Photo of the School Garden at Rosewood Elementary

Campus Ecology

LAUSD understands the importance of school gardens and campus and community-shared green spaces in expanding learning opportunities to the outdoors, reducing the urban heat island effect, cleaning the air, and improving the infiltration of water into our aquifers.  The district has several initiatives focused on providing natural outdoor play and learning and space that improves the ecology of school campuses.

Current LAUSD Goals

  • Increase campus green space, school gardens, and outdoor learning spaces
  • Increase permeable surfaces to encourage groundwater infiltration
  • Reduce heat island effect
  • Raise awareness of environmental stewardship and urban habitat

Achievements

More than 400 school campuses have gardens or agricultural areas

More than 150 school campuses have edible teaching gardens

27 National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitats

Campus Ecology Initiatives

SEEDS funded garden project at Glenfeliz Elementary School
Nature Explore Outdoor Learning Environment at Monte Vista EEC
Certified Wildlife Habitat at Carson HS

SEEDS

In an effort to support and expand the number of sustainable school greening projects throughout the District, LAUSD's Board of Education approved the Sustainable Environment Enhancement Developments for Schools (SEEDS) Program in June 2013. SEEDS is a bond funded program that helps create or improve existing school greening projects that directly support school curriculum. The SEEDS Program offers a total of $5 million to be distributed equally among the Local Districts. 

Learn more about the SEEDS Program and how to apply here.  

Nature Explore Outdoor Learning Environments

The District is taking a national leadership role in making meaningful connections with nature part of the daily lives of the children it serves. The Early Education Center's (EEC) Nature Explore outdoor learning environments are designed to enable the District's youngest learners to acquire a deep, hands-on understanding of the natural world. They feature learning stations with hands-on activities, music, climbing and crawling, building, art, and gardening. The outdoor learning environment experience has proven to be transformative -- children are calmer and more focused on learning, have fewer injuries and improved problem-solving skills. 

National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitats

LA Unified currently has 27 Schoolyard Habitats certified by the National Wildlife Federation.  Schoolyard Habitats are outdoor classrooms where educators and students learn how to attract and support local wildlife.