Projects Links Pree's Nature Lessons Sustainable Living
Roots & Shoots is the Jane Goodall Institute's environmental and humanitarian program for youth (preschool to university). Our mission is to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs and to inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for animals, the environment and the human community.
"Roots creep underground everywhere and make a firm foundation. Shoots seem very weak, but to reach the light, they can break open brick walls. Imagine that the brick walls are all the problems we have inflicted on our planet. Hundreds of thousands of roots & shoots, hundreds of thousands of young people around the world, can break through these walls. We CAN change the world." — Dr. Jane Goodall
In local groups, Roots & Shoots members plan and implement projects based on their group's unique interests, resources and community concerns. Roots & Shoots projects address one or more of the following three themes:
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Care and concern for the environment
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Care and concern for animals
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Care and concern for the human community
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In the Shasta County group we are doing projects supporting Anderson River Park, Cottonwood Watershed Group, and Anderson Partnership for Healthy Children. In Anderson River Park, we monitor physical changes in the ponds and macro invertebrates which are sensitive to pollution. We check for invasive plants and animals and we have created a GPS map of the trails. We put up ten trail signs pointing out native plants. A grant from BoatUS Foundation funded two aquatic pest awareness signs and three fishing line recycle bins. Many of our activities meet science content standards for California schools. Our group's members include home-schoolers, students from Charter Schools, and public school students that are interested in our projects.
With Cottonwood Watershed Group, we have planted trees to support the creek bank and provide cover for wildlife. We monitor Cottonwood Creek at various sites for physical changes and invasive plants.
With Anderson Partnership for Healthy Children, we promote health and self-esteem of youth by their participation in these projects.
In addition we participate in the Nature Mapping Program, World Wide Water Monitoring Day, the Great American Secchi Dip in and labeling storm drains "No Dumping, Drains to Creek" with the Redding Rotary Club. We built 12 bat boxes and installed them in areas where bats have been disturbed by construction or demolition. We also build song bird nest boxes, turtle rafts, recycle fishing line and make happy socks for orphan kittens.
Shasta Roots & Shoots would like to challenge you to achieve a sustainable life style. How? Reduce your ecological footprint and your carbon dioxide emissions to a sustainable level, and produce zero waste. For more information see www.ecologicalfootprint.org, www.zerowaste.org, and www.vtearthinstitute.org/carbonwkst.html.
It isn't easy to do this, but our kids can't survive without a life support system. We must adapt! Helpful suggestions will be posted. Helpful suggestions: Buy locally produced food and products, eliminate standby mode, combine all errands and outings to one day, eat low on the food chain, maintain natural resources at current or better levels, use drip irrigation, plant native plants.
Important Dates
9 AM Friday June 7 or Thursday June 13. Meet in Lema Ranch Parking lot. We'll be checking out the wildlife, especially tropical migrants and waterbird young. Please confirm 2 days in advance. Bring water and snacks.
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