Every day is Earth Day for Inside the Outdoors, a program administered by the Orange County Department of Education.
Annually observed on April 22, Earth Day is a global opportunity to raise awareness and educate communities on environmental issues. Whether it’s a large organized cleanup, a small neighborhood effort or an individual collecting trash at their local park, all participants make a difference in protecting the planet.
In addition to coordinating hands-on science lessons for thousands of Orange County students through field trips and its Traveling Science program, Inside the Outdoors completed one Earth Day event last weekend and is planning to participate in four more.
On April 15, the program supported the city of Irvine by demonstrating a lesson on composting for groups that attended a guided walk in celebration of the Irvine Ranch Conservancy.
Here is a list of events that the Inside the Outdoors will be presenting or participating in to celebrate Earth Day and round out the month:
Corona del Mar High School’s Earth Day Fair on April 21
The team will support the Newport-Mesa Unified School District in providing a space on campus to inform and offer fun activities to help students learn about becoming stewards of the environment.
OC Parks and the Newport Bay Conservancy’s Earth Day at the Bay event on April 22
This free, family-friendly event features environmental-themed exhibits from local artists and community partners. Booths will include arts and crafts, science discovery and educational information. There will be live music throughout the day, as well as a scavenger hunt complete with prizes. The community is invited to attend this event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Anaheim Union High School District’s STEAM-A-PALOOZA event on April 22
The annual event is a district-wide open house that showcases students, each campus’ respective career technical education pathway and STEAM-related activities. The community is invited to this free event at Loara High School from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 22.
Annual beach cleanup event at the Newport Pier on April 30
Hosted by OCDE’s Educational Services Division and in partnership with the city of Newport Beach, Inside the Outdoors will be guiding Corona del Mar High School students at a beach cleanup on April 30 from 8 to 10 a.m.
OCDE’s Inside the Outdoors has been a leader in hands-on science and social science programs since 1974. The mission of the program is to empower students, teachers, parents and the community to explore natural areas and expand their knowledge, understanding and stewardship of the environment.
To learn more about Inside the Outdoors, visit the ITO website.