SCHOOL & YOUTH PROGRAMS
Solana Center's education experts offer science-based school programs that inspire and empower students to live sustainably, to reduce and rethink waste, and to become change-makers on their campuses and in their communities.
Eco-Literacy Program Offerings
Designed to be adapted for grades K-12, Solana Center is proud to offer in-person or virtual environmental lessons to students. Teachers can choose one or more of these NGSS-aligned lessons to meet their needs. We come to you; no need to find a bus!
-
This presentation will break down the process of decomposition. We'll dig in to learn how invertebrates, fungi, and bacteria play an important role in all ecosystems, including a compost pile!
-
The humble earthworm is a hero in our soil and compost! Get to know these wiggly wonders and how to partner with them for a greener world.
-
Through our interactive watershed model, you will learn how our every action has an impact on our waterways and on the humans, animals, and plants that live in and around them.
-
Want to make the most of your school’s garden or compost system? Bring in one of Solana Center’s composting experts to connect students to soil and build a sustainable system.
-
Did you see an offering you want adapted to your classroom? Solana Center will work with you to create a custom presentation to fit your curriculum on the following topics: composting, recycling, zero waste, watersheds, waste sorting, and textile waste reduction.
Waste Diversion in Schools
The goal of our waste diversion school program is to work with school district stakeholders to create a lunch waste sorting program in order to significantly reduce the amount of waste being taken to the landfill.
California legislation (AB 1826) has made diverting organic waste from the landfills mandatory for schools. By utilizing our waste diversion program, your students will already have the training and experience to meet diversion goals.
We offer support for:
-
Solana Center works with school staff to develop lunch waste sorting stations appropriate to your current lunch waste streams.
-
Custom education presentation will be created as an introduction to your new sorting station. Students learn the importance of properly sorting their waste.
-
Solana Center staff/volunteers stand with the waste bins at lunch and assist students with waste sorting in real time.
-
Training is provided for cafeteria and administrative staff to guide waste prevention and diversion from food services.
-
Waste audits will be performed before and after education to allow a metric for determining lunch waste sorting success.
-
Solana Center can provide guidance on waste bin placement, signage development, and other concerns relevant to your school’s specific needs.
Fun fact: After our education and outreach, one school in the San Ysidro School District achieved 96% accuracy in lunch waste sorting, enabling more of their waste stream to be recycled and composted!
Schedule a Program
Unincorporated San Diego County Schools: Many of our offerings are free to your school in the 2026-2027 school year. Contact Education & Outreach Specialist Sarah Van Horn via email [email protected] or phone (760) 436-7986 x709 to schedule.
All other schools: Program costs depend on grant availability. To receive information about program cost and availability, please fill out our School & Youth Program Interest Form.
Reaching Underserved Youth
At the core of Solana Center’s mission is education. We know that school funding typically prioritizes other pressing educational and social needs and environmental curriculum is often limited in low-income schools. Considering that environmental education can actually be more important in these underserved communities, our team continues to seek partners to provide this service throughout the region. View our Case Study
More Resources for Kids: Family Fun Activities!
Environmental protection and conservation is an important goal that the whole family can take action towards. Take a look at the family fun resources for young environmental stewards with more coming soon!
“Thank you so much for visiting our school! We really enjoyed having you here. I was very impressed with the presentation and felt that it was one of the best we’ve had all year. The content was applicable to fourth grade and went with the lessons being taught in class. The best part was the 3D watershed model. This brought these abstract concepts alive and kept students engaged. As a teacher, I really appreciated the organization, preparation, and management of the presenter. She was very upbeat and kept the students’ interest. Thank you again!”
— Phoenix Learning Center Teacher
“It was so fun to see the critters crawl around and move around and learn about what they did in the compost pile. My personal favorite was the grub because I found it very funny how they crawled on their backs. “
- Compost Critters Student