, available to classes in grades pre-k through 12, at sliding scale rates.
Where are you located?
City Growers’ main office is located in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Our programs are facilitated at the following locations:
-Brooklyn Grange in the Brooklyn Navy Yard
-Brooklyn Grange in LIC, Queens
-Academy of Arts & Letters in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn
-Naval Cemetery Landscape in the Brooklyn Navy Yard
-P.S. 166 in Astoria, Queens
-P.S. 516 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Can a City Growers educator come to my classroom or school?
Yes! City Growers offers a number of school-based programs for students and for teachers, all year long. City Growers farm educators can come to your school garden to facilitate a series of hands-on workshops, or to your classroom during the colder months to build a worm bin or explore the inside of a honeybee hive. For teachers looking to increase their capacity to utilize their school gardens, or to learn more about honeybees, check out our professional development offerings.
How can I bring City Growers programs to my school for long term partnerships?
If you’re interested in having City Growers run an after school program or summer camp in your school, please email us at info[at]citygrowers.org and tell us a bit about your school and the type of program you have in mind.
Do you have any job openings?
We hire for a variety of seasonal and part time positions throughout the year. We typically post open Farm Educator positions in the winter. Summer camp staff positions are posted in the spring, and after school staff positions are posted in the summer. Check our job opportunities page often to see the latest openings, and email employment[at]citygrowers.org to be considered for future opportunities.
SUMMER CAMP
What grades can enroll in camp?
Children who will be entering kindergarten through 5th grade in September can enroll in Summer in the Soil Camp at PS 516. At PS 20/Academy of Arts and Letters, only children entering 3rd-5th grades in September can enroll.
How do I apply for a scholarship?
Students who qualify for free or reduced-cost lunch are eligible for camp scholarships. However, these scholarships are limited and the amount available varies among camp locations. If you qualify for a scholarship, please indicate that on the online application and we will contact you. Preference is given to students who will attend camp for the whole summer.
How do I hold my spot at camp? Do I need to pay up front, or can I put down a deposit?
A 30% deposit is required to reserve your spot at camp. Payment can be made by credit card or check.
Do your camps offer extended day options?
Yes, we offer after care from 3pm-6pm at most locations.
FARM WORKSHOPS
Can I take my class to Brooklyn Grange?
City Growers offers a full menu of farm workshops five days per week from April through October at both of Brooklyn Grange’s farm locations. The Queens farm is located in Long Island City at 37-18 Northern Boulevard, atop the Standard Motor Products building. The Brooklyn farm is located in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, near the Clinton Hill neighborhood. All workshops are booked online, here. At both farms, a City Growers staff member will meet your group outside and escort your group through security.
Can my group of adults do a City Growers workshop at Brooklyn Grange?
Tours for adults are coordinated and conducted by the Brooklyn Grange staff. For information about tours and workshops for adults and college students, email info[at]brooklyngrangefarm.com.
How do I get to the farm in Queens?
The Queens farm is easily accessible by subway, located one block away from the R and M trains at 36th St., and a half mile from the N and Q trains at 39th Ave. The address of the Queens farm location is:
37-18 Northern Boulevard
Long Island City, NY 11101
Please meet your educator at the corner of Northern Blvd and 37th St (Standard Ln). Your educator will meet you in front of the door just slightly in from this corner, at the building at 37-18 Northern Blvd.
This entry point is locked and your educator will arrive to pick up your group at the time of your scheduled workshop. Should you arrive early, your group will have to wait on the sidewalk, as the building is an office building and will not make accommodations on the ground floor for school groups.
How do I get to the farm in Brooklyn?
ALL BUSES must enter the Brooklyn Navy Yard using the Clinton Avenue Gate. At no time may buses load, unload or park on Flushing Avenue or other streets adjacent to the Yard.
A designated bus stop within the Yard is located behind BLDG 92. All loading and unloading must occur at this bus stop. Please meet your educator at the bus stop behind Building 92 and we’ll bring you and the group up to the roof from there. Please do NOT head up to the roof without a City Growers educator.
BY SUBWAY / FOOT, the Brooklyn farm is a 20+ minute walk from the Clinton/Washington G station. (We strongly suggest that schools booking farm visits to this location rent a school bus.) Only groups arriving on foot should meet City Growers staff in the courtyard of Building 92 Visitor Center, located at the intersection of Carlton Ave and Flushing Ave.
Thanks for the detailed directions, but I need addresses for the farms to give the bus driver. Can you provide one?
City Growers/Brooklyn Grange in Brooklyn
63 Flushing Ave.
Brooklyn, NY 11205
Brooklyn Navy Yard – Clinton Ave. Gate (at Flushing Ave)
Do you offer customized farm workshops?
Yes. Please read through our program offerings and indicate which program aligns most closely with the program you’d like to customize. In the comments box of your scheduling form, please indicate that you’d like to customize the program. Our staff will review your request and be in touch shortly.
What kind of payment does City Growers accept?
City Growers accepts payment by check and credit card. We do not accept payments in cash. Checks should be made out to “City Growers” and sent to: 63 Flushing Ave, Unit 116 Brooklyn, NY 11205. Please write your invoice number on the check. We cannot accept checks in person on the day of the trip; please mail them and let us know when they were sent. City Growers is a DOE Vendor and accepts DOE purchase orders. If you plan to pay though a DOE purchase order, please email info@citygrowers.org.
What is your farm workshop cancellation policy?City Growers requires at least 2 weeks notice to cancel a workshop without penalty. Cancellations made within 2 weeks of a scheduled workshop require a cancellation fee of 30% of the total cost.
How many supervising adults should accompany my group at the farm?
4-5 chaperones are required for elementary school-aged groups (including teachers.) 3-4 chaperones are required for middle and high school-aged groups. Please do not exceed these numbers! Interested parents can always bring the whole family to City Growers’ Family Farm Days.
How can I prepare my group for a farm visit?
Remind your group to dress appropriately! Hats, sunscreen, and water bottles are highly recommended, especially during the summer. On cooler days, please bring an extra layer, as it is always colder and windier up on the farm. You will receive a pre-visit lesson in your confirmation email, geared towards grades K-5.
What happens if it rains?
City Growers programming happens in all kinds of weather except for thunderstorms, very heavy rain, or hail. While we are completely comfortable in light-to-medium rain and scattered showers, if you feel that your particular group will not fare well in wet weather, it is up to you to cancel your visit at least 2 hours in advance of your workshop. Otherwise, we’ll see you *up* on the farm in rain gear! Please note that the threat of rain will prohibit use of the observation hive in the Honeybee Education workshop. All other Honeybee Education activities can be done in light rain.