Taking the Reins evolves and expands programming to best help underserved girls in Los Angeles. We prioritize bringing these students new opportunities to build skill sets and position themselves for success in the future. Being located on the Los Angeles River – at the base of Griffith Park – we have a natural, accessible place for our students to interact with their environment. So, we wanted to take further advantage of this “outdoor classroom” because of our growing awareness that environmental knowledge is a resource for our students. That’s why, earlier this year, Taking the Reins introduced an Environmental Science Program. We have already served more than 160 students from Title I schools since the program began.

“Our Environmental Science program has been met with excitement from students who are eager to learn and explore,” Executive Director Jane Haven said. “Not only is this a great opportunity to serve our current students, but we can also welcome new ones. In addition, it opens up a new avenue for community engagement, partnerships, and fundraising. All in all, this is a wonderful addition to what happens at Taking the Reins.”

There are a variety of goals for this program, including: ​​​​​​​

• Teaching confidence, purpose, and belonging through environmental literacy, sustainability, and connection to nature.
• Offering potential career pathways in climate science, conservation, and public health
• Creating opportunities for leadership, activism, and advocacy
• Using place-based learning in natural spaces to combat nature-deficit disorder for urban youth ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Taking the Reins recruited Karen Pavliscak to create the STEAM-based curriculum and lead this program. She comes with more than twenty-five years of experience developing programs that help young people better understand themselves, their communities, and the world around them. As Educational Consultant for Taking the Reins, she collaborates with environmental educators, scientists, and community partners to design place-based learning experiences that explore the connections between urban and natural systems.

“Environmental literacy is imperative,” Karen explained. “The lack of literacy disproportionately affects low-income students. Teaching them to support these ecosystems will help their communities. Through our program, students learn how this knowledge supports their health and well-being.”

Most of our students come from densely populated areas of Los Angeles that lack green space. We are dedicated to giving our students experiences that will prepare them to be successful, capable individuals. The evolution of our programming reflects this commitment. For the last 25+ years, our organization has grown with the needs of our girls and young women as our greatest priority.

Another unique feature of our environmental science program is that it is open to boys and girls. This inclusion expands access to nature and the education TTR provides to all youth in Los Angeles.

What kinds of things are they doing/learning about in this program?

• Bird watching and identification
• Water science
• Investigating the Griffith Park Trails
• Identifying native and invasive species in our region
• Learning about Indigenous peoples and how they used their natural resources
• Medicinal plants​​​​​​​

Aside from the knowledge that could eventually lead to students pursuing higher education and potentially becoming employed in the climate and environmental science space, this program also has tangible, real-time benefits.

“These activities in nature give students an authentic sense of belonging,” Karen shared. “There is also a huge positive impact on these kids because they are digital natives. Spending time off screens, sitting in silence, listening to bird calls, helps them feel connected to the natural environment, which we know helps them create a bigger sense of belonging.”

“We have had students say that ‘sweating for a purpose’ has helped things like anxiety and stress from things happening in their lives,” Karen added.

The students’ response to this program has been great from the beginning. We always use their experiences and feedback as our greatest measure of success and as a signal for where we should head next.

Below are testimonials from our recently held Earth Day Celebration.

“The Taking the Reins environmental workshop was an amazing combination of education and fun. This experience not only taught me about the LA River and fueled my passion for conservation even more (which is quite the feat), it also gave me memories that I will not forget for a long time. I loved getting to bird watch while also learning about the ecosystem the birds live in and how it all works. I’ve never gotten to get that close to the LA River before, and this did not disappoint. I love plants and animals and getting to learn about them, so this opportunity fueled my love to new heights.”  -Rebecca

“Our trip to Taking the Reins was such a great opportunity! We learned so much from our water testing lab, which we had the privilege to do right by the LA River, that we applied directly to our chemistry lessons in class. Additionally, our bird watching activity, which followed closely after, was so much fun. Who knew so many species inhabited our urban landscape! It was also wonderful to see the various animals and how vital they are to our ecosystem, especially the way we farm using their waste as compost. Learning about sustainable agriculture also brought our attention to the dangers of invasive species. Our time spent weeding these non-native plants taught us how important it is to care for our environment. Taking the Reins really is a hidden gem and it was truly an unforgettable experience that I will never forget.” -Zahara

We hope that you join in our excitement for the newest addition to Taking the Reins programming. If you would like to receive more information about supporting our environmental science program, reach out to info@takingthereins.org. To learn more about all of Taking the Reins’ programs offered to youth in Los Angeles, visit our website www.takingthereins.org.