Los Angeles County residents showed off their love for Mother Nature this week by planting trees, touting potable water and promoting environmental protection on the annual celebration of Earth Day.
First observed in 1970, Earth Day is held annually on April 22 and now includes events in more than 190 countries aimed at protecting and replenishing the planet. And L.A. County rolled out myriad earthy events of its own.
Trees for Jane Goodall
Nearly six months ago, Jane Goodall was poised to help plant the first of many trees at EF Academy in Pasadena with thousands of fire-impacted students.
That same morning, right before she was about to address students and launch the student-led initiative TREEAMS, news broke of her death.
Instead, amid the loss of the iconic Goodall, stunned students pivoted to planting the first tree in her honor.
And now, students are continuing the legacy of the famed and inspiring primatologist, whose work and message of hope and resilience rippled all the way to an area hit hard by the Eaton fire.
On Tuesday, 35 students from EF Academy and St. Mark’s School came together to plant the first TREEAMS nursery, which consists so far of 30 native California sycamore and live oak trees.
Since the fires, EF Academy, an international high school, has hosted St. Mark’s School, an elementary school, which suffered significant damage from the Eaton fire. Last spring, they opened a temporary “St. Mark’s Village” on-site, which has also created a unique schooling environment for the high school and elementary students.
The process on Tuesday started with a live demo from Mariposa Landscaping, which does the landscaping for EF Academy.
Rick Duque, “Mr. D” to his students, who teaches English but wears many hats at EF Academy, was tasked with rounding up some of his students to plant the trees.
In some of his classes, which include the outdoor-education program and Literature in the Wilderness, he talks about how “some things are bigger than us.”
That message is at the heart of why students joined TREEAMS.
“You’ve got to play with dirt,” Duque said. “I feel like an obligation is to keep Dr. Jane Goodall’s legacy going … we want to continue what she started.”
He’s since seen 16 of his students jump at the chance to provide their input on how to best care for the trees.
His student, Liam Johnson, a junior at EF Academy, came up with an idea to use worm castings and organic food waste from the cafeteria to create fertilizer for the soil, which was used in planting the 30 trees.
Back when he was a freshman, he was asked to speak about a person he looks up to. He chose Jane Goodall.
“We’re carrying her legacy on, and helping spread it just a little bit more, and adding something like our worm castings, which are really meaningful to us and our group, to continue that,” Johnson said.
TREEAMS, a portmanteau of “trees” and “dreams,” is the culmination of work by students from Pasadena, Altadena and the Pacific Palisades, who worked to build a more green and resilient Los Angeles post-fires.
They’re supported by a network of schools and organizations, including the Jane Goodall Institute, UCLA School of Education and EcoRise. Since launching in October, the goal of TREEAMS has been to plant more than 5,000 trees in the Altadena and Pacific Palisades communities.
But because many of the fire-impacted properties are not yet ready for replanting, TREEAMS decided to introduce a new model.
For the next two years, EF Academy and St. Mark’s students will look after the 30 trees before they’re ready for permanent replanting in the Altadena community. The model is part of a curriculum developed by UCLA’s School of Education and EcoRise, that teaches students about reforestation, soil remediation and ecosystem restoration through hands-on experiences.
“One of the hardest parts of recovering is waiting,” said Altadena Town Councilmember Dorothy Wong, who addressed students Tuesday morning. “So while we’re all feeling this waiting time, it is really a connection to trees and nature that really help us grow.”
It’s all about service
As students at Lakewood High School made their way to lunch on Wednesday, they were greeted by several booths with local organizations, music and activities to celebrate Earth Day.
It was all part of the school’s inaugural community service fair, during which students had the opportunity to connect with local organizations that focus on environmental stewardship, service and career pathways. The Lancers learned about the different volunteer opportunities, internships and ways to take action in their communities that these organizations offer.
Among the local community organizations and partners at the fair were the Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach City College, the Conservation Corps of Long Beach, the California Conservation Corps, El Dorado Nature Center and the Marine Mammal Care Center. Campus clubs were also present to encourage their fellow students to get involved in community service and volunteer opportunities they participate in.
School officials said they appreciated the local organizations providing students with different ways to help in their communities.
“Our students come from all over the city and so while we start here as a community,” Lakewood High principal Mona Merlo said on Wednesday, “the community really means where you live as well.”
Students also participated in a water filtration activity.
A “One World’s Water Walk” to teach students the effort it takes other people around the world to access water was scheduled to take place after school. During that event, students will walk around the campus to see how heavy water feels when carrying it for long distances, Merlo said.
The community service fair was one of several activations Lakewood High is holding this week in honor of Earth Month. Merlo said she hopes the fair inspires students to get involved and eventually give back.
“While they’re the students receiving the support, once they graduate and move on, and they’re in their careers or in college or after — they give back,” she said. “Somebody was here to help you grow, so when it’s your turn, you help assist that next generation in getting to where they are.”
To celebrate and promote caring for the planet
Earth Day Extravaganza on the Westside, hosted by the USAC Facilities Commission in collaboration with UCLA Sustainability and other campus partners, was on full display to celebrate and promote caring for the planet.
Education is a major component of sustainability not overlooked in students’ daily activities.
In keeping with the sustainability themed food trucks offered free vegetarian food to encourage an eco-friendlier diet and a green-food demonstration by the UCLA Teaching Kitchen aimed to inspire Bruins to incorporate sustainable cooking in their everyday lives.
Neha Suri, the publicity chair of the Undergraduate Students Association Council’s Facilities Commission, hopes the estimated 600 Extravaganza visitors retain sustainable options from any of the display booths set up in Wilson Plaza.
“I hope at least they take away something from one of our booths on how to be sustainable in their everyday lives,” said Suri, a third-year political science and economics major.
Students, staff and faculty advance sustainability, develop climate change solutions, promote conservation and biodiversity, while driving that policy at home and around the globe by educating a new generation of environmentally conscious leaders committed to saving the planet.
Festivalgoers could explore various booths featuring different organizations dedicated to sustainable living practices, such as food recovery offered to needy students free of charge and hosting clothing drives on campus.
Extravaganza attendees also participated in hands-on activities like block printing, embroidery and T-shirt and tote bag making, while cultural groups and the rock, pop and punk band, “Last Minute,” performed.
OTHER EVENTS
In Culver City, streets near several schools were closed to traffic to create a car-free commuter corridor for students as part of the Safe Routes to School program. A stretch of Elenda Street was shut down, allowing students to walk, bike, skate or use public transit while participating in activities focused on reducing emissions and improving safety, according to organizers.
Metro offered free rides systemwide on buses, trains, Bike Share and Micro services to encourage residents to use public transit.
“Every Day is Earth Day at L.A. Metro,” Metro CEO Stephanie Wiggins said in a statement. “Transit is the cleanest way to travel, and by using our electric trains and low-emission buses, you can lower your carbon footprint by 45 percent compared to driving.”
Active Recycling Co. in the Chesterfield Square neighborhood of South Los Angeles encouraged residents to dispose of up to 500 pounds of trash for free as part of an effort to combat illegal dumping.
“The Clean-Up Los Angeles City/County Campaign is ongoing and won’t stop as long as there is litter on the streets, alleys, and vacant lots,” the company said in a statement.
In the Antelope Valley, about 100 youth participants from Watts and surrounding communities planted trees at a wolf sanctuary in Palmdale, including cloned redwoods and sequoias, as part of a reforestation initiative.
“We must reforest the planet with old-growth trees for the children, grandchildren, and all life on our planet,” said David Milarch, founder of the Archangel Ancient Tree Archive.
In Malibu, environmentalist and author Bill McKibben was scheduled to speak at Pepperdine University as part of an Earth Month lecture series focused on climate issues.
Pacific Park in Santa Monica planned to illuminate its solar-powered Ferris wheel with a 90-foot-tall spinning globe display Wednesday night, using energy-efficient LED lighting to promote renewable energy and environmental awareness.
“The eco-friendly, enhanced LED lighting provides 81 percent greater energy savings than most Ferris wheel’s traditional incandescent bulbs,” officials said.
At Cal State Northridge, students and community members gathered at an event featuring free plants, food and information about environmental programs.
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez and city officials, meanwhile, aimed to unveil plans for a $40 million stormwater project at MacArthur Park designed to reduce reliance on potable water by capturing and treating runoff. Her office said the project includes proposed green space improvements, shade trees and pedestrian enhancements.
City News Service contributed to this report.