Los Angeles is the perfect place for group’s with a strong appreciation for the outdoors and the environment. Focus on the natural world fuels local commitment to preserving natural spaces and working toward becoming one of the greenest big cities in the US.
Day 1
- Caltrans District 7 Headquarters – Begin your day at this downtown Los Angeles building which provides proof that an office building can have a knockout architectural design and also be environmentally friendly. The building has received a silver rating from the United States Green Building Council. The 13-story structure’s skin produces electricity through the use of photovoltaics, while other energy-saving features make it a model of sustainability.
- Audubon Center – At Debs Park, this cutting-edge, environmentally minded center and monitoring program is an excellent place to appreciate the diversity of bird life within the 300-acre park. The center is also the first LA building to function entirely off of the grid and has received a platinum rating, the highest possible, from the United States Green Building Council.
- Eco-Home – A living research center offering tours. Located on a typical city lot, the charming, tree-shaded Eco-Home features many green features: xeriscape, food garden, composting, photovoltaics, solar hot water, graywater system and more.
Day 2
- Griffith Park – Although fires have forced long-term closure of several park facilities and hiking trails here at the largest urban park in the United States, many are still open and a delight to explore. Open hiking trails include Oak Canyon, Lower Skyline, Rattlesnake and Amir’s Garden. Ferndell trails are open and terminate at the Observatory, a perfect spot for lunch after your hike.
- LA Eco-Village – Home to about 35 green activists who have moved to the immediate area to work together on sustainable urban living. They often host lectures and classes focused on ecology and environmentalism.
- The Theodore Payne Foundation for Wildlife and Native Plants – Dedicated to promoting and resorting native landscapes and habitats.
Day 3
- STAR ECO Station – This exotic wildlife rescue center is in the middle of LA’s Westside. To encourage a sense of responsibility for these animals, the Station offers up-close visits with tropical birds, reptiles, wildcats and ocean life.
- The Wright Organic Resource Center – Focusing on using traditional and innovative materials that are ecologically responsible.
Day 4
- The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy – The driving force in preserving more than 55,000 acres, including Malibu Creek State Park and Topanga State Park, which has more than 36 miles of hiking trails and great views of the Pacific Ocean.