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Roots & Shoots

The mission of Roots and Shoots is to foster respect and compassion for all living things, promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs, and inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for people, animals, and the environment.

Dr. Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots is the youth-led community action and learning program of the Jane Goodall Institute. The program was built with the goal of bringing together youth from our community with university students to celebrate the legacy and vision of Dr. Jane Goodall. Roots and Shoots' mission is to place the power and responsibility for creating community-based solutions that address conservation, environmental, and humanitarian issues in the hands of young people.

Through the program, young people map their communities to identify specific challenges their neighborhoods face. From there, they prioritize the problems, develop a plan for a solution, and take action.

Roots & Shoots at the U of R 

The Roots & Shoots program at the University of Redlands works with three schools in the Redlands area: Lugonia Elementary, Franklin Elementary, and Barbara Phelps Community Day school. At these three locations, University students engage with youth who vary in age between 5 and 18 but are all excited to learn about our environment. Student volunteers work with the goal of educating students through outdoor activities in school gardens and indoor hands-on enrichment lessons (often planned using the curriculum from Roots & Shoots USA).  The Roots & Shoots program is free to the youth who participate providing an accessible after-school program for students to engage in before heading home. U of R student volunteers serve as program mentors along with the programs' Student Directors on a weekly basis during the academic year. Transportation is provided. 

When and Where

Franklin Elementary School:
Tuesdays and Thursdays
3:30 to 5:00 pm

Lugonia Elementary School:
Fridays
3:00 to 5:00 pm

Barbara Phelps Community Day School
Days vary by semester 
10:00 to 11:00 am

 Objectives

  • Teach the next generation about the values of sustainability and their local resources.
  • Show kids that being environmentally friendly is easy and enjoyable.
  • Provide support for children early on in their education to share and explore ideas about caring for our planet.
  • Be a positive influence and mentor children in our community.

Contact

For inquiries, please contact the Director of Sustainable Education and Associate Director by calling the Office of Community Service Learning at (909) 748-8838 or email rootsandshoots@redlands.edu.