Greenagers Gala Celebrates Youth Work, Community Impact
EGREMONT, Mass. — Greenagers' Aug. 14 Summer Gala at April Hill marks another year of impact on the region's youth, with outdoor jobs for teens, education for middle-schoolers and trades training throughout the Berkshires and nearby Litchfield and Columbia counties.
Last year's special events, including the 2025 summer gala, raised nearly $250,000, nearly 11 percent of the nonprofit's revenue. Tickets are available at greenagers.org.
Annually, Greenagers' programs serve about 1,200 young adults and children. This year nearly 70 young people have been hired for paid outdoor summer jobs in farming, trail work, and trades education. Another 50 middle-schoolers attend Greenagers' free summer camp; more programs during the school year reach hundreds more.
"Our summer gala brings essential funds to Greenagers, and more importantly, it brings together donors and friends who can meet our teens and see the impressive results of their hands-on work," said Will Conklin, Greenager's executive director. "We invite our friends and neighbors to join us again this year to celebrate our impact on area youth and our community at large."
Last year's summer farm crews grew and harvested 10,000 lbs of produce for area food pantries and trail crews constructed or improved 22.5 miles of hiking trails in the region. Trades crew members learned building and millwork techniques, applying these skills to help other area nonprofits, including construction of a new food storage shed at the Community Health Programs' food pantry. These youth contributed thousands of hours to the community and earned nearly $500,000 in these paid summer jobs and other work throughout the year.
This summer, teen summer trail crews are tackling projects in the Berkshires, Litchfield County and Columbia County. Farm Crews will grow nutritious produce for regional distribution to food pantry programs and for the new April Hill farm stand. The trades team will build trail kiosks for Berkshire Natural Resources Council and outdoor museum displays for Sheffield Historical Society. Now with programs in South, Central and Northern Berkshire, Greenagers' free summer camps operate at Greenagers in South Egremont and at Many Forks Farm in North Adams.
This year's gala features teen presentations of their work and projects, a fundraising auction, and a dinner catered by Ray Stalker and Sarita Orobio-Wolff of Core Kitchen. The evening's fare features "Dinner in the Field" with food grown at April Hill by young farm crew employees.
The Aug. 14 "Dinner in the Field" will be catered by Ray Stalker and Sarita Orobio-Wolff of Core Kitchen, and their gala dinner fare will include produce from Greenagers' teen-grown farm at April Hill.
