The Wild Classrooms Project

Green Space, Park Access, and Trees

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

Los Angeles lies in the middle of a "biodiversity hotspot that harbors over 4,000 species of plants and animals," As our unique ecosystems decline due to development and climate change, our failure to cultivate kids' connection to the land can be . Connection creates empathy, and empathy drives action. Studies find kids who lack access to natural spaces experience everything from depression, aggression and ailments such as respiratory illnesses. The threats of climate change can be ubiquitous and overwhelming. Lack of tools to confront climate change robs kids of agency. Lacking a workspace to interact with and respond to these threats robs our kids of the real world skills and tools they need to respond to this dynamically changing planet. The LAUSD is our city's biggest landowner and it has excellent access to over 429,000 students. It is perfectly positioned help students develop relationships to our rare and vibrant natural home.

The Wild Classroom Project (WCP) is designed specifically to help schools create immersive, curriculum-driven, native habitat classrooms. We have learned that habitat gardens must be properly designed, maintained, and offer a curriculum that embraces the huge diversity of interests our children naturally have. Because they are built for and by students, these nature-based spaces engender stewardship, inspiration, and collaboration. By offering natural respites from the stresses of school they also encourage a rich spectrum of opportunities for learning, The WCP aims to develop environmental citizenship at its core, a shared sense of responsibility for what we call, "the whole community" of plants, wildlife and people. The Wild Yards Project understands this work. In late 2019, we designed and installed our first shared school/community garden in Eagle Rock, alongside Colorado Blvd. Known as The E.R.P.C Native Garden, the 4000 sq ft garden is open to the public and has become not just a showcase for our native flora and the countless species of birds, bees and butterflies- but a center for education and enrichment. The garden offers workshops, trails for families to wander, logs and shrouded walkways for kids to roam and solace for those who need to recharge. Since the execution of this garden, the WYP has built 3 more school gardens- improving cross-school (SUBJECT?)curriculum and an emphasis on "Place" (valuing where you are?)

Imagine how powerfully equipped our city would be to solve climate challenges if our students were fluent in biodiversity, water infiltration and carbon sequestration. Native, nature- based classrooms should be as common math classes. Simply put: Our students need agency, not anxiety. Working in nature-based, native gardens replaces helplessness with empowerment, can replace alienation with collaboration, and depression with solace. Our kids already have skin in the game when it comes to dealing with our changing climate and all that implies, so let's give them tools and experiences to build their individual capacities and collective strengths. Currently WYP has 3 school gardens. With the capacity building power of the LA2050 grant, we would be able design, install and supply curriculum and "maintenance educators" at 3 more schools in 2023-2024.

The Wild Yards Project has evolved from a personal interest to a full-fledged native habitat educational program. We know we are on the right track because our partners are recommending us to their colleagues across the city. Schools are asking for our consultations. Our online presence is growing with presentations to podcast interviews. As ED, I have been been keynote speaker at myriad garden events in Los Angeles and for esteemed organizations like California Native Plant Society, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Manship Arts in MA, Northwest Horticultural Society and The Colorado Native Plants Conference. WYP has attracted an Advisory Board we could not have dreamed of when I started out, including renowned visionaries like Carol Bornstein former head of Native Gardens at The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and Kat Superfisky, Lead Biologist to the City of Los Angeles. Our work with Toland Way Outdoor Classroom inspired awards from Rep. Jackie Goldberg's in the LAUSD.