Ballona Education Programs

Once a vast estuary filled with wildlife, presently Ballona is an historic opportunity for outdoor education, ecological restoration, and community service in urban Los Angeles.  The Friends of Ballona Wetlands’ award-winning Volunteer Restoration Program offers schools, community groups, and individuals from all over Los Angeles the opportunity to learn about and restore this important coastal ecosystem.  This community service learning opportunity is open to anyone interested in participating in the program. 

Middle School Education Program

Friends of Ballona Wetlands, with support from Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission and the University of Southern California Sea Grant Program, now offers The Middle School Education Project.  This is a stimulating educational program designed to convey the value of our coastal wetlands, using Ballona as an example.  The Middle School Education Program, launched in spring of 2006, offers curriculum activities based in California State Standards.  It includes sections for in-class learning, on-site learning, and service learning activities.  The curriculum aims to integrate concepts for Earth Sciences, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, History, Sociology, and Geography.  The program addresses natural and cultural history, formation and functions of estuaries, connecting to our watershed, the importance of native habitats, and environmental stewardship and philosophy. 

What We Offer

Inherent in the FBW program is the unique opportunity to experience the wetlands as an outdoor classroom.  Here students can observe and interpret the wetlands through their own perspective.  Class material will offer learning activities to introduce students to wetland-related concepts.  Students can prepare for their visit to Ballona Wetlands through these various activities, while meeting State Standard requirements.  The program also offers an optional service learning component to engage students in hands-on restoration of the unique and rare habitat at Ballona.  Field trip group size varies from 8 to 60 students, while in-school presentation size is unlimited.

If you are interested in participating in the Middle School Program, please contact the Friends of Ballona Wetlands Programs Director.

Friends of Ballona Wetlands
Kelly Rose, Programs Director
(310) 739-8613 / 306-5994
ecorestoration@verizon.net

Home ||  Defenders || Protectors || Stewards ||  Who We Are
Ballona Wetland Facts ||  Ballona at the Crossroads
Freshwater Marsh ||  Maps || Fish of Ballona || Birds of Ballona
Plants of Ballona || Ballona Wetlands History
Volunteer Restoration || Existing Conditions at Ballona
Join Friends of Ballona Wetlands || Calendar of Events
Board of Directors || Order Note Cards and Video || Links