Inside the Outdoors, OCDE’s outdoor education program, received an award of excellence from the National Waste & Recycling Association for its EcoChallenge waste diversion curriculum, developed in partnership with OC Waste & Recycling.
The public education program was recognized for its innovative approach to expanding recycling awareness, strengthening environmental literacy and helping students understand how their everyday actions can positively impact their communities.
Representatives from Inside the Outdoors and OC Waste & Recycling accepted the award at the National Waste & Recycling Association Industry Conference Jan. 21 aboard the USS Midway.
Designed for students in kindergarten through 12th grade, the EcoChallenge curriculum offers a closer look at organics recycling, climate science and sustainability through grade-level lessons offered in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. The program provides teachers with tools and activities to engage students in environmental stewardship in the classroom and at home.
Since 2021, OCDE and OC Waste & Recycling have worked together to educate thousands of students through EcoChallenge, reaching more than 12,000 Orange County students in 2024 — the program’s highest participation to date.
“This award is a testament to what’s possible when educators and community partners work together with a shared purpose,” said County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean. “Through Inside the Outdoors and its collaboration with OC Waste & Recycling, students are gaining practical knowledge about sustainability while developing habits that benefit their schools and communities.”
This year, the EcoChallenge curriculum is expanding to include new lessons on renewable energy and closed-loop recycling systems, along with field trip opportunities to OC Waste & Recycling landfills and recycling facilities.
Here are the other stories we’ve been following this week:
- OCDE has launched a new podcast, FutureCurrent — hosted by County Superintendent Dr. Stefan Bean — which will highlight story-driven, unscripted conversations with educators, community partners and industry leaders. The first episode is available on all major podcast platforms, with a video version on YouTube.
- On Jan. 28, students and staff from McAuliffe Middle School in Los Alamitos organized an activity-filled day to reflect and honor teacher Christa McAuliffe, and the 40th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenge disaster.
- After a 68-year career spanning generations of students and educators, certified personnel secretary Kay Nakauchi is set to retire from the Huntington Beach Union High School District.
- This spring, 25th United States Poet Laureate Arthur Sze will serve as keynote speaker at the 16th annual Creative Edge Lecture at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, sharing his creative journey and the enduring role of arts in education.
- Troy High School scored first place — and 12 medals overall — at the 2026 MIT Science Olympiad Invitational after facing more than 20 advanced science, engineering and team problem-solving challenges.
- More than 600 Orange County middle schoolers attended the Know More, Do Better Conference Monday, where Vanguard University leadership and guest speakers shared about the dangers of sex trafficking and provided students strategies to spot common signs.
- School staff, district leadership and community members in Santa Ana gathered to honor the dedication of Virginia and William Guzman Elementary School, recognizing the role the Guzman family played in challenging school segregation as part of the landmark Mendez, et al v. Westminster, et al case.
- Cook Auditorium at Anaheim High School has reopened after six years of renovations, bringing performances and school events back to the campus’ historic stage.
- The Yorba Linda High School and San Juan Hills High School football teams are set to join the Alpha League this fall, facing historically tougher competition in the league which includes two-time league champion Mission Viejo High.
- The Anaheim Union High School District board recently voted to seek proposals to repurpose its Hope School campus after approving the move of its more than 200 students to another school site due to consolidation efforts.
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