TREEAM-ing Big: How Seven Arrows Is Leading Los Angeles Renewal

When wildfires swept through the Pacific Palisades in January 2025, the devastation was immediate and profound. Families lost homes, neighborhoods were uprooted, and Seven Arrows Elementary lost one of its beloved original buildings. Overnight, more than half of our families were displaced.

But out of this moment of crisis came something extraordinary. Guided by our Founder and Head of School, Margarita Pagliai, Seven Arrows did not just rebuild, we reimagined. Today, our vibrant new Clover Campus in Santa Monica, named for its location beside Clover Park, is buzzing with life, laughter, and learning. What could have broken our community instead deepened our resilience and creativity.

From Fire to Forest: The Birth of TREEAMS

As we rose from the ashes, a new vision took root: TREEAMS, which stands for Together Revitalizing Environments and Elevating Awareness by Mobilizing Society. Developed in partnership with world renowned conservationist Jane Goodall, TREEAMS is a bold student led movement to heal Los Angeles by planting thousands of trees in the places most affected by fire.

TREEAMS is more than an environmental project. It is a living classroom where children become leaders, scientists, and changemakers. Students map neighborhoods, study which native trees belong where, and then work side by side with parents, grandparents, and community partners to bring them to life. Each sapling planted is both a gift to the city and a symbol of hope.

Why TREEAMS Matters for Our Children

At Seven Arrows, we believe children learn best when they are given real opportunities to act with purpose. TREEAMS teaches students that they are capable of leading meaningful change not just someday, but right now. Along the way, they develop:

• Leadership skills by organizing and guiding their peers

• Scientific understanding through tree mapping and restoration work

• Emotional resilience as they transform loss into renewal

• Community connection by bringing together public and private schools across Los Angeles

In a time when young people face rising levels of stress and disconnection, TREEAMS offers something powerful: belonging, agency, and optimism.

Partners and Supporters

T.R.E.E.A.M.S. is a collaboration between schools, both public and private, community organizations, foundations and corporations — ll coming together to build hope and create impact. 

Lead Organizations: Jane Goodall Institute, Seven Arrows Elementary, Little Dolphins by the Sea PreschoolKey Partners: SoLa Foundation, UCLA Department of Education, Palisades Forestry Committee, Palisades Historic Society, Impact AO Foundation

Contact info:
treeams@sevenarrows.org

310-230-0257
2800 28th St Suite 100
Santa Monica CA 90405