Community Roots Academy to Showcase Environmental Responsibility

In celebration of Earth Day 2024, Community Roots Academy (CRA) – one of Orange County’s premier K-8 public charter schools – will showcase its schoolwide commitment to environmental sustainability and stewardship to hundreds of CRA family members and the general public.

CRA’s Earth Day Festival – “What on Earth’s Happening at CRA?” – is set for Saturday, April 20 from 1 until 4 pm at the school’s campus at 29292 Crown Valley Parkway in Laguna Niguel.

Event highlights will include butterflies, student ecology projects, interactive displays including from Urban Ecology, The Letterman Company, City of Laguna Niguel, Moulton Niguel Water District, Climate Action Campaign, OC Power Authority, the Recycling Dictionary, and more, along with musical performances, and tours of CRA’s noted Discover Garden.

Available for purchase will be upcycled and eco-friendly products from local artisans, custom canvas CRA tote bags, fresh veggies at the Roots & Fruits stand, auction items, food and beverages from local food trucks Nostimo Greek and Tikiz, and more.

The event provides an opportunity to spotlight CRA’s impactful partnership with the Moulton Niguel Water District, a collaboration that has been helpful in driving sustainability initiatives and championing environmental stewardship at CRA.

This partnership includes the implementation of the District’s High-Efficiency Device Retrofit Program, which aims to help schools better understand their indoor water consumption and identify water efficiency improvement opportunities. The retrofit program provides free high-efficiency water devices and installation to schools within the District’s service area.

Through the District’s retrofit program, CRA has replaced 29 toilets, 13 urinals, and 53 faucet aerators. This initiative is projected to save a remarkable 11,026,721 gallons of water over the high-efficiency device lifetime, resulting in substantial cost savings estimated at $109,775 for the school.

In 2022, CRA also participated in the District’s turf removal program, replacing 10,114 square feet of turf with drought-tolerant and California-native plantings that has not only transformed the school’s landscape but also inspired the entire community to embrace sustainable practices.

“Educating the community on the importance of water conservation is crucial for sustainable living,” said Brian S. Probolsky, Board Vice President, Moulton Niguel Water District. “We are proud to support Community Roots Academy in their efforts to promote environmental awareness and conservation practices.”

“CRA’s exemplary initiatives serve as a shining example of how schools can make a significant impact on our environment,” continued Brian S. Probolsky. “We commend their dedication to sustainability and look forward to continuing our partnership to create a greener, more sustainable future in our community.”

Over a decade ago, CRA was established with one mission in mind: to create a free public charter school with a foundation rich in Project-Based Learning (PBL). Through this rigorous and dynamic curriculum, students are able to actively engage in their learning, inspire curiosity and foster a community filled with life-long learners. CRA has proudly made a significant impact on education and the local community.

“Our Earth Day event will be a great time for everyone to learn more about environmentally friendly practices, services and products that will make a huge difference when it comes to the impact on Mother Earth,” said CRA Co-founder and Executive Director of Operations Eve Fein. The integrated environmental education program at CRA is considered a national model for excellence.

“We welcome everyone to learn about the green programs we have on campus including Zero Waste, The Discover Garden, and The Green Champs,” said Fein. “We hope everyone will feel the joy of taking simple steps to improve our environment as we work together to create a compassionate community working towards climate solutions.”

Last year, the California Green Ribbon Schools (CA-GRS) bestowed a Bronze Level award to CRA for its environmental excellence and demonstrated achievement in three Pillars: Reducing environmental impacts, improving health and wellness by promoting a healthy physical environment, and offering effective environmental and sustainability education.