Project Salsa
A summer program for high school youth to learn job readiness and life skills through hands-on experiences with professionals. Earn class credit and a paycheck!
An 8-week long summer camp program for high school students in Columbia that takes place Mondays–Fridays from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. The experience will provide opportunities for students to work from beginning to end on a project to foster skills that can be transferred into the workforce. There are three main components of Project Salsa – Grow, Cook, Sell:
- GROW: This project trains youth to maintain a garden in which they grow tomatoes, jalapenos, onions and cilantro.
- COOK: Students will discuss nutrition, research recipes, and create their own unique salsa.
- SELL: Students will apply business principles to sell their salsa at local markets. This will include creating a business plan, learning to cost out their salsa, creating a brand, and selling their product at Lucky’s Market and Columbia Farmer’s Market.
Every step of the way, grow/cook/sell will be complemented by lectures, activities and field trips to foster skills in a hands-on way.
Earn credit, then a paycheck! Upon completion of the program, students will get class credit from Columbia Public Schools. In addition, students will get paid for 4 weeks of service through the City of Columbia Career Awareness Related Experience (C.A.R.E.) program.
For more information, email MU Family Impact Center or call 573-882-2428.
This is a collaborative effort between MU Family Impact Center, Columbia Center for Urban Agriculture, Columbia Public Schools, City of Columbia C.A.R.E. program, Lucky’s Market and Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company.
