Students from King MS visit the Environmental Learning Center at Hyperion
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Field Trips & Outdoor EducationLA Unified understands that place-based experiential learning is a crucial component of sustainability education and ecoliteracy. Below are some local opportunities for interactive outdoor education, beginning with the District's Beyond the Bell and Office of Outdoor and Environmental Education. Also included are sustainability-related volunteer opportunities.
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LA Unified Office of Outdoor and Environmental EducationThe Beyond the Bell Office of Outdoor and Environmental Education is committed to providing “once in a lifetime” authentic and meaningful, hands-on active learning experiences. We believe that learning is strengthened through different exposures – seeing, hearing, touching, doing and actively engaging with peers, resulting in a multi-dimensional approach to learning to provide a deeper understanding of real world practices and scenarios. We facilitate activities that create an emotional investment in personal and team success. Programs include Camp Skyhook at Clear Creek, Point Fermin Outdoor Center, Day of Discovery at the USS Iowa, and The Science at Sea: Tall Ships Program,
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Beyond the BellBTB, an after school program, is present on several LAUSD campuses. The program's mission is to ensure all students have access to high quality, safe, and supervised enrichment and recreation programs.
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California Coastal Commission Adopt-a-Beach Program"Adopting" a beach means committing to cleaning it at least three times per year, although school groups can fulfill their obligation with a single cleanup. The Adopt-A-Beach® program fosters feelings of pride and ownership as volunteers begin to care for "their" beach. Contact your local beach manager or the Adopt-A-Beach® program at coast4u@coastal.ca.gov or (800) COAST-4U for more information and an application.
Free resources are available for educators who want to engage their students. Follow or accompany your beach cleanup with a Schoolyard Cleanup, which removes debris from the environment before it reaches the ocean, and illustrates a direct connection to students' everyday lives. A Beach Cleanup Educator's Guide is available online with tips on how to hold a sustainable cleanup, links to web resources, and references to specific lessons within Coastal Commission curricula and videos in the Coastal Commission lending library that would prepare students for or enhance a cleanup. |
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The Environmental Learning Center at HyperionThe ELC at the Hyperion Water Treatment Plant was designed by the City of Los Angeles for school and community groups. Over 90 LAUSD classrooms have taken a tour of the ELC, which focuses on Los Angeles' current water system and the importance of recycled and captured stormwater.
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Friends of the Los Angeles River - River RoverFOLAR's mission is to protect and restore the natural and historic heritage of the Los Angeles River and its habitat through inclusive planning, education, and stewardship. The Los Angeles River Rover is FOLAR's 38’ Mobile Visitor and Education Center that travels the City bringing the River to the people. The River Rover is designed to educate the curious of all ages – to take visitors through a tour of the River’s past, present and future. Guests learn about the LA River watershed at an interactive watershed table, touch beaver and coyote pelts, listen to the song of the Least Bell’s Vireo, and design the River as they want to see in the future.
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Heal the BayHeal the Bay is dedicated to protecting the coastal waters and watersheds of Southern California through a base of science. The organization partners with community organizations and leaders to move government and regulatory agencies to act in the collective interests of our environment.
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Los Angeles Audubon SocietyThe mission of Los Angeles Audubon is to promote the enjoyment and protection of birds and other wildlife through recreation, education, conservation, and restoration. LA Audubon has partnered with LAUSD on several initiatives including our DROPS and Prop 84 low impact development projects.
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Theodore PayneTheodore Payne's mission is to promote, preserve and restore California landscapes, and habitats, propagate and make available California native plants and wildflowers, and educate and acquire knowledge about California flora and natural history. TPF's K-12 Field Trip Program offers standards-aligned, inquiry-based activities that teach students about California native plants and the natural world, emphasizing the vital ecological link between native plants, insects, and animals.
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Think Watershed Marine Science Floating LabThink Watershed is a collaborative partnership whose mission is to educate students about the watershed's impact on the marine environment and to inspire them to become stewards of the environment. Think Watershed funds field trips for upper elementary students on board a Floating Laboratory in Long Beach and Los Angeles Harbors. Funding includes the Floating Lab Boat Trip, bus transportation, curriculum and classroom activity plans.
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TreePeopleTreePeople inspires and supports the people of LA to come together to plant and care for trees, harvest the rain, and renew depleted landscapes. TreePeople has partnered with LAUSD on several initiatives including developing our DROPS and Prop 84 low impact development projects, organizing Eco Clubs, and hosting Eco Tours. TreePeople's Eco-tour field trips take K-12 students and teachers on guided adventures through TreePeople's headquarters at Coldwater Canyon Park.
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The Wildwoods FoundationThe mission of the Wildwoods Foundation is to equip children, families, and educators of Los Angeles with the principles of ecoliteracy in creating sustainable, harmonious communities. LAUSD partners with the Wildwoods Foundation on many programs including the Drop in the Bucket field trip, a free 2-hour standards-aligned school program that uses interactive hands-on learning activities to help students learn about local, regional and global water issues.
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