TREEAMS Initiative Takes Root at EF Academy

EF Academy, students, educators and civic leaders gathered to plant the seeds—literally and figuratively—of Altadena’s recovery on Tuesday morning.

The TREEAMS initiative, a student-led environmental program inspired by the late Dr. Jane Goodall, marked its next phase with a campus planting event that organizers say will help restore fire-scarred neighborhoods while educating the next generation of environmental stewards.

“This is a student-led initiative inspired by the late great Dr. Jane Goodall, who believed deeply in the power of young people,” said Shawna Marino, vice president at EF Education First and one of the program’s organizers. “TREEAMS is about turning that belief into action.”

Rather than planting trees directly into damaged soil, organizers have created a working nursery on campus. The trees will be cultivated over the next two years before being replanted across Altadena, including at Saint Mark’s School, which was destroyed in the 2025 Eaton Fire.

The effort reflects both practicality and patience. With many properties not yet ready for replanting, the nursery allows students to learn about reforestation while preparing for long-term recovery.

Pasadena Councilmember Rick Cole emphasized the power of small beginnings, recalling planting saplings decades ago that now tower above his home. “Great things come from small beginnings,” he said, urging students to imagine returning decades from now to see the trees they helped nurture.

Altadena Town Councilmember Dorothy Wong, who lost her home in the fire, spoke of the emotional and environmental significance of the effort. “Hope is action,” she said. “Supporting students and community coming together… helps grow the future of Altadena.”

Students themselves framed the project as both symbolic and tangible. “Even small acts can bring back what is lost,” said one Saint Mark’s student, reflecting on the group’s goal to rebuild not just landscapes, but community spirit.

By the event’s close, there were trees in new pots and hands in the soil—a modest start, perhaps, but one rooted in something larger: the belief that recovery, like a tree, begins with care, time and collective effort.