Welcome to the 2025 MenTerns Portfolio
The MenTerns program at Mezzacello Urban Farm was a success. 13 kids trained over four sessions (three online, and one on-site) in how to become a leader, a public speaker, a teacher, and how to keep people engaged and curious. Each of the ten camps we ran last summer were 100% run by MenTerns. We didn’t have big numbers of campers, but we did have great success.
The point of pride for the MenTerns at Mezzacello Urban Farm is the complete ownership of the camps, design challenges, and implementation that they achieved. The MenTerns worked hard to come up with clever design challenges, fun camp themes, and games that would make a great camp.
The real tribute is the success and fun they had while doing it. We do not have the funds to repeat this experiment in 2026. We do have the data and the pre-post assessments and video testimonials to the effectiveness of the program. The MenTerns are ready to do it again. I’d like to hope we could, but for now, let’s just look at the data.
What We Learned From MenTerns in 2025
The areas of growth we were able to ascertain from the MenTerns program were dominated by growth in Confidence and Capacity for Leadership.
Areas of Stated Personal Growth for MenTerns
Design Challenges By The Numbers
Together, the MenTerns created eight design challenges that were entirely new and fell into three main categories
Relevant to problems found at Mezzacello Urban Farm
Factoring Sustainability
Ecologically relevant
Design Challenge Themes
Meet The MenTerns
“You did a lovely job capturing the spirit and specifics of each person... we wonder if you might give examples of “weaknesses” (we know what you are going for, but the reader might not). Examples are always good!”
Amaya: The original MenTern
Amaya started at Mezzacello Urban Farm in our 2023 camp. It was immediately obvious that she was bright, strategic, and Amaya was a natural leader.
In fact, the MenTern program was designed to create more Amayas in the world.
Amaya is a great educator and leader. She is smart, observant, and patient. Amaya had a tendency to stay quiet when questioned and to always want to lead but hesitating when someone was questioning her authority.
That hesitation changed rapidly In 2024, Amaya was empowered to run a week-long bioengineering camp with 11 middle school boys when she was age 13. She proved she was a fair and talented leader — and they knew it. After that, she never looked back.
Trust them, train them, empower them to see the path forward quote:
“I have been wrong before, so I know what it feels like to be wrong. It’s important to know how to win and lose.” - Amaya
This was the right choice.
Amaya trained 15 menterns here at the Urban Farm. Amaya and her friend Tilly wrote, created, tested and ran an entire Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Silver one-week ag-sustainability program here at Mezzacello last summer.
She created 4 different design challenges that are still in rotation. Amaya brings receipts, and Mezzacello aims to change the world with them.
Programs and Design Challenges:
Ten Summer Camp Programs:
Quantum Effects in Nature
Sustainability in Ag | Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland Silver Badge Award Winner
Farming 101
BioEngineering 101
Waste Management
BioLEGO
Simple Machines
Four Design Challenges:
AI guide to weeds and feeds
Atmosphere in a Bag
Making a Duck Muck System
Build a Rain Shelter/Water Collector
Maxwell: The Next Leader
Maxwell started at Mezzacello Urban Farm in our 2024 camp. It was immediately obvious that he was a clever and natural leader.
The MenTern program was ready for more of Maxwell in the world.
Maxwell is never afraid to try something new and I respect that. Maxwell’s areas of growth included a hesistancy to ask for help and the need to be reminded and encouraged to remember that he was the “teacher”. He got better and by his last camp he had mastered the rhythm.
Trust them, train them, empower them to see the path forward quote:
“Leading is scary — until you know that they need to see the way. Then you see they can do it too.” - Maxwell
Maxwell trained 8 menterns here and ran four summer camps at Mezzacello. He created 3 different design challenges that are still in rotation. Maxwell is the change the world needs to see.
Programs and Design Challenges:
Four Summer Camps:
Three Design Challenges
Simple Machines
Molecular Machines
Make It Work
Grady: The Scientist and Physical Systems
Grady started at Mezzacello Urban Farm in our 2023 BioLEGO camp. It was immediately obvious that he was a brave, determined, curious, and a natural leader.
Grady always sees that the weakest are the most valuable, and I respect that.
Grady’s areas of growth included a tendency towards napping (anywhere) and forgetting that he was a “teacher” not a “doer”. He got better and it was fun to watch him grow.
Trust them, train them, empower them to see the path forward quote:
“I want the kids to see their strengths.” - Grady
Grady ran a week-long camp and created a design challenge that is still in rotation.
Programs and Design Challenges:
One Summer Camp Program:
One Design Challenge:
Understanding Uncertainty and Entanglement
Theo: Energy, Ecology, and Everything Else
Theo is one of Mezzacello Urban Farm’s oldest friends. I met Theo as a very young boy during a sustainable living tour here at Mezzacello Urban Farm. Theo has been a part of every phase of Mezzacello’s growth since then. From the bottom of the pond to the tallest wind turbine, Theo has been there.
Theo is a brilliant engineer, a charming and capable public-speaker, and a natural-born leader.
His areas for growth have been in self-confidence, overlooking people underestimating his capabilities, and understanding how to multi-task. He is a terrific teacher and his teams always succeed.
Trust them, train them, empower them to see the path forward quote:
“I think all of us are just curious about why things work.” - Theo
Theo ran four camps and created two design challenges that are still in rotation.
Programs and Design Challenges:
Four Summer Camps Taught:
Two Design Challenges:
Simple Machine Swap
Solar Powered Sand Heater
Lula: The Heart and Art of STEAM
Lula started at Mezzacello Urban Farm in our 2023 camp. She was curious, fearless, creative and brave. It was immediately obvious that she was a natural leader.
Lula is capable of imagining the world inside out and upside down. She is willing to ask questions, draw it, and encourage others to be curious and creative as well, and I respect that.
If there was one area where she grew as a leader, it was overcoming her reluctance to collaborate on science-based teaching. She saw herself as just the arts MenTern versus a STEM+A MenTern. By pushing herself she learned she was always competent - and she grew into her confidence.
Trust them, train them, empower them to see the path forward quote:
“I want everyone to have the chance to be creative and curious. It’s easy but not always obvious.” - Lula
Lula ran two camps and created two design challenges that are still in rotation.
Programs and Design Challenges:
Two Summer Camps:
Two Design Challenges:
Reframe The Problem
Create a Farm Story Animal Edition
Harrison: The Chicken Whisperer
Harrison was the youngest camper Mezzacello Urban Farm had hosted in our 2023 camp. Harrison is clever, courageous, and creative. He is also one of the most entertaining people we have ever met.
Harrison is a natural empath and he adores the animals at Mezzacello. The love is mutual as Harrison is the chicken whisperer.
We threw Harrison into MenTerns status. He was completely new to authority, responsibility, and leadership. His youth and his focus were challenged by his desire to play.
Over time he grew into a strong leader, but his confidence took a hit. I am certain he will make a great “out of the box leader” one day.
Trust them, train them, empower them to see the path forward quote:
“I love the animals and they love me. I think we know we need each other.” - Harrison
Harrison co-taught three camps in 2025.
Programs and Design Challenges:
Three Summer Camps:
Juju: The Chemist and Comedian
Juju started at Mezzacello Urban Farm in our 2022 camp. Small and initially very introverted, she was well trusted by the other students and possessed a wit from the start. It was becoming clear that Juju was a natural leader.
Juju always sees the the clever and simple path. When pressed to lead, she instinctively builds consensus and community. She is naturally clever and witty. My favorite Juju moment? Her team was called Questionable Ethics for the ecology matters camp.
Juju addressed her weaknesses in two fundamental ways. She had a tendency to shy away from authority, but was able to lean into it on demand. Encouraging and empowering others with kind words and jokes. She is also a perfectionist. We compromised on this with simple math: As a leader, it’s OK to give 80% and empower those you lead to show up with the missing 20%. I watched her confidence blossom last summer.
Trust them, train them, empower them to see the path forward quote:
“Is it wrong to point out the truth when it’s a problem?” - Juju
Juju ran a camp and created a design challenge that is still in rotation.
Programs and Design Challenges:
One Summer Camp:
One Design Challenge:
Ecosystem Design Challenge
Oliver: The Livestock Systems Expert
Oliver started at Mezzacello Urban Farm way back in our 2022 as part of our PAST Foundation camps. Oliver was quiet and and very introverted. His actions were showing that he is a talented systems engineer and vet tech genius early on. Oliver was invited to become a MenTern for the 2025 season and he did not disappoint.
Oliver observes, reflects, and then acts. He is full of talent and curiosity and it is a constant surprise to be his friend. This was the year that Oliver tackled his shyness and lack of confidence. Leadership is lonely and hard - especially when things go wrong. Oliver learned to leverage responsibility and see failure as data. He was also able to find creative solutions to problems on his own and I am very proud of him for that.
Oliver attends Worthington Kilbourne High School.
Trust them, train them, empower them to see the path forward quote:
“I don’t know… yet” - Oliver
Oliver ran two camps and created three design challenges that are still in rotation.
Programs and Design Challenges:
Two Summer Camps:
Three Design Challenges:
Automation by the Numbers
Animal Paw Care
Deep Litter Soil Challenge
Will: The Tree Whisperer
Will started at Mezzacello Urban Farm in our 2023 camp as a boy. With the help of his brother and the opportunity to problem-solve, he grew his confidence and voice and became a natural and quiet leader.
Will is reserved and introverted. He is also smart and curious. He is a pro with digital equipment. When we empower the curious, they can become leaders. That is Will to a tee.
The area that I was completely delighted to see Will grow in was his lack of confidence in his public speaking skills - or the power of his voice.
This summer, Will volunteered to guide 135 visitors on the Olde Towne East House and Garden tour around Mezzacello Urban Farm. He was bold, empowered, and completely outside of his comfort zone and the guests LOVED him. It took an enormous amount of courage and this is EXACTLY what the MenTerns program was designed to build.
Trust them, train them, empower them to see the path forward quote:
“You are welcome. I am Will, and I am happy to explain anything — just ask.” - Will
Will has not yet run a camp or created a design challenge, but it’s coming.
Samuel: The Curious Engineer
Samuel started at Mezzacello Urban Farm in 2023 as a curious child in a bioengineering and Animal Care workshop. I challenged him to use the remote-controlled underwater sharkbot to monitor fish and install a hot water heater, both of which he was successful at. I quickly realized his latent talent as a systems engineer. Since then, he has grown his confidence and voice and expanded his interest into ecology as well.
Samuel is quiet and introverted. He is also clever and curious and a pro with digital and mechanical equipment. Samuel is on a path to learning that he can become a leader.
The area that I was completely delighted to see Samuel grow in was his lack of confidence in his public speaking skills. This summer during camps, I supportively challenged Samuel to defend his hypotheses - and he did. He was so curious about the solution, he forgot about his fear.
Trust them, train them, empower them to see the path forward quote:
“I can see where you are going with this idea. Can I show you what I think would make it work better?” - Samuel
Samuel has not yet run a camp or created a design challenge, but I know it’s coming.
Ellery: The Communicator
Ellery came to Mezzacello Urban Farm in our 2024 camp. She proved herself a natural communicator, designer, scientist, and leader.
Ellery created three products that are integral to the ecological and sustainable mission here at Mezzacello Urban Farm. She is a clever and creative. She struggled with real-time solutions, but she was able to consistently apply her knowledge and creativity to the problem.
Trust them, train them, empower them to see the path forward quote:
“I want the world to be better, I know it can be better.” - Ellery
Ellery was unable to attend our summer camps in 2025. We missed a great opportunity.
Kayden: The Organized Warrior
Kayden started at Mezzacello Urban Farm in our 2023 camp. He is quite the character. Kayden saw that the farm needed structure and organization. He created the “Theo-Door” system that arranges tools on the doors of each lab visually. Kayden also co-created the “Mister Spinny” system that keeps soil testing tools close at hand in the data science lab. Both of those systems persist and are invaluable to running camps to this day.
When I met Kayden, he was not ready to lead. He was shy and lacked confidence. But in watching others try and fail, Kayden decided he could grow as well.
He overcame both his fear of public speaking and his tendency to give up when it got hard to succeed. I believe he learned what he could do was far more interesting than what he couldn’t do. That took guts and I am proud of him.
Trust them, train them, empower them to see the path forward.
“I like believing what seems like a little thing to me, can mean a lot to others.” - Kayden
Kayden was unable to attend our camps. But he was integral in the online pre-training sessions.
