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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

As an added benefit to Kansas educators, KDHE sponsors up to 25 educators annually to participate in an online professional development course to become a Green Leader and receive one Graduate Credit through Baker University.

  • KICK Challenge Informational Session
    KICK Challenge Informational Session
    Multiple Dates
    Mon, Oct 13
    Zoom Meeting
    Oct 13, 2025, 5:30 PM – 6:30 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.

2025 Keep it Clean, Kansas! (KICK Challenge) Registration Form

Congratulations on joining the KICK Challenge! You will receive an email with login instructions. Please fill out the form below to register.

Grade(s) taught
How many years have you been teaching in a classroom?
0-2 years
3-5 years
6-8 years
9-11 years
12-15 years
16-20 years
20+ years
We have limited space for 25 teachers to enroll in the February 2026 Kansas Green School Leader eeCredential. Details below:
No, thank you
I have some questions. Please contact me.
I want to register. (Please register via the link below.)

Enroll in the BE THE CHANGE: Strategies for Greener Schools eeCredential for Spring 2026. This opportunity provides you with the professional development to become a Kansas Green School Leader, successfully lead your team through the Waste & Recycling Investigation, and more. Plus, the option to enroll in 1 hour of graduate credit through Baker University.

Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE)

2610 Claflin Rd.

Manhattan, Kansas 66502

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(785) 532-1902

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© Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education

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