Teaching Students about the Arroyo

ArroyoFest has worked closely with teachers from the Arroyo Seco area over the past year to support “place-based education” or education that uses the local landscape, history and community life as the touchstone for teaching and learning.

Through ArroyoFest’s special teacher training series, “A River Runs Through It: Connecting the Communities of the Arroyo Seco,” over 50 teachers from local K-12 schools have learned how to integrate the study of the Arroyo into their classrooms. On June 15, 2003, teachers and classrooms from throughout the Arroyo participated in ArroyoFest by making banners to decorate the parkway and displays about the Arroyo Seco for the “Education Corner” at the ArroyoFest Community Festival. Would you like to make the Arroyo Seco a part of your work with students and local youth? The ArroyoFest Teacher Resource Guide is full of activity ideas you can use to teach about the Arroyo while fulfilling state educational standards. Also check out South Pasadena High School teacher Don Wielenga’s student web site about the newly formed South Pasadena Nature Park in the Arroyo. In the future, ArroyoFest hopes to broaden this dialogue about “place-based education” in the Arroyo and build partnerships between schools, teachers, administrators and parents to pass a sense of responsibility and stewardship to the next generation. To find out more, contact Marcus Renner or write us at: ArroyoFest 2106 Colorado Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90041 323-341-5093 Or send an e-mail to: arroyo@oxy.edu.	Student displays in the education corner at the ArroyoFest Community Festival (photo by Virginia Renner)
	Dr. Gretchen North of Occidental College talks about native plants with local teachers. (photo by Anne Dove)
	Local teachers investigate a pond in Hahamongna Watershed Park during "A River Runs Through It" Training Workshop. (Photo by Anne Dove)