Rewilding Efforts on Poly Campus Emerge as Symbol of Resilience

In the wake of the Santa Ana winds, a beautiful symbol of resilience emerged from our student-led rewilding efforts on the North and South Campuses. The winds damaged many structures and landscapes in Los Angeles. Still, miraculously, upon return to campus, the areas our students have invested energy into planting native plants have fared well because they have evolved to survive in the region’s dry climate with their deep root systems that keep them stable.

Wendy’s Garden on Poly’s North Campus was planted with attention to boosting biodiversity by choosing plants that support local ecosystems while also conserving water and requiring little maintenance. Additionally, native plants with extensive root systems restore the earth and support wildlife with pollination and food for animals remaining relatively unharmed in the wake of natural disasters. In South Campus, our Hügelkultur project also protected the soil, and on the day following the recent rain, water collected in its infiltration basin ensured that the Hügel retained the moisture necessary for future plants to thrive. Both areas on campus represent beautiful symbols in the wake of destruction.

“These techniques are really about student empowerment,” said Manager of Environmental Sustainability Laura Fleming. “It's about them being able to take action on the depressing global problem of biodiversity loss, which is accelerating due to climate change. The students’ exploration of planting native plants demonstrates how their actions can mitigate some of the impacts of climate change by boosting biodiversity, creating healthy soil and conserving water.”

Many plants you might find in a common nursery of Home Depot come from Greece or Australia, countries with vastly different biodiversity than Southern California. 90% of landscaping in Los Angeles is non-native plants. These plants harm our ecosystems because they don’t support animal life or regenerate the soil to promote further plant growth. Investing in native plants is essential to rebuilding the local ecosystem.

Poly has made many efforts to educate our students about these issues, including the recent Middle School Rewilding Block taught by Science Teacher Raman Mander and Laura Fleming. The students of this course recently presented their findings to stakeholders and philanthropist Wendy Munger  P ’00, ’03, ’07, after whom the garden is named, discussing the importance of these techniques.

“The Middle School Rewilding Block was a magical experience where we got to take hands-on action against biodiversity loss and climate change,” said Clara C. ’29. “I came to believe that rewilding is the most direct way someone can help the Earth. It allows us to work towards a better future where we can coexist with nature. Witnessing and participating in local success stories like Wendy’s Garden gives me hope that we can rise above this big issue of climate change. At the same time, we can reduce the costs of watering and maintenance while making the campus more beautiful. I hope that the Poly community continues to take on rewilding projects. Whether it be in gardens or backyards, rewilding locally makes a difference globally. My classmates and I really enjoyed this experience and hope that this block continues in the future.”   

In May of 2024, the Upper School’s Climate Change E Block Class presented to school leaders regarding committing to prioritizing planting native plants on Poly’s campus. Students from this year’s Upper School Climate Coalition Club and Middle School Rewilding Block advanced this initiative by presenting to the Board of Trustees in December, stressing the importance of increasing biodiversity on campus.

“The students’ engagement in trying to find ways they can help solve environmental problems gives me hope for the future," said Wendy Munger following the unveiling of the garden.

The learning shared by Middle and Upper School students captures the essence of a “one school” approach to learning where students of all ages can learn about pressing issues facing our planet and apply them on a local scale. We look forward to following how these efforts continue to bloom on our campus.