Outdoor Lady Bugs 🐞🌱
Hands-On Outdoor Work for Youth Ages 8–18
Outdoor Lady Bugs is a year-round, community-based work program for kids and teens who enjoy being outdoors and helping care for shared spaces. This program provides structured, supervised opportunities for youth ages 8–18 to assist with light outdoor tasks while building responsibility, work ethic, and respect for the environment. All activities are age-appropriate, safety-focused, and designed to teach real-world skills through hands-on experience.
What Outdoor Lady Bugs Do
Participants support homes, gardens, and community spaces through light, practical outdoor work, including:
- Gardening and garden bed assistance
- Raking leaves and yard debris
- Shoveling light snow or soil
- Watering plants and gardens
- Seasonal outdoor cleanup and upkeep.
Safety & Tools
Safety is the foundation of the Outdoor Lady Bugs program. Youth do not use power tools or motorized equipment. The only tools permitted are hand rakes and hand shovels, selected for appropriate size and task. All work is supervised, with clear task instructions and regular breaks to ensure a positive and safe experience.
Year-Round Work Opportunities
Outdoor Lady Bugs operates throughout the year, with tasks adjusted by season:
- Spring: garden prep, planting support, watering
- Summer: garden maintenance, watering, light yard care
- Fall: leaf raking and outdoor cleanup
- Winter: light snow shoveling and outdoor assistance
This structure teaches consistency, accountability, and follow-through.
What Youth Learn
Through participation, youth develop:
- Responsibility and work ethic
- Teamwork and communication
- Basic outdoor and gardening skills
- Respect for community spaces
- Confidence through meaningful contribution