The summer program grew out of the necessity to maintain the garden during the productive summer months while school is not in session. Since 2010, we have employed 8-10 high school students who gain professional work experience while planting and tending to the crops the middle schoolers will enjoy in the fall. For many of our student employees, this is a first-time job, and an opportunity to get paid, have structure, and take on new responsibilities. 

In addition to maintaining the Willard garden, summer program students also support the work of maintaining other Berkeley Unified School District gardens.

Students have the opportunity to experiment with the fruits of their labor in the kitchen, taking turns preparing a daily snack for the group. 

It was the success of the summer program that encouraged the Growing Leaders team to move forward with a student run business at the middle school level, now the 7th/ 8th Grade Business Elective.