On October 16, 2014, ECHS Green Ambassadors students guided students from Environmental Charter Middle School-Gardena through the Gardena Willows Wetland Preserve, our own local piece of wilderness located on Artesia Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. Green Ambassadors II is an after school internship for 10th and 11th graders who design environmental service learning projects for ECS’ local communities. High school interns visited the Willows and learned about its role in our watershed from Kelley Dawdy, Adjunct Professor of Earth Sciences at CSU Dominquez Hills. The interns then designed lessons for the middle schoolers and led them on a personalized tour of the Willows.
Cross-age mentoring is one of the highlights of the Green Ambassadors program; middle schoolers love learning from the high schoolers, and high school students deepen their knowledge while providing valuable mentorship to younger students.
– Sammy Lyon, ECHS Environmental Service Learning Coordinator & internship supervisor
With the help of artists from LA Commons, ECMS students will be designing a community art project inspired by what the students learned during their Willows field trip. The art installation will be completed with assistance of community volunteers at Gardena’s Green Apple Day of Service on December 6th. This project is a great example of ECS’ valuable community partnerships that turn our local environment into a living learning lab!
