This July, the rhythmic pulse of drums and paddles will echo across Brandenburg, Germany as more than 4,000 elite athletes from more than 30 countries compete in the 17th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Championships — the most prestigious event in the sport’s international calendar.

Among them? 14-year-old Ysabella Cajanding from Bellflower — making waves on the Junior U.S. National Team.

“These kids have made sacrifices for two years preparing for Germany, and I couldn’t be more proud,” said Nathan Salazar, Team USA coach.

Dragon boat racing, a sport with roots dating back over 2,000 years in China, is now one of the fastest-growing water sports worldwide. It combines fierce physical endurance, flawless timing, and team unity — teams of 20 paddlers race in sync to the beat of a drum aboard 40-foot-long boats adorned with traditional dragon heads and tails. It’s a spectacle of culture, community and competition.

“I want to bond with my team, make memories, and hopefully win gold,” Ysabella said about the upcoming trip to Germany. ”I like the community it creates with my teammates. We’re working together, paddling together and winning together.”

For Ysabella, this journey started when she was just seven years old, paddling alongside her dad Rex who has competed for over two decades. By age 12, she was making history, competing internationally in Thailand, where she brought home three gold medals and two silvers, becoming the youngest competitor at the 16th IDBF World Dragon Boat Racing Competition.

“I started because I saw my dad doing this sport. He’s been a part of it since before I was born, and he saw my interest growing and put me in the boat with him. Now, I’ve been paddling for half my life,” Ysabella said.

Now, Ysabella and Rex are not just father and daughter, but also teammates representing Team USA on the global stage. Their shared passion for dragon boat racing has built more than strength, it’s deepened their bond and created a legacy of teamwork and resilience.

When she’s not on the water, she prioritizes her wellness and conditioning for the sport. According to a nationwide survey conducted by Planet Fitness, teens believe physical activity helps deal with emotional ups and downs of being a teenager, and 93 percent agree that regular exercise is beneficial when handling challenges. 

“Watching my daughter grow through sports and at the gym, I’ve seen how it strengthens more than just her body—it gives her confidence, clears her mind, and helps her face the daily challenges teens deal with today. She also has our full support. Her mother, Liz, provides her with good nutrition and mental stability, always reminding her that she’s a student before an athlete,” said Ysabella’s father, Rex. 

Ysabella is a regular at her neighborhood Planet Fitness, where she utilizes Team USA coach-approved machines that target the back, shoulders and core muscle groups she needs to excel as an athlete. She works out at Planet Fitness three times a week, noting that the gym has lots of space for her to complete her fitness routine. 

“I have an athlete mentality, and I’m thankful that my local Planet Fitness has the space for what I need to accomplish. It’s hard to find a good gym that’s not overcrowded,” said Ysabella. 

She especially enjoys the resistance bands for assisted pull-ups, something that not every nearby gym provides. Both Ysabella and Rex use the massage chairs and hydromassage beds at Planet Fitness to cool down and recover their sore muscles. What’s more uplifting, 90 percent of teens say exercise helps them feel happy, with 88 percent noting improved mood after exercise noted by the survey.

Whether they are training for a sport or just want to get in some healthy exercise, Planet Fitness is dedicated to investing in teen wellness. The franchise is offering free memberships to high school students and athletes nationwide ages 14-19 from now until Aug. 31 as part of Planet Fitness’s annual High School Summer Pass Program. For more information on how to sign up, head to planetfitness.com/summerpass. 

The post L.A. County Teen Makes Waves at World Dragon Boat Championships appeared first on L.A. Parent.

Each year, The Tomorrow Prize offers a window into the future — one imagined and articulated by L.A. County high school students who write, revise and enter their stories into the annual science-fiction writing contest founded by the Omega Sci-fi Project. This year, we are thrilled to honor Eddy Ju, whose first-place story “Verdant” stood out for its bold vision, strong writing and environmental themes.

L.A. Parent is proud to join other organizations each year in co-sponsoring the prize. I served as a finalist judge, and we publish the first-place winner’s short story on laparent.com and excerpt it in our digital and print magazines. 

This year marked the 10^th anniversary of the prize, which is the culmination of months of free classroom workshops led by passionate writers and educators. The workshops engage more than 400 students each year, empowering them to prepare their stories for submission to The Tomorrow Prize or The Green Feather Award, both part of the Omega Sci-Fi Project. In May, the awards ceremony was held at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena. Well-known actors performed dramatic readings of the students’ stories, bringing them to life on stage and affirming the power of storytelling.

Ju, who recently graduated from University Prep Value High School, says he was shocked when he heard his name called as the first-place winner. “Verdant” is a gripping sci-fi story imagining climate resistance through sentient plant life in L.A. “I felt this mix of shock, excitement and gratitude,” he says. “It was surreal to realize that something I wrote had resonated so deeply with others.”

Ju says he wrote “Verdant” because he’s always been fascinated by the intersection of science and society. “I wanted to explore how environmental challenges might shape the future in deeply human ways,” he explains. “The idea of bioengineered plants transforming urban life came from both a place of curiosity and a desire to imagine hope amid crises. 

“I’ve also been a part of the Baldwin Hills Greenhouse Program for three years as an intern, where we focus on environmental restoration, education and justice,” he says. “The experience I gained from the program really shaped how I think about cities, ecosystems and the role young people can play in reimagining both. Writing this story felt like a creative extension of that work.”

And while he will study economics at the University of Pennsylvania in the fall, “writing will always be part of my life,” Ju says. “Whether through journalism, creative writing or research, I hope to keep finding new ways to communicate ideas that matter.”

Read “Verdant” by Eddy Ju below.

Verdant

By Eddy Ju

Los Angeles was dying.

The heat smothered the city, pressing against buildings and streets like a lid trapping boiling air inside a sealed jar. The asphalt exhaled a stench of scorched tar and metallic ozone, and the once-bustling streets lay eerily still, their surfaces shimmering with a feverish glow. Those fortunate enough barricaded themselves inside climate-controlled sanctuaries while the rest were left to wilt under the relentless sun as they endured the rolling heatwaves and the slow, suffocating collapse of a city gasping for relief.

But high above the sweltering streets, in a rooftop lab where the last breath of innovation stirred, Leo Park watched something grow.

A single vine stretched upward, its bioluminescent leaves catching the hazy light like fragments of a dying star. It coiled around a steel beam, moving slowly and deliberately as if it were sensing the world around it. Verdant had taken root.

Maya Torres, a community gardener and Leo’s closest ally outside the lab, crouched beside the vine. She traced her fingers over its smooth surface.

“It’s alive,” she murmured, though there was something in her voice that hinted at awe rather than simple observation.

Dr. Malik, Leo’s mentor, scoffed from the railing. “It’s a plant, not a prophet.” Maya didn’t look up. “Then why does it feel like it knows we’re here?”

Leo didn’t answer. The data streaming across his tablet told him what he already suspected.

The numbers didn’t lie — Verdant was growing at an impossible rate. It reached for shaded spaces, adjusted its own temperature to combat the sweltering heat and, somehow, deep beneath the soil, it was coaxing moisture from places that should have been long barren.

The city needed this. The world needed this.

At first, no one noticed the transformation. The change came gradually, creeping in like the quiet before a storm. Vines slithered through alleyways, spreading cool shade over the cracked pavement. Rooftops once blistering under the relentless sun softened beneath a canopy of emerald leaves. The brittle skeleton of the LA River cracked open, and from the depths, water flowed once more, feeding a resurgence of green that no one had thought possible.

The city exhaled. For the first time in years, people could breathe. And then, the news reports began: INVASIVE PLANT THREATENS CITY INFRASTRUCTURE

BIOENGINEERED GROWTH COULD DESTABILIZE LA. 

IS VERDANT A MIRACLE — OR A MONSTER?

At first, Leo dismissed the media’s panic as nothing more than fearmongering. Verdant had been designed to heal, not to harm. It was meant to be the city’s salvation, a last desperate attempt to restore balance to an environment that humans had already pushed beyond repair. Yet as negative reports continued to flood in, he could no longer ignore the weight pressing against his chest.

The data had always suggested rapid growth, but this was something else. The plant was not just expanding; it was choosing.

Leo scrolled through the latest satellite images, his fingers tightening around the tablet as he studied the patterns forming across the city. Verdant had spread far beyond its initial test sites. Its tendrils stretched into every neglected space and weaved through the underfunded neighborhoods that had suffered the worst of the heat. South L.A., Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights — Verdant flourished in the very places the city had abandoned. And yet, in the glittering corridors of Downtown, along the manicured streets of the Westside, the growth remained restrained. Its presence was delicate, almost intentional.

Maya stood beside him, arms crossed, her gaze hard. “You see it, too, don’t you?” He swallowed, unable to look away from the images. 

“It’s favoring certain areas. It’s protecting them,” she said quietly. “Like it knows who the city left behind.”

Leo wanted to remind her that plants didn’t make choices and that this was all just environmental adaptation. But deep down, something gnawed at the edges of his understanding. Verdant had been engineered to respond to stress and to seek out the most extreme conditions and restore balance. What if that instinct had extended beyond soil and temperature? What if it had recognized something woven into the city’s foundations and history of neglect and division?

Dr. Malik, who had remained silent for most of the evening, exhaled sharply and set his tablet down. “We designed Verdant to survive. We just didn’t consider what it would do once it understood the world it had been born into.”

Before Leo could respond, the lab door burst open. Amelia Cho, one of the junior researchers, stood in the doorway, her face pale, phone gripped tightly in her hand. “Turn on the news.”

Leo hesitated for only a moment before swiping to the live broadcast. The screen flickered, and the image of a press conference filled the room.

A man in a tailored suit stood at the podium, the sleek skyline of Downtown L.A. stretching behind him like a kingdom he had no intention of surrendering. Anton Vale, CEO of Orion Industries, the city’s largest energy company, stared down at the gathered reporters with the careful calculation of a man who already knew the outcome of the conversation.

“This isn’t about innovation anymore,” Vale said, his voice smooth, practiced. “This is about control. This plant is a threat. If we don’t act now, we risk losing the ability to manage our own infrastructure, our own homes. Orion is prepared to do what the city cannot. We will reclaim Los Angeles before it’s too late.”

The statement sent a ripple of dread through Leo’s chest.

Orion wasn’t just a corporation. It was the foundation upon which the entire city had been rebuilt after the climate crisis of the previous decades. The cooling grids, the artificial shade structures, the hydroelectric reservoirs — it all belonged to Orion. They had spent years selling the idea that survival had a price and that comfort could only be bought in carefully rationed increments.

Verdant, in its relentless growth, had dismantled that model in a matter of weeks. It had made Orion irrelevant.

And now, they were going to erase it.

Maya’s voice was tight. “What does he mean by ‘reclaim’?”

Dr. Malik didn’t answer. He didn’t have to. Because outside, beyond the glass walls of the rooftop lab, the first waves of destruction had already begun.

Fires erupted in the distance, thick black smoke curling into the sky as entire blocks were set ablaze. Controlled burns, designed to immolate Verdant from the streets before it could spread any further. Drone fleets descended like swarms of locusts, spraying chemical defoliants in shimmering, toxic clouds. The air reeked of scorched greenery and synthetic decay.

Leo felt his pulse hammer against his ribs. “No, no, no — this isn’t right. They can’t just…” 

“They can,” Malik said grimly. “And they will.”

But something was wrong.

The flames should have consumed the vines, reducing them to nothing but charred remnants scattered in the hot wind. The chemicals should have seeped into the roots, poisoned them, turned them brittle and lifeless. And yet, through the thickening smoke and the acrid haze of destruction, the plants continued to move.

They were not retreating. Instead, they were adapting.

Leo could only watch as the leaves darkened, their surfaces shifting, thickening, sealing themselves against the burn like a living armor. The roots plunged deeper into the earth, rerouting their paths with silent precision, evading the poisoned soil as if they had learned to recognize the threat.

And then, with terrifying speed, Verdant lunged.

Tendrils, once delicate and searching, now moved with singular intent. They stretched toward the heart of the industrial corridors where Orion’s cooling towers loomed in stark defiance of the encroaching green. What had started as an experiment in restoration had become something else entirely.

Leo’s breath came fast and shallow, his pulse pounding in his ears. Every instinct screamed that this was impossible, that no biological system could behave this way, not without guidance, not without will. And yet, the truth sprawled out before him, winding through the veins of the city, reshaping its foundation. This wasn’t a simple ecological shift. This wasn’t just survival.

Verdant was fighting back.

The city, which had once choked beneath the weight of its own decay, had grown tired of waiting to be saved. It was no longer a place of passive suffering, no longer a monument to human neglect. The plants were no longer just reclaiming the streets. They were becoming them.

A low rumble trembled through the ground, subtle at first but unmistakable, like a distant warning. Leo staggered back, his fingers tightening around the railing. Maya turned toward him, her expression unreadable, her voice quiet but steady.

“We started this,” she said. “Now what?”

Leo opened his mouth, but no words came.

Because beneath his feet, Verdant pulsed — not in fear, not in surrender, but in something deeper, something inevitable. The city shuddered, and for the first time, Leo understood.

This wasn’t just an experiment spiraling beyond control. It was an intelligence waking up.

And it was just the beginning.

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The Grove once again transformed into a sea of red, white and blue as it proudly welcomed the United States Navy on May 23.

This year’s celebration and vibrant patriotic festivities paid special tribute to the 250th anniversary of both the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps, honoring the brave men and women who represent an enduring symbol of American power, protection and pride.

“Last year’s Fleet Week celebration at The Grove was a powerful reminder of our community’s deep gratitude for our service members,” said Rick Caruso, founder and executive chairman of Caruso. “This year, as we marked 250 years of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, we were honored to once again open our doors — and our hearts — to those who serve.”

Festivities began with face painting and balloon twisters for families to enjoy, followed by a private lunch in the park for the sailors hosted by Sogno Toscano. That afternoon, The Grove offered guests a closer look at Navy traditions and heartfelt moments, including:

• A patriotic trolley procession parading down First Street featuring 110 uniformed sailors and The LA Marching Band
• Flyover salutes by a North American SNJ-5 WWII Advanced Trainer and LAFD helicopters
• Welcome remarks from Master Chief Petty Officer James Honea and Rick Caruso
• Live performances by the Navy Band Southwest
• Patriotic Fountain shows set to “America the Beautiful”
• Exclusive Fleet Week offerings for service members who showed their military ID. Select retailers and restaurants included David Yurman, Todd Snyder, La La Land Kind Café, Charlotte Tilbury, The Fountain Bar and more.
• Military displays and opportunities to meet and thank sailors in person

LA Fleet Week is a United States Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard tradition that brings active-duty ships and sailors to major U.S. cities for a week of public engagement and community outreach. The Grove served as a key partner in this citywide celebration of service and sacrifice, long serving as a destination for Angelenos and visitors to gather and celebrate beloved traditions, holidays, and special events. For more information, visit LAFleetWeek.com or TheGroveLA.com.

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This summer, local teens get to hit the gym for free.  Planet Fitness has announced the return of its annual High School Summer Pass program. Celebrating its fifth year, the initiative invites high school teens ages 14-19 to work out for free at any of its 2,700+ Planet Fitness locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Teens can visit PlanetFitness.com/SummerPass to register for the program with club access beginning June 1-Aug. 31. Find the club nearest you here. 

Since launching the program in 2019, Planet Fitness has invested more than $300 million in waived membership dues to promote youth health and wellness and improve the physical and mental health of millions of teens. Planet Fitness’ High School Summer Pass program has helped millions of teens establish healthy fitness habits during the summer months, a critical time when many young people lack access to organized physical activities.

To better understand what today’s teens are experiencing — and how to support them — Planet Fitness conducted a nationwide study, revealing the following key insights:

• Mental health is a major concern: 66 percent of parents are concerned about their teen’s well-being and stress levels and 72 percent of parents believe that consistent exercise can improve their teen’s mental wellness. Unfortunately, around three in five teens report their stress and anxiety are not improving and getting worse as they get older. 
• Working out is a solution: Encouragingly, 90 percent of teens say exercise helps them feel happy, with 88 percent noting improved mood after exercise.
• Exercise is more than physical health: Teens believe physical activity helps deal with emotional ups and downs of being a teenager; 93 percent agree that regular exercise is beneficial when handling challenges.
• Screen time is consuming: 81 percent of teens acknowledge that social media and video games take up a significant portion of their day. In fact, nearly four in five teens report that avoiding social media is helpful. 
• Summer brings a fitness slump: 50 percent of teens report that their fitness levels tend to decline when school is out for summer break.

“At Planet Fitness, we offer a high value experience to both our members and High School Summer Pass participants in a welcoming, judgment-free environment where everyone can get a great workout,” says Planet Fitness’ Chief Executive Officer Colleen Keating. “With free access to our clubs throughout the summer, we’re providing teens with the tools they need to develop healthy fitness habits that can last a lifetime.”

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Young L.A. County filmmakers are on an award-winning streak. C-SPAN visited Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach on May 19 to celebrate and honor students for their prize-winning documentary filmy entries in C-SPAN’s annual student video documentary competition, StudentCam.

C-SPAN and Spectrum representatives recognized the winning students and their teacher, Jeff Montooth, who served as their StudentCam adviser, at an assembly of classmates, teachers, family members and elected officials.

For this year’s competition, C-SPAN, in cooperation with its cable and satellite television partners, asked middle and high school students to address a theme — “Your Message to the President: What issue is most important to you or your community?” In response, nearly 3,500 students from 42 states and Washington, D.C. sent more than 1,700 entries to C-SPAN.

Award-winning documentaries

Several freshmen from Poly High received top honors and cash prizes for their documentaries:

Second-Place Prize ($1,500):

Nolan Sheets, Rene Ortega and Roman Leonor, freshmen, won second prize and $1,500 for the video “Crime: Perception vs. Reality.”

Third-Place Prize ($750):

Sara Kong, a freshman, for the video “Ocean Acidification: Small Changes, Big Problems.”

Honorable Mentions ($250)

Isabella Sim and Owen Gurga, freshmen, for the video “Editing the Future: Bridging Science, Society, and Policy in Gene Editing.”

Juliet Haesly and Megan Lee, freshmen, for the video “No Means No.”

Eliza Floto and Brianna Goldstein, freshmen, for the video “The Divided States of America: Is the United States Really United?”

Natalie Hebdon, a freshman, for the video “A Safer Tomorrow: America’s Need for Enhanced Disaster Protection.”

“Congratulations to all of the incredibly talented young students who won awards in this year’s competition,” C-SPAN’s Director of Education Relations Craig McAndrew said. “Through in-depth research and interviews with an array of topical and technical experts, [they] have crafted impactful short stories that capture issues of wide public interest and importance. [Their] documentaries set a very high bar for future StudentCam filmmakers.”

C-SPAN is funded by America’s cable and satellite television companies as a commercial-free public service. In Long Beach, C-SPAN is available through Spectrum, the local partner in StudentCam. 

“As a long-time supporter of StudentCam, we are continually inspired by the curiosity and creativity students bring to C-SPAN’s annual competition,” Senior Vice President of State Government Affairs for Spectrum Adam Falk said. “The program provides a unique opportunity for young people to showcase the critical thinking, problem solving and civic engagement skills essential for informed and active communities. We celebrate this year’s winners and look forward to watching them continue to follow their passion for storytelling through this medium.”

Popular Topics Explored

Now in its 21st year, this project-based learning experience asked students to explore and analyze matters of personal, local or national importance.The most popular topics addressed were: 

• Climate, environment and land use (11%)
• K-12 education policies and the cost of college (10%)
• Health care and mental health (10%)
• Gun violence, school safety and firearm policies (9%)
• Inflation, taxes, government spending and the economy (9%)

In addition to the grand prize and first-prize winners, C-SPAN awarded 16 second prizes, 32 third prizes and 97 honorable mention prizes. The StudentCam competition has awarded more than $1.6 million in prizes since 2004. You can watch all 150 winning videos from this year’s competition at StudentCam.org.

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Five Los Angeles high school seniors wrote stories that recently earned them the $1,000 My Story Matters IMPACT Scholarship, inspiring a community united by the power of youth voices.

PLUS ME Project hosted its annual IMPACT 2025 event on May 17 at Marlborough School, celebrating these five winners:

• Jesus Ayala James, Monroe High School
• Jimena Castaneda, Dr. Richard A. Vladovic Harbor Teacher Preparation Academy
• Mazel Ceniza, John F. Kennedy High School
• Hanna Corona, Woodrow Wilson Senior High School
• Lorenzo Flores, Alliance Morgan McKinzie High School

Selected from more than 238 applicants, the students took the stage to share how their personal stories are shaping their communities — each one a testament to the confidence and clarity that comes from owning your personal story. 

“This event captures the heart of what we do,” said Sean Leston, a communications and marketing specialist for PLUS ME Project. “IMPACT is about recognizing students who turn their stories into action and bringing them together with a room full of people who believe in their future.” 

Attendees enjoyed live student storytelling, a community lunch and a curated silent auction. Proceeds from the auction and event sponsorships will support PLUS ME’s goal to raise $50,000 and bring its storytelling programs to 500 more students across Los Angeles next year. 

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Families In Schools (FIS) has launched “Read LA! Storytime: Bringing Comfort Through Stories,” a literacy initiative designed to support young children affected by the recent wildfires across Los Angeles County.

Scholastic, the global children’s publishing education and media company, donated more than 10,000 books and Paperpie donated 3,000 books. The program will focus on young children in preschool through third grade in the communities of Altadena, Pasadena and Pacific Palisades, aiming to provide comfort and joy to children and families during this challenging time.

Through the power of storytelling, “Read LA! Storytime” is recruiting and deploying a corps of trained literacy volunteers to read to impacted children to provide emotional support, comfort and a sense of normalcy. With parental or caregiver consent, each child will receive a backpack containing four diverse books, ensuring access to reading materials despite displacement and hardship.

Book donations aim to restore hope and literacy

“This initiative is about more than just books; it’s about providing children with stability and emotional relief through books and storytelling,” said Yolie Flores president and CEO of Families in Schools. “In addition to elevating the importance of early literacy, reading aloud fosters connection, resilience and healing, and we are committed to bringing this aid to children affected by the fires.”

The initiative — part of Families In School’s “Read LA!” campaign — consists of two phases. Phase I, launching immediately, focuses on recruiting and training literacy volunteers to read to children at designated community sites at least twice a week, collaborating with local organizations, schools and government agencies to identify families most in need, and providing trauma-informed training to volunteers to ensure sensitive and effective engagement with children and families.

“Scholastic is proud to collaborate with Families In Schools to bring quality books to children affected by the wildfires. Research from the Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report shows that storytelling and reading are powerful tools for enhancing student mental health and positive self-esteem,”  said Billy DiMichelle, senior vice president of Scholastic’s Brand Marketing & Corporate Social Responsibility. “These books not only play a vital role in helping young learners regain a sense of stability and comfort during this challenging time, but also foster continued learning and resilience through access to stories.”

Melissa Roche, a brand ambassador and educational services representative for PaperPie, said: “It was an honor to help contribute books and comfort for families in need. Over 50 brand partners rallied together to raise funds, and with PaperPie’s generous 50% match of donations, we were able to donate nearly 3,500 books for kids who were impacted by the fires. We’re grateful for the opportunity to bring comfort, hope, and the joy of reading to families during these difficult times.”

Phase II of the program, launching in the rebuilding phase of fire recovery (2026 and beyond), aims to make a lasting impact by providing at least 20 diverse books per child to help rebuild home libraries, restoring children’s books in local libraries and early childhood centers affected by the fires nd partnering with national and local organizations, such as book publishers and philanthropic groups, to ensure the long-term recovery of children’s literacy resources.

Volunteers Needed: Join the Read LA! Effort

Families In Schools invites community members and organizations to join the “Read LA! Storytime” initiative. Volunteers and partners can help bring the healing power of storytelling to children in need.  To volunteer, visit bit.ly/readlastorytime. Visit here for the Spanish form: bit.ly/leamoslahoradecuento.

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For years, I dreamed of working from home, eschewing L.A. traffic and carving out more quality time with family. In 2020, that dream became a reality because of a nightmare: the pandemic. But even when much of the world went back to office work, my publishers made our remote status long-term. While I enjoy the ease of working from home as much as I had once envisioned, there are days I’d rather be anywhere else. Thankfully, coffeehouses aren’t the only option.

When construction chaos recently took over my house, I traded the incessant drilling and drywall dust for ocean breezes by booking a day of “resort working” at Santa Monica Proper Hotel’s rooftop via ResortPass.

My corner cabana — with just the right mix of sun and palm shade — became the perfect spot to edit, eat and enjoy vacation-like vibes. Whenever I looked up from my screen, I saw people lounging in the sparkling turquoise pool. This scene, backed by the Santa Monica mountain range and a wide swath of sky, helped open my creative vision in new ways.

No longer closed in by the walls of my home and the invasive sound of construction, I could breathe a little easier, soak up some vitamin D (after lathering on sunscreen) and hear and see other humans in real life! Before you remind me that the grass is always greener from the other side, I’m not ready to go back into an office full-time. Remote work really is my jam. But knowing that I can easily work from one of L.A. County’s beautiful hotels any time I need a break from home is refreshing.

Why ResortPass is a game-changer for remote workers
ResortPass lets you book luxe hotel amenities — such as cabanas, spas and pools — without an overnight stay, making it easy to turn any workday into a mini getaway. Day passes start at $25 and can increase depending on where you want to go and what kind of amenities you would like to access.

Booking is easy. On the ResortPass website, I entered my preferred location (Santa Monica) and date, clicked “all” for the amenities option, then browsed the list of participating hotels. The list included customer reviews, cost, icons symbolizing which amenities were available (pool, towel service, bar, food, etc.) and links to the hotels’ websites.

The pitch for a day at Santa Monica Proper Hotel let me know it was the choice for me: “Escape to a luxurious alcove at Santa Monica Proper Hotel for a day of pure relaxation. Savor the ocean breeze, enjoy personalized service and unwind by the rooftop pool with breathtaking views. Indulge in gourmet bites, sip refreshing cocktails and recharge in serene, stylish comfort. Treat yourself to an unforgettable day of bliss and tranquility.”

On the day of my poolside workday, I made sure I had chargers for my phone and laptop, a notebook, my reusable water bottle, sunscreen and trail mix. Located at 700 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica Proper Hotel is walking distance from the beach. Designed with coastal flair and natural tones, it is branded as a hotel with a “looser kind of luxury.” I easily found metered parking around the hotel, but since it was a workday, I decided to valet park, which was $40.

After I checked in at the front desk, staff directed me to the elevators leading to the rooftop. I sighed with pleasure when I saw my alcove — a corner with a lush couch that curved around a wooden table. Blessed with a sunny day, I was thankful the cabana was tucked under a squat palm tree with fronds that fanned over my workstation.

From Calabra, the hotel’s rooftop hotel that serves up Mediterranean and California cuisine, I treated myself to an oat milk cappuccino, truffle fries and the fattoush salad crowned with large falafels that burst with aromatic spices and boasted a crips golden-brown shell and a tender, flavorful center.

How to book your own work daycation
Booking through ResortPass is seamless — just select your date, choose your cabana and get ready to work in style. Even though you’re working, you’ll feel like you’re on vacation — especially if you take your break in the pool.

Cassandra Lane is Editor-in-Chief of L.A. Parent.

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Kids and teens across the country can now play golf for just $5 or less per round, thanks to a new partnership between Bank of America and Youth on Course. Through the Golf with Us initiative, youth ages 6-18 are eligible for a free one-year Youth on Course membership.

What is the Golf with Us program?

The Golf with Us program, launched in partnership aims to break down financial barriers to golf by providing free annual memberships for young players. The membership offers access to thousands of courses in 97 markets nationwide and a host of learning opportunities. The deadline to enroll is May 24, and program membership includes a registered handicap index in the United States Golf Association’s Golf Handicap Information Network (GHIN) system, along with continued development and learning opportunities.

“Through Golf with Us, BofA is showing young people what is possible in golf, and in life, when they work hard to achieve their goals,” said Raul Anaya, president of Bank of America Los Angeles. “By offering opportunities for Los Angeles kids to play golf here in our backyard, we are empowering youth and young adults through the transformational power of sports.”

David Tyrie, president of Marketing, Digital & Specialized Consumer Client Solutions at Bank of America, said: “By working with Youth on Course to help make golf more accessible, we’re helping grow the sport while also making a positive impact in our communities.”

Golf clinics and learning opportunities

Through Golf with Us, Bank of America will also bring unique instructional opportunities to youth in select markets throughout the spring, summer and fall by hosting a series of free clinics featuring professional golfers, athletes and celebrities with a passion for golf.

“Golf has the power to shape young lives in incredible ways — not just through the sport itself, but through the friendships, confidence and opportunities it creates,” said Youth on Course CEO Adam Heieck. “Through this partnership with Bank of America, we’re making it possible for more kids across the country to step onto the course and discover what’s possible. This partnership is about more than just golf; it’s about opening doors and changing futures.”

Strength in partnership

Youth on Course and BofA recently announced a multiyear, strategic partnership to expand golf access across the country for young players who are challenged to find an affordable place to play. As part of the agreement, Bank of America is helping fund widespread expansion of municipal course locations participating in the program. To date, more than 2,000 courses are Youth on Course partners nationwide.

The bank will promote Golf with Us through a series of commercials beginning during the Masters Tournament. Bank of America serves as Champion Partner of the Masters Tournament and has partnered with the Augusta National Women’s Amateur since 2019, hosting annual golf clinics for youth in the Augusta, Ga. area. In 2025, Bank of America became the presenting partner of the More Than Golf Invitational for female amateur golfers in partnership with the ANNIKA Foundation founded by golfing legend Annika Sorenstam. In addition, the bank has partnered since 2002 with the Latin America Amateur Championship and Asia-Pacific Amateur Championships.

Beyond its growing golf partnership portfolio, Bank of America also partners with iconic brands in sports that share a vision for excellence and achievement to deepen client relationships, inspire and showcase teammates, create lasting economic impact in communities and drive growth, globally and locally, through the power of sport. To learn more, visit about.bankofamerica.com/en/making-an-impact/sports.

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For this month’s cover story, we’re spotlighting Fox 11 Los Angeles’ new chief meteorologist, Adam Krueger — a weather expert renowned for his lyrical air. Krueger has an uncanny ability for remixing hit song lyrics (including Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”) into his forecasts, a talent that’s earned him more than six million social media followers. 

He recently relocated from Houston to L.A. with his wife, Amanda, and their two kids, Austin and Summer, and in honor of Father’s Day, we caught up with him for a family photoshoot at the Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica.

Below is my chat with Krueger about his viral moment with Snoop Dogg, his trial by fire during January’s wildfires and how life in L.A. has influenced him as a dad.

Your career has been devoted to meteorology. Was weather always an interest for you? 

Weather was more of a fascination than a passion when I was a kid. I used to watch VHS tapes of tornado chasers when I was in middle school, and in high school my dad showed me how to view weather computer models on the internet. I enjoyed being able to analyze a weather forecast on my own as opposed to watching the news like most people. [In college], I decided to pursue a meteorology degree at Purdue University.

At what point did you begin sneaking song lyrics into your forecasts? 

In 2022, when [The New York Times’] Wordle became popular, I started sneaking the daily Wordle word in the weather as an inside joke with my coworkers. I made TikTok videos revealing what the word was, then I’d reveal the clip from the news that aired the day before. Eventually, my followers started challenging me to level up. They’d request certain phrases, quotes and song lyrics. Over time, as my videos continued to gain popularity, I made them more complex and entertaining. 

When did social media and Hollywood start to take notice?

TikTok is where my popularity began. Then randomly one night, my phone began blowing up with Instagram notifications and my videos started getting a lot of views. A big moment for me was in 2023 when Snoop Dogg shared one of my videos and commented “Weather man on one.” I was on national and international TV, and websites like New York Post and Daily Mail wrote about it. Since then, a lot more people have tuned in, as well as Hollywood. It was a dream come true when the opportunity to work in L.A. became a reality. 

You joined FOX 11 L.A. as chief meteorologist just before multiple major weather events in SoCal and the January wildfires. Has it felt like a trial by fire for you?

Intense weather events, including wind-driven fires, are nothing new to me. Most of my career was spent in Texas, where the weather is wild! Before coming to L.A., I did a lot of research on SoCal weather patterns, microclimates and geography. From a meteorology perspective, I was quite confident in the forecast leading up to the January fires. I remember telling our viewers that I think most people don’t realize just how intense and extreme of an event this would be.

Meteorology aside, as a part of this community, I felt pain, shock and raw emotions like many others felt. Our family is lucky to still have our home and each other, but I have so much heartache for what this entire region went through and is still going through. 

What’s the move to L.A. been like for your family? Has it changed you as a dad?

The move overall has been great! We love it here and can’t get enough of spending time outdoors. We were going to the beach weekly for the first few months. Couldn’t get enough of it. We’ve also enjoyed just walking around our neighborhood to shops and restaurants. Sounds simple, but we love it because we’ve never lived somewhere so walkable.

Obviously, uprooting the kids comes with some challenges. But I’ve been impressed at how resilient and open-minded they’ve been. It also helps that they’re able to remain digitally connected with their friends in Texas. As a dad, I’ve become more understanding and empathetic of my kids’ needs and feelings. The move has also bonded us as we went on this big journey together.

Any surprises about life in SoCal? In the aftermath of the fires, has your impression of L.A. changed?

Honestly, one of the biggest surprises when we first arrived is just how ideal the weather is here — most of the time. Windows open? Unheard of in most places I’ve lived before. The “sunshine tax” is worth it!

Before living in L.A., as an outsider, I always just kind of assumed that there wasn’t much sense of community. After all, L.A. is a lot of separate areas spread out over a huge area, linked by congested highways, right? But I’ve been impressed at how wrong I was in that assumption. The fire aftermath proved there is a tremendous sense of community, pride and unity.

Tell us about some of the memorable moments you’ve had on-air so far in L.A. Any dream guests?

I’ve had a couple of fun celebrity collaborations! One was with Lance Bass when I included him in a video where I use “Bye Bye Bye” lyrics in the weather. Another was with Gene Simmons from KISS, where he was actually doing the weather with me. And of course, I dropped some “Rock and Roll All Nite” lyrics. Without missing a beat, he dropped some lyrics, too. Dream guests? It would be amazing to have Kendrick Lamar or Snoop Dogg come in.

You’ve landed a prime position for a meteorologist. Any interest in moving from the green screen to the big screen? What’s next?
It really is a perfect fit. Part of taking this job was to be somewhere where I could see myself [being] for a long time. Big screen? Sounds like a fun side gig! If the next Marvel movie needs a TV meteorologist, they know where to find me.

I would like to keep innovating creative ways to tell the weather story. I hope to revive something I came up with while working from home during COVID in 2020. It’s a segment I called “Weather on the Lawn.” It was really my first viral content before the lyrics took off. I used my backyard as a giant green screen and made videos where I walked around on the weather maps in my yard. But this time around, I want to scale it up, maybe on the LAFC or LA Galaxy field.

You can catch Adam Krueger delivering his fun forecasts at 5, 6, 10 and 11 p.m. on Fox 11 L.A. or on his TikTok, Instagram or X.

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