Paar: Water As Our Teacher
The LA Rooted youth summer program just concluded. The youth (and instructors) had a great time being rooted in place, community, and play. Every day they got to learn with their full bodies. Moving, listening, and remembering. This unforgettable experience for our youth was made possible thanks to your support.
During Week 1, students had the chance to become familiar with the group, and one student even learned how to ride a bike in two days! Some of the highlights include a ride along the LA River on a guided tour after learning about its history and significance. They also got to learn about the rich history of the indigenous people who have made use of the land and water here for generations, and the week concluded with a ride up to Griffith park and back—their first long ride.
Week 2 the youth had the opportunity to practice urban planning through reimagining what the LA River could look like as a source of clean water and site of community resilience.
On day 2 of the second week, we explored Metabolic Studio’s “Un-Development” Tour, connecting art, ecology, and water systems. The last day of the week was focused on preparing for the bike camping adventure in week 3. The youth learned the essentials of packing their gear, setting up camp, and the safety practices that would be important during their trip.
Week 3 was a big adventure all the way from the LA River to the Ventura coast. The first day, the youth loaded up their bikes with their sleeping bags, pads, and group gear, did an ABC Quick Check, stretched, did a grounding exercise, and embarked on their journey. We road down the LA River bike path to the Glendale Station where we caught an Amtrak to Ventura. We arrived at our camp around 1pm and began setting up. After putting up our tents and stashing our gear, the youth got to have their first visit to the beach. That evening we enjoyed some fresh-grilled fish, followed by campfire vibes and s’mores.
That night there was a large earthquake in Russia and a Tsunami watch was issued for the California coast. Not sure what to expect, we were on guard until a park Ranger assured us that we would be notified of any important updates. After that we were able to rest peacefully under the gorgeous night sky. The next day we got back on our bikes for a ride along the dunes up to Buena Ventura. After lunch it was beach time, followed by beach cleanup. That night everyone got to enjoy cheeseburgers and another campfire. And on day 3 we packed up and headed back to LA.
Week 4 was the last week of the program. It started with a trip to the Ballona Wetlands were the students had the opportunity to learn about the wetlands and their importance. At the end of the week the students got to showcase and celebrate what they had learned, reflecting back on how far they have come since the start of the program.