I Am TreePeople : Vahagn Karapetyan

“Good for your body, good for your mind, good for your confidence.”

At least, that’s how Vahagn Karapetyan, one of our Volunteer Supervisors, describes his involvement with TreePeople. In his years of service, we’ve truly come to rely on him. In fact, there’s an ongoing belief in our Forestry Department that when Vahagn signs up for an event, you can count him to do the work of 10 people.

Vahagn has been with us for over four years now, originally signing up for our Park Work Days here in Coldwater Canyon Park while he was still a student at UCLA.… Read more >>

Q&A: Emily Deschanel, actor — “Global warming is a serious problem that the next generation will inherit.”

Emily Deschanel is best known for her role as Dr. Temperance Brennan on the hit show Bones. In addition to acting and producing, Emily is also an avid environmentalist and a TreePeople supporter.  Learn more about how she’s taking action in her life to make Los Angeles green!

What do you feel is the most urgent challenge the world faces today, and what do you think can be done to help?

Global warming is a serious problem that the next generation will inherit.… Read more >>

Host an Eco-birthday with TreePeople!

Looking for an unforgettably fun and educational birthday venue for your favorite little one? Celebrate with TreePeople!

Learn about nature and our role in protecting and preserving the environment. Plus, your contribution to our Eco-birthday party program helps to support TreePeople’s critical work in the community and local mountains and watershed.

15754313133_9356472db6_k

We offer two types of interactive parties, both of which are lead by TreePeople educators:

Forest Fun Birthday

(Recommended for ages 5-6)

Wander along the forest trails of Coldwater Canyon Park using your senses to play a variety of interactive nature games and activities that are fun for all!… Read more >>

Celebrate our First Earth Day Soiree!

2015 was the hottest year on record. Here in California, we’ve experienced years of extreme drought and are now faced with El24115389029_1b99f49580_k Niño flooding. Planet Earth desperately needs our attention and care.

That’s where you come in! Support our work to grow a green LA and celebrate Earth Day in style. Gather friends and join us for our first ever Earth Day Soiree, a special fundraiser on April 21st from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm at Tiato in Santa Monica.  … Read more >>

How we captured 80k gallons in recent storms!

If you’ve visited our headquarters in Coldwater Canyon Park, you may have noticed a circular grasscrete in front of our Platinum LEED-certified Conference Center. Well, it’s not just decorative. It’s actually the top of a 216,000 gallon cistern that captures rainwater! (In fact, the visible grate marks only a portion of the entire 70’ x 8’ tank!)

What is a cistern?

When it rains, water that hits our Conference Center’s roof is diverted from gutters, as well as runoff from the surrounding parking lot and walkways.… Read more >>

10 Ways for Angelenos to Enjoy El Nino Storms

Angelenos, listen up! Forecasters are anticipating some El Niño storms through March–maybe even April. If you’re looking for ways to weather the storm (pun intended!), we’ve got you covered! Here are 10 tips to keep you occupied:

1. Cook up a storm (in the storm)

Maya Sugarman/KPCC

Maya Sugarman/KPCC

It can be easy to forget the impact our diet has on the environment. After all, water conservation isn’t always the first thing on our minds when we’re starting at a piping hot pizza.… Read more >>

3 reasons why your campus NEEDS native plants!

Looking to give your students new learning experiences? Plant a native garden! Here are three reasons why NOW is the perfect time to start.

1. It’s HEALTHY!

Did you know kids learn more when they’re given time outdoors? It’s true! Not to mention, time in green spaces is proven help kids focus and reduce the effects of ADD and ADHD.

A native plant garden is a great way to get your students into the fresh air AND engaged. On-campus gardens offer a hands-on opportunity to explore ecology, biology and even history, since many plants in Southern California were historically used by indigenous people!… Read more >>

I Am TreePeople : Carrie Wassenaar

“We could make a huge impact,” Carrie Wassenaar says, reflecting on simple steps people can take at home to grow a green LA. Carrie is a shining example of an Angeleno taking action.

A transplant from the midwest, Carrie’s love for nature started young. “My mother was huge into gardening,” she recalled. Even after 18 years in Los Angeles, she misses the rich, green surroundings of her hometown. But as she’s set down roots here in the city, she’s incorporated elements of her childhood upbringing into her routine.… Read more >>

Be a Leader. Install a Rain Tank!

Would you believe that this diagram represents what you can capture with just one inch of rain? Pretty impressive, huh?

Capturing stormwater is rapidly becoming part of the new LA lifestyle. After all, why use drinking water on your yard when you can harvest the rain for FREE? But before you make a purchase, do your research. It may be in your best interest to hire a landscape contractor to offer guidance tailored to your needs.

First, ask yourself these TWO questions to determine if this is a simple DIY project or if it’s time to call in a contractor.… Read more >>

Our 10 Favorite Accomplishments of 2015

Can you believe 2015 is over? It feels like it just started!

We had a big year here at TreePeople! We worked with Angelenos at the community and policy levels to make a difference in our city, and we’re thrilled by the results. Here are 10 of our proudest accomplishments from the past year:

23595780330_2f72c8e113_k

1. Over 9,600 elementary students visited Coldwater Canyon Park for an Eco-tour to learn about the importance of trees, our watershed and how to live more sustainably!… Read more >>