Creating Schoolyard Forests: A Look at the SoCal Leadership Institute
/On a crisp November day, six Southern California school districts convened at Cal Poly Pomona’s College of Environmental Design for the second session of Green Schoolyards America’s Southern California Regional Leadership Institute for School Districts. Their mission? To strategize achieving a 30% tree canopy across their campuses.
Participating Districts
Representing a diverse range of district sizes, the group included Los Angeles Unified (530,000 students), El Monte City (7,000), Colton Joint Unified (19,000), Newport Mesa (17,000), Pasadena Unified (15,000), and Rialto Unified (23,000). Districts were chosen based on their interest, readiness, and need - a measurement based on their existing tree canopy and how hot it is projected to be there in the future. Each district faces unique challenges but shares a common goal: transforming their campuses into greener, cooler, and more resilient spaces.
The cohort model fosters a collaborative, supportive environment where districts learn from one another. Participants ask critical questions like, How did you overcome this barrier? Why did you approach the work this way? or Who in your district approved this step? This peer-to-peer exchange has proven invaluable for accelerating progress and breaking down silos.
Focus Areas and Early Insights
The Leadership Institute features four full-day workshops. In the first session, participants explored why schoolyard forests matter and began drafting their vision for achieving 30% tree canopy, with a focus on what benefits they want to achieve. They also started assessing their districts’ needs, challenges, and opportunities, a process they will refine over the coming months.
Recurring themes included the importance of collaboration across departments—curriculum, facilities, sustainability, and maintenance—and the need for dedicated time to focus on greening goals. One participant reflected, “It’s great to work in a supportive environment with inspiring ideas and practical strategies.”
A Tour of Inspiration in Rialto
Between sessions, Rialto Unified hosted a tour showcasing their innovative schoolyard forestry efforts. Despite facing extreme heat—90+ degree days are common—Rialto schools have transformed their grounds with fruit tree groves, carbon sequestration forests, and outdoor classrooms. These initiatives provide critical tree canopy, mitigate pollution, and connect students with the environment.
Participants visited Werner Elementary, Morris Elementary, and Rialto Middle School, witnessing firsthand the benefits of strategic greening. Many were inspired by how district staff—from teachers to facilities teams—collaborate to create sustainable, maintainable schoolyards. “Seeing their carbon sequestration forest and outdoor classrooms sparked so many ‘aha!’ moments,” said one attendee.
Second Session: Deepening the Vision
In the second session, participants reflected on key insights from their first meeting and the inspiring Rialto Unified schoolyard tour. They presented draft versions of their district visions for schoolyard forest and engaged with expert presentations.
Dr. Marci Rainey highlighted the health benefits of tree canopy for young bodies, emphasizing how thoughtful design impacts children’s well-being. A tour of Cal Poly Pomona’s “Project Blue” demonstrated the educational and ecological potential of restored natural spaces.
Participants also explored real-world examples, including a case study from Oakland Unified showcasing strategies for integrating greening goals into district policies and plans, and began working with their teams on district action plans.
Next Steps
In the coming months, districts will develop their action plans, addressing key topics such as stewardship, policy alignment, and funding opportunities, in alignment with their district visions. Several districts with recently passed local ballot measures will also have exciting opportunities to integrate greening into school facility upgrades.
Participants will also dive deeper into design strategies, explore curriculum integration, and attend another peer district tour to gain further inspiration.
Looking Ahead
As this first cohort makes strides, the need for more support in Southern California is clear. Thanks to a new grant from CalFire, we’re thrilled to expand this program and recruit a second cohort of school districts. If your district is interested in joining this transformative effort, fill out our interest form. Together, we can create greener, healthier, and more inspiring schoolyards for all.