An innovative tree nursery inspired by the late Jane Goodall was launched Tuesday at two Pasadena schools, where students will grow native trees for wildfire-impacted communities.
The project is part of TREEAMS — short for “Trees + Dreams” — a student-led initiative aimed at planting 5,000 trees across Altadena, Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas following the 2025 wildfires, organizers said.
The nursery, located on the shared campus of EF Academy Pasadena and Saint Mark’s School, marks the first large-scale implementation of the effort, allowing students to cultivate trees on campus before they are planted in fire-affected neighborhoods.
“The TREEAMS movement represents the very best of what young people can achieve when they come together with courage and compassion,” Goodall said prior to her passing. “By planting trees, they are helping restore ecosystems, combat climate change, and bring healing to communities in need.”
The first nursery includes 30 native California sycamores and coast live oaks, which students will care for over the next two years before transplanting them to permanent sites in Altadena, officials said.
Additional nurseries are planned, including one in Pacific Palisades next month, with dozens of schools expected to adopt the model in the coming year.
“Six months after losing Dr. Goodall, her legacy is carried on through our students,” said Margarita Pagliai, co-founder of TREEAMS. “The nursery model allows them to take action now — not years from now — and to be part of rebuilding their communities in a real way.”
The initiative also includes a curriculum developed in partnership with UCLA’s School of Education and EcoRise, giving students hands-on experience in reforestation, soil remediation and ecosystem restoration.
For many students affected by the fires, organizers said the effort carries personal meaning.
“Through TREEAMS, our students are not only planting trees — they are planting hope,” said Jennifer Tolbert, head of school at Saint Mark’s School. “Many of our students are still displaced and navigating what comes next. This gives them a way to take part in rebuilding something real, even before they can return home.”
Organizers said additional restoration work is planned in the coming weeks, including a project at Will Rogers State Historic Park, where students will help remove invasive species and plant native vegetation as part of a long-term recovery effort.