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What is the KICK Challenge? 

A Waste-Reduction Competition for PreK-12 Students & a chance to win $1,000 for your classroom!

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) partners with the Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE) to host the Keep It Clean Kansas (KICK) Outreach Challenge, a competition for Kansas students in grades Pre-K -12. Classrooms work as a team to create and share projects that educate others about recycling, composting, and other waste reduction activities in Kansas. Three classrooms are selected each year to win a grand prize of $1,000.

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In addition to competing in the KICK Outreach Challenge, educators and students receive access to a free virtual classroom, also known as the “Waste Investigation,” which features a curriculum of on-demand videos and activities centered around recycling, composting, and waste reduction — virtual “office” hours for students and educators to meet and communicate with professional environmental educators. The course is student-driven and provides countless learning opportunities in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM). KACEE hosts the online course and counts it as one of the two courses needed to achieve recognition as a Kansas Green School of Excellence.

2023-2024 Champion Teams

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Basehor-Linwood High School

Katlin Gripka Connell, High School 

Team Name: BLHS Outdoor Biology Class 

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Mize Elementary School

Mimi Leuszler, 5th Grade Classes

Team Name: Mize Elementary

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Moundridge Middle School

Katie Stucky, 5th Grade

Team Name: Moundridge 5th

2024-2025 Champion Teams

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Wichita Collegiate School

Jena Simms

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Holy Cross Catholic School

Angela Kopp

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Brewster High School

Chris Hoyt & Jentry Schroeder

Past KICK Challenge Champion Teams
  • KICK Challenge Informational Session
    KICK Challenge Informational Session
    Multiple Dates
    Wed, Feb 18
    Feb 18, 2026, 7:00 PM – 7:30 PM
    Zoom Meeting
    Want your students to take the lead on waste reduction, recycling, and composting projects while competing for $1,000 for your school? Join us for an informational Zoom session to learn how your students can participate in the Keep It Clean, Kansas (KICK) Challenge.
  • KICK Challenge Informational Session
    KICK Challenge Informational Session
    Multiple Dates
    Mon, Mar 02
    Mar 02, 2026, 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM
    Zoom Meeting
    Want your students to take the lead on waste reduction, recycling, and composting projects while competing for $1,000 for your school? Join us for an informational Zoom session to learn how your students can participate in the Keep It Clean, Kansas (KICK) Challenge.

Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE)

2610 Claflin Rd.

Manhattan, Kansas 66502

(785) 532-1902

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© Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education

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