California's MUSE School First in Nation to go Vegan!
MUSE, a private school located in Calabasas, California, has been reported to be the first school in the United States to have a completely vegan program.
All animal products-including eggs and dairy, have been removed from the school where students actually grow their own food. The school runs from early childhood to the 12th grade, and was founded by sisters Rebecca Amis and Suzy Amis Cameron, who is married to world renown director James Cameron, who backs the school. The school, according to the sisters, was founded on a commitment to sustainability and being environmentally-friendly.
In 2014, Amis Cameron stated:
“We are gradually moving towards a plant-based menu because we do call ourselves an environmental school. Within the next year and a half we will be plant-based.”
MUSE encourages students to learn more about food production and the environment by involving them in gardens. The 140 students also learn about solar paneling and are involved in a seed-to-table program, where they grow fresh fruits, vegetables, and more for their own cafeteria. Amis Cameron stated:
“At MUSE School we’ve implemented our own Seed-to-Table learning program, planting the seeds for life-long eating habits that produce healthy minds, bodies, and families.”
The decision to remove all animal-based products from their menu was made when the sisters decided they couldn’t be considered eco-friendly, if they did not make changes in this regard:
“MUSE is an environmental school, and we walk our walk in every other respect. This was just one of those ah-ha moments which made us realize we aren’t walking our walk 100 percent if we’re still serving animal products.”
While MUSE is following the footsteps of other schools in the US in terms of incorporating more environmentally aspects into their programs, they are also setting the bar by becoming completely plant-based, living up to their name and serving as real inspiration!
Photo Credit: www.npr.org
