A recent Wisconsin Public Radio story highlighted the Grow Academy – a unique corrections program using hands-on agricultural experience and curriculums as a way to teach youthful offenders the kinds of skills we want all youth to have – academic skills, social skills, peer skills, a work ethic, and giving back to the community.

We all know that youth learn best by doing, and the Grow Academy mixes “doing” and “learning” together as youth learn to prepare the ground, plant the seeds, and nurture the growth of a variety of crops that can then be harvested for their own food as well as to share with others. It takes patience; it takes work; but the rewards are tangible and visible for youth.

In many ways, it’s an interesting metaphor for what we need to do to help all our youth develop, grow, and become successful. So, as a vehicle for learning, the Grow Academy’s approach seems right on for how we should think about working with youth and efforts to promote Positive Youth Justice.

by Jim Moeser