Education and Outreach efforts are included as a component of most of the Rincon Environmental Department’s programs. Education and outreach efforts can include the production and distribution of brochure and informational pamphlets, the organization of community events and presentations, or the development of website content or multimedia materials such as film clips

The Department hosts and participates in annual community events such as Clean Up Day and Earth Day, and prepares community informational leaflets and brochures on various environmental to pics.

Education and outreach efforts often help improve the effectiveness of and community participation in environmental programs. For instance, elevating awareness of programs such as Rincon C.A.R.E.S within the community is essential prior to the implementation of this annual program. It is important that the community is made aware that the program ‘s primary intent is to maintain the health and safety of the community by enhancing clean up efforts and educating tribal members on the importance of protecting the environment.

Intertribal Earth Day -April 5^th, 2025- La Jolla Campground

IOn April 5, 2025, the La Jolla Indian Campgrounds transformed into a vibrant hub of environmental celebration as eight local host tribes (La Jolla, Rincon, Pala, Pauma, San Pasqual, Santa Ynez, Pechanga, and Los Coyotes) came together to honor Intertribal Earth Day with a special focus on pollinators. The event, titled Small Creatures, Big Impacts: Pollinator Superheroes, brought together an estimated 600 attendees to raise awareness about the vital role pollinators play in ecosystems and everyday life.

For the Rincon Environmental Department, pollinators—bees, bats, beetles, hummingbirds, and butterflies—were the stars of their booth, with informational flyers detailing their importance, the challenges they face, and ways the community can support them. The flyer stands displayed striking images and names of California’s common pollinators, helping attendees connect with these essential creatures. By bringing awareness to the struggles pollinators endure, the host tribes encouraged communities to act—whether by planting pollinator-friendly gardens, reducing pesticide use, or advocating for conservation policies. Without pollinators, the world would lose much of its plant life, crops, and overall biodiversity. The event sent a powerful message: protecting pollinators means protecting the foundation of life itself.

Rincon Earth Day -May 1st, 2025- Rincon Government Center

The Environmental Department organized its own Earth Day event on May 1st at the Rincon Government Center lobby. The setup included a table displaying a variety of succulents, assorted nuts, pens, and notebooks made from recycled materials. Moreover, an information rack was stocked with flyers covering crucial environmental topics such as recycling processes, the significance of recycling, decomposition rates of different materials in landfills, combating climate change, and guidance on septic system care due to Rincon’s usage of septic systems around the Reservation. By the event’s conclusion, nearly all the succulents had been given away, and approximately 40 Tribal members visited the booth to gather insights on how they can contribute positively to the Reservation and the environment.

Clean-Up Day-June 7^th, 2025- Rincon Transfer Station

• On June 7, the Rincon Environmental Department organized the annual Clean-Up Day at the Rincon Transfer Station. The main goals of the event were to improve the cleanliness, appearance, and overall well-being of the Rincon Reservation by removing litter, debris, and waste. This event was supported by Rincon Government staff and was funded by two U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants.

The Public Works team began their day early, collecting waste from Tribal Elders, Seniors, and disabled individuals living on the Rincon Reservation and transporting it to the Transfer Station. Disposal areas were set up for municipal waste, green waste, scrap metal, major appliances, household hazardous waste (paints, used oil, etc.), used tires, document shredding, and recyclables. Both Public Works and Fire Department staff worked hard helping to dump trash and green waste. Guests were checked in, welcomed with goodie bags containing educational giveaways, and directed to the various waste drop-off stations.  Guests were encouraged to check out the educational tables, partake in some refreshments, enjoy the music provided by a lively DJ, and maybe even get their face painted.

The event served as a platform for waste management education. Clean up activities result in increased environmental preservation, decreased fire risks, waste diversion from landfills, enhanced community aesthetics, and a reduced carbon footprint. The theme of the event revolved around compost education. Participants saw a display of the different stages of compost from greens and browns to the final rich soil, and the benefits of using compost. Local composting reduces fuel use and methane production by reducing the weight of trash hauled to the dump and by keeping food waste out of the dump where it can rot and produce methane gas.

The Clean Up Day event collected a total of 10.02 tons of municipal trash, 7.75 tons of green waste, ten pieces of furniture, two appliances, and eight pieces of E-waste.

Rincon Fiesta-August 17^th-Rincon Ballfields

On August 17th, 2024, the Rincon Environmental Department participated in the Rincon Fiesta at the Rincon ballfields. The booth hosted featured giveaways, a STEM kit display, informational flyers, a recycling game, and snacks. The goal was to provide information and educational material on important environmental topics to visitors of the event. The informational flyers distributed by the Environmental Department included how to live a sustainable zero waste lifestyle, the significance of composting, how to set up a home composting system, the importance of fixing leaky faucets to conserve water, and the detrimental effects of water pollution on both the environment and human health.

A STEM kit showcasing a water purification system similar to an aquifer was set up at the table to demonstrate how different materials like gravel, sand, activated charcoal, and filter paper can filter dirty water, and result in cloudy water becoming clear.

The recycling game helped attendees of all ages understand recycling, composting, and proper waste disposal. Additionally, the Environmental Department brought some giveaways that were handed out to visitors. The booth attracted about 55 people who engaged in enlightening discussions on ways to make positive changes in their daily lives. The interactive nature of the activities, especially the recycling game, was particularly effective in engaging younger attendees, planting the seeds for lifelong sustainable habits.

The event served as a good opportunity to offer educational material that fostered a sense of community and collective responsibility towards environmental stewardship. Visitors left the booth with a deeper understanding of how their small, daily actions could contribute to a larger, positive impact on the planet.

Go back to Rincon Environmental Department (RED) Page.