Here at Laguna Beach High School, the FLOW program is something that both our students and staff take great pride in. FLOW is an acronym for Fire, Land, Ocean, and Water. It is a dynamic program intended to educate students about environmental issues and inspire them to make a meaningful impact on the local community on a larger scale. It does more than just teach students facts; it actively engages them in filmmaking projects and research assignments and gets them thinking deeply about various environmental topics and the world around them. At LBHS, teachers in the English department work together to show that what students learn within the school is relevant and applicable outside. According to Mrs. Benson, a ninth-grade English teacher and FLOW adviser, “The goal of the FLOW program is for students to see how what they learn at school is relevant and applicable to the real world.”
Each January, every student at LBHS begins a FLOW unit in their English classes, where they focus on a different aspect of the environment. The four components of FLOW—Fire, Land, Ocean, and Water—are assigned to each grade level, respectively. Students produce various projects that encourage creative expression and research as they read and learn about their specific environmental focus. For instance, the junior class at LBHS creates a film each year that addresses an ocean-related issue of their choice. These are then judged by a panel of film critics with the Coast Music and Film Festival. Films showcasing their excellence in the top ten are presented at the school’s Artist’s Theatre as part of the FLOW Ocean Film Showcase, enabling students to share their works and raise awareness about essential environmental issues.
With its glimmering ocean views and abundant sunshine, Laguna Beach is an everyday reminder that caring for the environment is essential to preserving the town’s beauty. This beauty is not lost on the community youth, who, through the FLOW program, gain a deeper appreciation for their local surroundings. Beyond the in-class projects, the FLOW club is a powerful extension of the program, taking learning about the environment to the next level through service activities around the city. One such activity includes a field trip to El Morro Elementary School, where high school students lead presentations for younger students, teaching them about the importance of environmental stewardship. They use interactive games and activities to help grade schoolers feel responsible for caring for the planet. Mrs. Benson says her ultimate hope for students is that “they matter—that they can instill change, that even something small can make an impact, and it might not be so small if you actually try.”
However, advocacy and education continue in the FLOW program apart from what students do and learn in class. Through a week labeled as FLOW week, LBHS hosts a stream of speakers educating all students on contemporary pressing issues affecting the environment, including climate change, water conservation, biodiversity, and pollution. These events help students relate to the world beyond their school and motivate them to take action in different ways, whether through community service, joining environmental groups, or being more conscious of how they treat the planet. Past guest speakers, such as Chad Nelson, CEO of the Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting oceans and beaches worldwide, have motivated students to participate in conservation efforts or advocate for policies that protect the environment.
The FLOW program is essential to inspire the next generation of environmental advocates. Even students who enter the program with little prior knowledge about environmental issues will be left with a wealth of information and a stronger sense of responsibility toward preserving the Laguna Beach community. Through the innovative projects and curriculum designed by the English department and supported by staff members across LBHS, students gain academic knowledge and develop a deep, personal connection to the world around them. As students explore topics from fire ecology to water conservation, they learn that even their most minor actions can have much more significant impacts and that making personal changes in life can make a difference. This year and for future years, the FLOW program will continue to ensure that every student graduating from LBHS is well-versed in environmental issues but also passionate and knowledgeable in ways that provide positive, lasting impacts within their local communities and the planet. Through the FLOW program, LBHS students are prepared to be the environmentally conscious leaders our world needs.
