Chicago Nonprofit Brings Farm-to-Table Trolley Tours to Austin Community

Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures (CAYTA) is excited to announce the launch of its Austin Farm-to-Table Trolley Tours, starting this month. Thanks to a generous $30,000 grant from Austin Eats in partnership with Austin Fresh, these tours aim to educate the Austin community about community gardening and nutritious meal preparation.

Discovering Healthy Options

The Austin Farm-to-Table Trolley Tours will visit 12 gardens throughout the Austin neighborhood, emphasizing the importance of accessible, healthy food options. Participants will learn about gardening and receive practical advice on preparing nutritious meals. Each tour concludes with a licensed chef demonstrating how to use garden-fresh items to create delicious, healthy dishes, followed by a free meal featuring the prepared dishes.

Crystal Dyer, Founder and Executive Director of CAYTA, underscores the initiative’s importance: “The community in Austin is greatly affected by diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease. We want to give our residents not only the knowledge but the tools to lead healthier, more productive lives.”

Tour Schedule

The tours will be held at noon on one Thursday and one Saturday each month from June through October. The trolley will depart from the Austin Town Hall Park Farmers Market on Thursdays and from the CAYTA Headquarters on Saturdays. Each tour will last approximately three hours and is free for all Austin residents.

Tour Dates

• Thursday, June 6th | Saturday, June 15th
• Thursday, July 11th | Saturday, July 20th
• Thursday, August 1st | Saturday, August 17th
• Thursday, September 5th | Saturday, September 14th
• Thursday, October 3rd | Saturday, October 19th

Departure Locations

• Thursday Departures: Austin Town Hall Park, Farmers Market, 5610 W Lake St., Chicago, IL 60644
• Saturday Departures: CAYTA Headquarters, 4952 W Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60651

About CAYTA

Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures, Inc. (CAYTA) offers inner-city youth a chance to explore the world through service-based learning. By mentoring young people for careers in the airline and tourism industry, CAYTA provides local and international travel experiences that build social skills and foster community spirit. This exposure to new environments and cultures aims to reduce violence and open doors to brighter futures.

“Our vision is simple: to do our part in making the world a better place for underserved, undereducated, and under-resourced youth populations,” says Crystal Dyer. “Our mantra is to ‘Mentor Youth with a Purpose’ by facilitating access to unlimited career options and life experiences.”

CAYTA collaborates with various city and community partners, Chambers of Commerce, and tourism industry leaders to support its mission. The organization also hosts ongoing fundraisers to sustain its programs.

Join the Movement

For more information about the Austin Farm-to-Table Trolley Tours or to get involved with CAYTA, visit CAYTA’s website, or contact Crystal Dyer at info@caytaworld.org or 312-813-6047. Follow CAYTA on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn to stay updated on their latest initiatives and events.

Together, we can create a healthier, more connected community in Austin. Join us on this exciting journey and be part of the change!

Meet Crystal Dyer

Crystal Dyer, the driving force behind CAYTA, is an accredited and Certified Travel Advisor (CTA) and the Founder/CEO of Gone Again Travel & Tours. She founded CAYTA in 2015 in memory of her grandson, Devin Dyer, who tragically lost his life to gun violence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood. Since then, Crystal has dedicated her life to steering young people away from crime and towards a future filled with opportunities.

In addition to her work with CAYTA, Crystal currently serves as the Interim Board Chair of the Austin Chamber of Commerce and collaborates with several community organizations, including BUILD, Bethel New Life, and Austin Coming Together.