Lopez Canyon Environmental Education Center
The Department of Sanitation and the city of Los Angeles has built this outstanding Education Center with great facilities for school bus trips. This webpage will give you an idea of what you can see and Do at this site.
Suggestions for Day of discovery trips are at the bottom for both Elementary and Secondary students. You will see that most of the facilities needed for a successful and safe field trip are accounted for here. If you are a LAUSD teacher it is not on the preapproved trip list yet (I,m working on that) This means you need to plan 4-5 weeks in advance.
The first view you will have of the Lopez Canyon Pavillion and Guard Shack
The front view of education pavillion.
Side view of pavilion.
Parking for buses and cars in front
Guard shack across the street that has the keys to the bathrooms
Classroom friendly: 2 bathrooms, working water fountain and a large outdoor seating area
There are two bathrooms each with 4 stalls. The key to them is across the street at the guard shack
There is a shaded pavillion that sits 72 people.
The water fountain works great.
Anonther view of the shaded pavilion.
Lopez Canyon provides 3 types of Free mulch to its LA neighbors
Three types of mulch are available. A topping mulch and two types of soil amendment.
Shoveling mulch into containers
Filling a truck full of mulch
The premium mix is fine ground with horse manure mixed in for extra nitrogen
The sign explains the three mulches available for free at this site
Gardeners come in all day long to pick up the recycled green waste that is now nutrient rich water holding mulch.
Raised Bed demonstrations with fencing to keep out animals
Demonstration of Raised Bed Gardening at the front of the amphitheater
Tomatoes Grow in this raised bed unit. Note the rattlesnake warning as this site is next to the mountains
Tomatoes in Raised bed unit do quite well here.
Front view of raised bed unit.
Many bird populations live in this area:
Look up at the power lines to spot the doves relaxing together. What other bird might scare them away?
California Towhee can be seen hopping around the nature display area. Why does this species spend so much time on the ground?
There are anna's and alan's hummingbirds and 3 other species you might see. Do hummingbirds migrate?
keep an eye out for the California Scrub Jay or "blue jay" . Do you know what they sound like?
There are 12 demonstration signs that outline a green recycling process or water conservation ideas.
Backyard compost bin instructions
Backyard compost bin on display next to sign
How green waste is recycled into mulch in Los Angles
Demonstration on harvesting runoff water when it rains
Drought tolerant plants and trees on display in the pavilion area
The early San Fernando Valley had many streets lined with these drought resistant pepper trees. Be sure to smell the leaves.
Stone fruit trees do well in dry environments
California Farmers planted tens of 1000s of Sycamore Trees along their ranches as wind breaks in agricultural areas.
Wild Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia) This is a native stone fruit.
Datura Sp. Is a weedy plant seen in disturbed areas along roads and eroded areas. What is a weed?
Bottle Brush: Can you tell what part of the flower gives it the red color? Hint : not usual part
Mexican Bush Sage (Salvia luecantha) is a common in SF Valley Gardens and flowers most of the year! Watch out for all the bees!!
Willow Trees were an important resource in home construction and basket weaving to the native peoples of CA. Say hi to the humming birds.
Fire road hiking trail around the backside of the Center
The entrance to fire road trail starts with native willow on right and dry environment stone fruit trees on the left.
Up the trail are various clearings with cement benches. This area is being developed.
In the background are sedimentary mountains with high voltage transmission lines moving electricity across the western states.
The tumbleweed plant. This plant grows up into a giant ball. When it dies the wind will blow it for miles. What possible use is this adaptation?
Historic Human History of this area
Indigenous People lived here for at least 1200 years before the Spanish Missions, The Mexicans, The Gold Rushers, The Americans and today are survived as a band called Fernandeno Tataviam people. They continue to try to preserve some of their native land.
This is an excellent example of an environmental justice and human rights issue that continues to this day.
https://www.tataviam-nsn.us/
Who are the Fernandeño Tataviam people?
The Fernandeño Tataviam Band of Mission Indians (Fernandeño Tataviam) is connected to the lands of northern Los Angeles County. The current body of the tribe is traced to the lineages that predate the establishment of Mission San Fernando.
Tribal Name. Fernandeño refers to the natives removed from their homes and forced to register at Mission San Fernando. Tataviam is the Jaminate (Kitanemuk) language name for the peoples geographically located below Rancho Tejon, which translates to "people facing the sun," since the ancestors were known to live on the south-facing slopes of the mountains to receive warmth from the sun.
History. On September 8, 1797, Mission San Fernando was established and enslaved ancestors from the villages in present-day Simi, Santa Clarita, San Fernando, Antelope valleys, and parts of the Angeles National Forest.
At each village existed a single lineage, which may have been part of a larger settlement or region, but was completely autonomous. An individual would not marry within their lineage, and therefore, married exogenously with their neighbors which strengthened trade networks and created complex multi-lingual villages, connected through social relationships and kinship.
The United States government still does not recognize these peoples as a tribe: www.tataviam-nsn.us/federal_recognition/
Elementary School Day of Discovery Suggestions
Combined with visiting this site which might be an hour visit to talk about composting, mulch development and raised bed gardening. At some point in the day students could mix the soil and mulch and plant small plants or seeds somewhere.
What makes a good companion trip is to the nearby Discovery Cube. Besides STEAM ideas it examines many aspects of how Los Angeles manages waste, water and power. It is an excellent site that takes about 2 1/2 hours. 45 minute docent led and the rest is student exploration. It does have a entrance fee for students. Historically teachers that did staff development within the cube got free entrance for their students for two years. This program has been discontinued with Covid problems but may reemerge if school districts hire the cube for staff development.
https://www.discoverycube.org/teacher-professional-development/
Secondary School Day of Discovery Suggestions
being developed