An 18-panel mural is being installed on the wall of Johnson Industries on south I Street.  Last summer, local teens from the Summer Youth Mural Project of the City of Arcata's Recreation Division painted a welcoming mural at the entrance to the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary.  Designed by 18-year old artist Chisa Hughes, 20 teens painted two different murals for installation in the community.  Funded by the Whale Tail Grant program of the California Coastal Commission and Wells Fargo Arcata, forest sustainable plywood panels were transformed into two beautiful, large paintings.  The Tide Pool mural was hung last fall on HSU's Natural History Museum on G Street.  Now, visitors to the Arcata Marsh can view an enticing view of Klopp Lake as interpreted by our youth. 
 
The City of Arcata's Environmental Services Recreation Division, Humboldt State University, and the Arcata Community Recycling Center were partners in this project.  The goal of these murals is to educate the community and raise awareness about preserving our local marine and coastal environment, and foster stewardship and responsibility, especially in our youth.  Using mostly donated recycled paint, and reusing brushes, buckets and tarps from previous mural projects, teens learn about the importance of protecting and preserving the watershed leading to the coastal waters that surround us.   
 
Continuing with the environmentally themed murals, local teens are encouraged to sign up for this summer's project located at the Humboldt Wildlife Care Center on Old Arcata Road. 

Teens paint the doublewide trailer that sits on the Jacoby Creek Land Trust site, while attempting to camouflage the building into the surrounding landscape.  Through funding from the MiaBo Fund, American Hydroponics, and private donations, teens study local wildlife, including the Aleutian Geese, and paint the entire building.  This project is for teens 6th through 12th grade (10-18 years of age) and is free of charge.  The painting takes place Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and begins on July 6, running through August 14.

For more information, contact the Arcata Recreation Division at 822-7091, or visit our website at * www.cityofarcata.org/rec*, or come by the Recreation Office at 736 F Street to sign up.