Early Impacts and Positive Results from Schoolyard Forest Leadership Institute
/On a recent Friday amid the busy last weeks of the school year, fifteen representatives from five school districts in Southern California gathered together for an afternoon zoom call. They were there to share the draft versions of their Action Plans for advancing schoolyard forests across their districts. This session was a crucial checkpoint in the Schoolyard Forest Regional Leadership Institute, offering districts the opportunity to present their visions and plans for bringing shade and other greening benefits to their school communities. The goal is to integrate these efforts into the districts' strategic planning, from short-term goals to long-term sustainability.
The Arc of the Program: From Vision to Action
The participating districts have now been working together for nearly a year, first convening in September 2024. Over the course of four day-long workshops and two inspirational schoolyard tours, cross-departmental teams from Colton Join, El Monte City, Los Angeles, Newport-Mesa, Pasadena and Rialto Unified School Districts have explored the value of schoolyard greening—specifically how schoolyard forests and green spaces improve children's health, well-being, academic outcomes, increase climate resilience, and even benefit the adults who spend time on these campuses.
Teams have also been supported to integrate this work into district operations. This includes aligning with district strategic plans, facilities master plans, academic priorities, and other key initiatives. Participants have learned about ways to connect greening efforts across departments, bringing together facilities, curriculum, and health teams. The aim is to create more holistic, district-wide plans that weave green spaces and outdoor learning into everyday school life and operations.
guest Expert teaches participants about campus greening at Cal Poly Pomona
Action Plans: Strategies for Success
The June zoom call was the first time the districts have shared drafts of their Action Plans, a tool that will help to guide their schoolyard forest efforts in the coming years. Their initial plans included an inspiring and impressive array of diverse strategies, which clearly reflect the learning and progress districts have made throughout the Institute. Here are some of the key components that districts are considering to ensure the success of schoolyard greening:
Operations and Maintenance Plans: The sustainability of these initiatives is key, and districts are working on operations plans to ensure long-term care and upkeep of green spaces.
Pilot Forests & Site-Specific Plans: Several districts are considering pilot programs to create their first schoolyard forests, with customized plans that reflect the unique needs and challenges of each campus. At least one district set forth a number of trees to plant per year, using tree canopy data provided to them as part of the program, with the goal of reaching 30% tree canopy in the next decade.
Promoting Social and Physical Well-Being: A number of districts plan to focus greening efforts on mental health and physical wellness, using green schoolyards to create spaces that support both.
Integrating Outdoor Learning Across the Curriculum: By embedding outdoor activities into all subject areas, districts aim to provide students with a more dynamic and immersive learning experience.
Training Staff and Educators for Outdoor Learning: Many districts are looking to enhance professional development for teachers and staff, focusing on outdoor and experiential learning. This will encourage students to engage with nature and the environment as part of their everyday curriculum.
A number of districts also mentioned having recently passed facilities bonds, which included potential funding for their greening efforts. This will help implement the strategies outlined in their Action Plans, including tree planting, site design, and community engagement.
cal poly pomona Landscape architecture students collaborating with leaders on Site plans for their district
A Program That Builds Lasting Relationships
As they consider the impact of the last nine months, many participants underscored how the program aided them in building stronger relationships between different departments within their districts. Katia Ahmed, the Wellness Coordinator for Pasadena High School District, shared her thoughts on the program and how it allowed more her team to have more open collaboration with their Maintenance and Operations department.
“One thing that really stood out to me was how these sessions helped break down silos between departments. In the past, we didn’t have much dialogue with Maintenance and Operations, but through this work, that changed. They attended a couple of our sessions, and it opened the door to meaningful conversations—about outdoor learning, tree canopy, and even recovery efforts after the fire. Now, instead of being seen as just ‘the health people,’ we are included as experts in outdoor initiatives.”
This collaboration not only enhances the potential for successful green initiatives but also encourages shared ownership of the process across district teams.
katia ahmed (left) in discussion with other district leaders about how to incorporate Other departments in their plans
Continuing the Work and Looking Ahead
The next steps for the districts include refining their draft Action Plans and preparing for final presentations in Fall 2025. This includes working toward securing board approval, a key step in ensuring district-wide buy-in. Green Schoolyards America plans to continue to support our school district teams through this process, helping districts implement and adopt their Action Plans over the coming school year. We look forward to sharing updates as these projects progress!
2025-2026 Cohort Applications ARE Open!
The SoCal Leadership Institute is now recruiting for its second cohort, set to kick off in Fall 2025. This new cohort will run through Spring 2026 and will continue to guide school districts through the process of transforming schoolyards at scale. Participating districts will receive tailored, hands-on guidance to assess their current status, improve their tree canopy, and develop actionable strategies for long-term green space integration.
If you’re interested in learning more about how your district can be a part of this transformative program, we encourage you to apply! Together, we can shape a greener, healthier future for our schools and communities. For more information visit our website: https://www.greenschoolyards.org/socal-institute