Headlands Environmental Home Program

This vibrant and innovative program is a unique element of the summer experience. Aim High students work out of the Tennessee Valley Nursery, situated along the Chaparral Trail.

Our Headlands Video captures the spirit of this exciting program.

The mission of the Headlands Environmental Home is to provide Aim High students with hands-on experiences that promote an understanding of and respect for the environment and aid in personal growth, interpersonal understanding and, ultimately, a stewardship ethic to carry into all areas of life.

As part of the summer program, the 9th grade students from each site dedicate one week to learning what it means to be stewards of the park. The week combines service to the park, such as trail maintenance or weeding invasive plants and reintroducing native growth, with environmental studies projects. Students also camp overnight, hike, have "solo time" (periods of quiet reflection), journal, work in small teams,a nd learn about hte ecology and the history of the region from park experts and naturalists.

In the winter months, small groups of students from select SFUSD middle schools continue to practice stewardship and environmental studies in the Tennessee Valley on a weekly basis.

In 2009, Aim High built a yurt at the Environmental Home site that serves as an ecology classroom, housing small group work and gear and serving as an example of sustainable architecture.

Please contact Richard Lautze at rlautze@urbanschool.org for more information on the Headlands Home program, or download the Headlands fact sheet.