Do you have a budding youth gardener? The free Green Teens youth gardening program’s summer session started this week, and runs at Trackside Teen Center Mondays, from 9-11 a.m., through Aug. 11. All rising middle and high school students are welcome. Enrollment is ongoing and interested participants may join at any time. No gardening experience is necessary, only an interest in nature and in helping others, as the program is rooted (no pun intended) in community service.

An initiative of the Wilton Garden Club (WGC) and Trackside, Green Teens is led by experienced WGC members and master gardeners and receives volunteer support from Wilton’s Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. The program is celebrating its 10th year of helping youth connect with nature and serve others by supporting the Wilton Food Pantry and Senior Center with the organic produce and flowers they grow. Last month, the program was awarded a Presidential Citation from the Federated Garden Clubs of CT, Inc., for its dynamic and forward-thinking programming.

Green Teens participants engage in hands-on activities like designing garden beds, planting, maintaining plants, harvesting as well as learning how to cook with the produce grown in their gardens. They also hear from occasional guest speakers and make creative garden art projects.

From last year’s growing season, Green Teens donated 232 pounds of fresh, organic produce to the Wilton Food Pantry and 100 floral arrangements to the Wilton Senior Center and Wilton Commons, all from the gardens they tended.

“Our hope with Green Teens is to get more young people involved with creating and maintaining vegetable gardens, to teach them about the importance of healthy foods, and to give back to the community,” Laurie Musilli, co-chair of WGC’s youth gardening committee with UConn Master Gardener Pam Nobumoto, said. “There’s something in this program for everyone.” (Musilli is a certified elementary school teacher.)

“While exploring the joys of gardening and connecting with nature, kids learn about sustainability and teamwork. They dig in, plant seeds, and grow something amazing from the ground up,” Nobumoto added. “It’s magical for them to watch their hard work bloom and make a difference one garden bed at a time.”

To register, visit the Trackside Teen Center website or email Laurie Musilli. Sign-ups are welcome at any time, and registration is ongoing.