Welcome to reflections about LASA from the Class of 2023! This year, LASA students will write the
monthly updates. We hope you enjoy learning more about our time together.
Let’s start with August…
Thursday, August 4 by Brendan, Emily, Maeve, and Nyla: “On the first day, we mapped Los Angeles by memory, explored the Huntington Library, and heard from two water experts. Mapping Los Angeles gave us a way to meet each other and a starting point to compare the knowledge we will gain over the year.
We conducted a scavenger hunt to familiarize ourselves with the variety of nature and art at the Huntington. Then, we had the honor of hearing from Jeff Kightlinger, Interim General Manager of Pasadena Water & Power and former General Manager of Metropolitan Water District, and Stacie Takeguchi, Assistant General Manager for Water at Pasadena Water & Power. Kightlinger and Takeguchi provided an in-depth history of how water has impacted Los Angeles and future plans regarding reclaimed and recycled water plants. We all had an amazing first day and we look forward to our future in LASA!”
Friday, August 5 by Abby, Anissa, Lizbeth, Taeyon, and Sharon. “We listened to and learned from a presentation by the MWD representatives, Mark Moss and Ivonne Castillo about water conservation and recycling. The slideshow was very informative and engaging. Everyone in the class learned a lot about how we can conserve water in our own home. We all had the chance to see in person the water purification process [at Pure Water Southern California in Carson, https://www.mwdh2o.com/building- local-supplies/pure-water-southern-california/].
It was described in detail to us. After the wonderful presentation, we went to a park to eat pizza for lunch and reflect on what we learned. The most interesting part of the day was seeing the machinery needed to make the water we use daily. The place we went to can purify up to 500,000 gallons of water a day. It is currently trying to get approved to build a larger water purification plant that will purify 1.5 million gallons of water a day. Water is an essential resource, so it is important to ensure that we are using water in a sustainable manner.”
Saturday, August 6 by Anaya, Daylin, Ilena, Liam, and Tanya. “On our third day at LASA, we kayaked the
LA River, a hidden gem in the midst of the metropolis. Gary Golding, our guide, taught the basics and led
us through the tranquil watercourse the fauna calls home. As we kayaked through the plants, Gary illuminated the trip with facts about the natural flora and fauna around us like the osprey, herons, egrets, and wild shopping carts. We were impressed by the greenery and wildlife and by the amount of water in this hidden portion of the LA River. After the first group kayaked, Gary shared his botanical knowledge and his philosophies about the mastery of plants.”
Thanks to all who support LASA – our teachers and adult partners, our donors, and all at USC who help us share this adventure every year with a new group of students. We look forward to gathering again in September.