Montecito School Forest

In a quiet corner of Montecito Community School, a pocket forest is transforming a once dry, overlooked strip of land. Designed to restore biodiversity on campus, the forest offers shade and relief from extreme temperatures, while providing habitat for native birds like the California towhee, bushtit, and Anna’s hummingbird, as well as pollinators including monarch butterflies and native bees.

The forest will also act as a living outdoor classroom, fully integrated into the school’s Montessori-based learning. Students will take on regular responsibilities - watering, weeding, and monitoring the plants as they grow - building a sense of ownership and connection through meaningful, hands-on work. Older students will help lead these efforts, supporting younger peers and developing leadership through mentorship. It will be a space for practical learning: scientific observation, journaling, and exploring ecosystems and life cycles. Through these experiences, students will build ecological literacy and a stronger sense of their relationship to the natural world.