Getting Outside to Learn: Green Infrastructure as a Living Laboratory
To build the institutional capacity for environmental stewardship and reinforce the concepts of healthy watersheds and communities, CWH is supporting Sun Valley Magnet School Students and Elmer Paseo residents in using and re-imagining Elmer Paseo as a living laboratory and outdoor classroom. Kicking off on World Water Day (3/22) and Earth month, CWH teamed up with students from Sun Valley Magnet School and like minded partner The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation to bring awareness to some of the water challenges we face in Southern California and how to address these challenges through nature-based solutions. With the support of The ScottsMiracle-Gro Foundation, CWH and Sun Valley Magnet students are engaging in a series of stewardship activities at Elmer Paseo to learn more about the Los Angeles River Watershed, green infrastructure, and the importance of sustainable landscapes.For their World Water Day celebration, ScottsMiracle-Gro Foundation and award-winning National Geographic photographer Andy Mann told their water impact story using the art of visuals. Andy Mann’s work focuses on algal blooms, the large green mats of muck that form on the surface of streams, lakes, and the ocean when there are too many nutrients in the water. His art story documents the extent of the problem, the impact to people, and the solutions to this water quality issue.
For their World Water Day celebration, ScottsMiracle-Gro Foundation and award-winning National Geographic photographer Andy Mann created short films and still photographs for their special Water Positive and told their water impact story using the art of visuals. Andy Mann’s work focuses on algal blooms, the large green mats of muck that form on the surface of streams, lakes, and the ocean when there are too many nutrients in the water. His art story documents the extent of the problem, the impact to people, and the solutions to this water quality issue.
photo credit: Andy Mann
Recognizing the power of art as a tool in storytelling and creating change, we challenged the Sun Valley Magnet students to share their story about green infrastructure, water, and the environment through visuals. Students met at Elmer Paseo for World Water Day to develop their own water story and bring awareness and inspire action for the Elmer Paseo project by designing the new artwork for the Elmer Paseo wall mural.
Students took a tour of Elmer Paseo to learn about how green infrastructure projects work and the benefits they bring to our communities, the environment, and how they help address California’s water challenges.
Through CWH’s Watershed Connections activity, Slow it, Spread it, Sink it, students learned about drought and the importance of water conservation and best management practices for our watersheds.
Students then had an opportunity to share what they learned and tell their water story through sketches.
Check back next week to read about the second activity in our partnership series - Native Plant ID & Stewardship Workshop.
