Leigh Adams

Leigh Adams has worked passionately to connect children and youth to 
the natural environment. She has taught in Southern California for 
over 40 years in public and private schools and for over 25 years at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. Her curricula have included outdoor education, plant-based arts, habitat gardening, soil science, and other activities promoting environmental awareness, with a focus on water, carbon, and biodiversity. At the LA County Arboretum, Adams served 
as lead educator for the landmark Crescent Farm project, a one-acre outdoor classroom and demonstration site dedicated to creating a healthier urban ecosystem. Through her inspired teaching and leadership there, nearly 75,000 visiting children have participated in tours and activities. 
She has also been highly successful 
in reaching youth from low- income communities, with several individuals now pursuing careers in environmental organizations and the green industries due to her mentorship. Her sponsors consider Adams “among our region’s very finest environmental educators.”