The students of Sinsheimer Elementary School in San Luis Obispo were able to learn valuable life skills in business through a partnership with a local business, Junk Girls. Together, they created products to sell and raised $1,500 for a community project, which they donated to ECOSLO, the Environmental Center of San Luis Obispo.
On Arbor Day, the students and ECOSLO worked together to plant three trees at Sinsheimer Park. This experience was meaningful for the students as they were able to see the impact of their hard work and fundraising efforts. Fifth-grader Genevieve Palazzo expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to work with Junk Girls and ECOSLO, stating that it was heartwarming to see their dedication to helping the environment and supporting the students’ entrepreneurial aspirations.
Another fifth-grader, Sophia Bastidas, echoed Genevieve’s sentiments, highlighting the incredible collaboration between Junk Girls and Ecoslo and the positive impact their tree planting project will have on the community. According to Ecoslo’s program coordinator, Grant Helete, partnering with schools and organizations for projects like this is part of their Urban Tree Planning “Keys for Trees” program, which aligns with San Luis Obispo’s goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2035. This experience not only taught the students valuable business skills but also instilled in them a sense of environmental stewardship and community responsibility.