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On October 1, 2025, more than 1,000 students from across Los Angeles gathered at our EF Academy Pasadena campus for the launch of TREEAMS (Trees + Dreams), a student-led initiative supported by Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE, Founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and a UN Messenger of Peace. The purpose of TREEAMS is to give young people a role in the LA wildfire recovery efforts with the goal of planting 5,000 trees across fire-impacted communities over the next few years.
That morning took a turn following news of Dr. Goodall’s passing, and the event became an impromptu memorial service for the beloved primatologist and global environmental icon. Students from EF Academy, Saint Mark’s School of Altadena, and Seven Arrows Elementary of Pacific Palisades planted the first tree on EF’s campus in her honor, surrounded by local elected leaders and community members.
“The TREEAMS movement represents the very best of what young people can achieve when they come together with courage and compassion. By planting trees, they are helping restore ecosystems, combat climate change, and bring healing to communities in need.”
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From vision to implementation
In the months that followed, the focus of TREEAMS shifted from inspiration to implementation.
EF Academy Pasadena, working alongside Saint Mark’s School, Seven Arrows Elementary School, UCLA School of Education, EcoRise, and the Jane Goodall Institute, began building the foundation for TREEAMS to take shape.
As the team started mapping out how to start the 5,000 tree campaign, we encountered one major obstacle: Across Altadena, Pacific Palisades, and Malibu, many properties impacted by the 2025 wildfires are not yet ready for replanting.
For students who wanted to make a difference, that meant waiting - and the risk of losing momentum after such a powerful start.
But then we thought, what if students did not have to wait?
A new model for recovery
We knew from experience - mainly the development of EF’s campuses around the world - that mature trees are expensive to buy and plant, and young, inexpensive trees take a long time to grow. We also knew that reforestation and learning how to grow trees is a fun and interesting part of the K-12 science curriculum. And that’s how the TREEAMS tree nursery concept was born.
Trees could be grown first on school campuses by students, and then later planted in the fire-impacted areas once both the trees and the properties were ready.
EF Academy Pasadena became the first campus to pilot this approach, and local partners played a critical role. Mariposa Landscapes, Norman’s Nursery, Hunter and EPT Design – the same experts who helped design and maintain the EF Academy campus – donated their time, materials, and expertise to help establish the first nursery comprising 30 native trees.
EF Academy’s campus, currently serving as the temporary home of Saint Mark’s School following the Eaton Fire, provided both the space and the shared community needed to bring the model to life.
In celebration of Earth Day, students take action
On April 21, students planted the first TREEAMS nursery, working side by side to transfer native trees into larger containers that will support their growth over the next several years.
For EF Academy junior Jack Tracey, who is from Altadena, the moment carried personal meaning:
“These trees aren’t rebuilding homes or solving everything, but they’re doing something important. Bringing beauty back and helping us rebuild our community.”
Through partnerships with UCLA and EcoRise, students will continue to build on this work through hands-on learning in reforestation, soil health, and ecosystem restoration.
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A model designed to scale
While the first nursery was planted in Pasadena, the vision for TREEAMS extends far beyond one campus.
TREEAMS will scale the nursery concept across dozens of schools throughout Los Angeles, creating a distributed, student-led network of nurseries that can support long-term reforestation and community recovery.
The approach is simple and replicable. Whether it’s five trees or 25 trees, any school with a little space can grow trees, and students can lead the charge.
TREEAMS plans to organize an online database of the nursery trees so that once they’re ready for permanent planting, residents and property owners can request a TREEAMS tree at no cost. TREEAMS is partnering with local organizations and public works departments to ensure all trees are planted in the right location and receive the necessary irrigation.
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Looking ahead
What began as an inspirational campaign and a moment of remembrance has become something tangible and action-oriented.
Students are no longer waiting on the sidelines of LA’s rebuilding effort. They are growing what comes next.
And as these trees take root, so will a model that empowers young people to lead, learn, and make a lasting impact on the communities around them – just as Dr. Jane Goodall believed it was possible.