On April 8th, the La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians hosted the largest Tribal Earth Day event in Southern California with 500 attendees and 60+ exhibitors from Southern California tribes and local organizations. The exhibitors engaged the visitors on environmental stewardship by centering their messages around the theme of the event, "Planting our Future." In addition to the booths, the event featured incredible song and dance performances from local tribes, storytelling from tribal youth, delicious food, and a large raffle.
The Climate Science Alliance co-hosted three tables with Climate Kids Ambassadors from Mission Bay High School and Pauma High School. Our interactive area featured a carnivores table with animal pelts and skulls, a pollinator/decomposer table with live caterpillars, lady bugs, and beetles, and a community art piece that reflected the commitments made by visitors to help the environment. With a variety of carnivores and insects on display for people to touch, we engaged the public on the importance of these animals and how we can all help to protect them. Kids who visited our table received a Climate Kids coloring book with drawings of things kids can do to help.
Our tables had support from two amazing groups of Climate Kids Ambassadors who volunteered their time to help us at this event. Local high school students from the Pauma Band of Luiseno Indians and a group of Climate Kids Ambassadors who traveled from Mission Bay High School with teacher, Steve Walters helped us run our activities and educate visitors.
The Climate Science Alliance is grateful to have been included in such a wonderful event and looks forward to partnering with Southern California tribes again in the future!
Happy Earth Day!