ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
During the Sophomore retreat days, each Sophomore will participate on retreat or on Service trips with her classmates. The Sophomore Service trips will focus on environmental stewardship and be completed in partnership with the Tree People and Heal the Bay at local tree plantings and watershed and beach cleanups. For these trips, students will meet at Louisville by 7:15 a.m. to board a bus, which returns them to Louisville by the close of the school day. In the Freshman and Sophomore years, students are also encouraged to become fully involved in their parish Confirmation and youth ministry programs.
Sophomores participate in beach and ballona creek clean-up
On a cold, dreary November morning, two busloads of sophomores left Louisville for a trip to Dockweiler Beach and the Ballona Wetlands near Playa Vista. After gathering to hear a speaker from “Heal the Bay,” the girls set off in teams of four to clean what appeared to be a beautifully manicured beach. After several hours and a refreshing lunch break they went on a hike to see and discover things about the Ballona Wetlands. Some of their comments shed light on the entire experience:
“I learned that humans have a blatant disrespect for the environment and habitat of so many other species. The accumulation of trash and discarded items was so repulsive that it made some students, including myself, uneasy.”
“I learned that attitude affects service. The group I was with looked at it not as service but as an experience to learn and explore, and because of this we had more fun and got more done than other groups who saw it as a chore.”
“I became aware of how strong some people can be to put change into effect. I was told that it took only eight people to save the wetlands from being developed.”
“I am already very environmentally conscious with the products and cleaning supplies my household uses, but now I will look out even more because I know that most of the waste drains into the estuaries and ocean.”
“I think the entire experience changed my view on the beach. To me it’s always been a fun place to hang out, but now I have stepped back and looked at it as a privilege, something I could lose.”
Thank you, sophomores, for sharing your experience with us.
Sophomore Service Schedule
Mondays, November 5th, February 4th , March 3rd
Please continue to volunteer and lead at all Louisville Service events throughout the year!
*All Service Hours require handing in completed Service Verification forms on time to your Religious Studies teacher.
