Lunch ‘n Learn Introduces Kids to the Sea

“Best…fieldtrip…ever!”

So go the reviews we at Heal the Bay receive from the students who’ve accompanied us on one of our Lunch ‘n Learn fieldtrips. And we have to agree. Lunch ‘n Learn trips are our favorites too, as we get to spirit these kids away on a mini vacation from their concrete jungle to the beautiful beaches along our coast. 

Our current sponsor, Duke’s restaurant in Malibu, provides every student with a healthy and delicious three-course meal including their famous Hula Pie.  The students who come through our program get to learn about watersheds and the stormdrain system, dig in the sand and play educational games. 

Last year, after a last minute cancellation, we rang the siren to find a school capable of taking advantage of this opportunity.  Through a great relationship with the office of then councilmember Tony Cardenas, we welcomed Valor Academy for the very first time.  Needless to say, the kids had a blast! 

Valor Academy is a charter school located in Arleta, at the center of the northeast San Fernando Valley.  The students in the school rank among the highest academically in their area and are supported by a great team of teachers and administrators who believe in their path to success.  Often these types of schools have very limited resources and Heal the Bay was ecstatic to be able to reward their achievement through one of our best programs. 

It was our pleasure to welcome back Valor Academy for a second time on April 4, 2013. Both times we found the students very polite and well behaved, and able to absorb the material at an impressive capacity.  It’s evident the entire school reinforces a solid learning strategy for each child. 

We love to hear the kids describe the field trip as their best ever (some have even shared that the day was the best of their entire lives).  Seeing their young faces light up with the joy of learning and discovery is the reason why we love to hosts these types of fieldtrips month after month.   

The learning doesn’t stop there.  Thanks to a partnership with The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation, every scholar gets to go home with an ocean-themed book.

Here at Heal the Bay, we are constantly looking for new partners and sponsors to continue funding these types of hands-on learning experiences.  For many of these children, it is their first visit to the beach.  So if you are part of, or know of, a company who might be interested in growing this type of programming for all children throughout Los Angeles County—give us a call at 310.451.1500.

–– Eveline Bravo-Ayala (Beach Programs Manager) and Melissa Aguayo (Educational Outreach Manager)

Heal the Bay provides beach education through our Lunch ‘n Learn program to 500 Title 1 students per year. Learn more about our science-based educational efforts. Lunch’ n Learn is just the beginning!