ENERGY SAVING ADVENTURES

To learn more click the image to visit the Environmental Education Page at www.sdparks.org

View the Energy Saving Adventures program in action during a weekend outing.

Innovative Learning Space

The Energy Saving Adventures resource rooms were designed and painted by the original staff team using eco-friendly paints. Each room also features an Energy Star projector and screen and resources for participants to share with their families.

Program Curriculum

The Energy Saving Adventures program takes everyday actions and turns them into teachable moments. By paralleling exercise science with conservation principles, the basis of the program's curriculum was born.

View ESA Manual Volume 1

Signature Programs

Women in Energy & Recreation Series (W.I.R.E.S)

A program aimed at empowering the next generation of environmentally conscious and tech-savvy women.

Lessons in Energy & History

Through a collaboration with the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership, participants journeyed through Balboa Park to learn more about the LEED-certified museums and the significance of the seven bridges along the historic 1915 Panama California Exposition streetcar route.

Art in the Park

Free arts and crafts for residents provided as part of the ESA/SDG&E sponsorship of Summer Movies In The Park.

Upcycled Boat Regatta

In partnership with San Diego State University, the Upcycled Boat Regatta challenges participants to use everyday items to create and race boats.

Watts Growing On & Watts Cooking

A program dedicated to teaching youth about farm-to-table principles and the impact local food networks has on energy savings.

Carbon Offset-A-Thon

Using a custom bike calculator, participants estimate how much energy they produce while biking and convert it into carbon savings.

Photo by Jaime Dantas via Unsplash

Annual Beach Cleanup

A program designed to give participants an opportunity to give back to the community, averaging a total of 51 lbs of waste cleaned up each year.

Photo by Brian Yurasits via Unsplash

Awards

Featured

April 2016 - Local Government Beacon Spotlight Award

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Outreach Program was cited as a contributing factor, and ranked a Platinum Sustainability Best Practice for Promoting Community and Individual Action.

June 2014 - Certificate of Recognition for Community Service

The Energy Saving Adventures Program received State of California Senate recognition for its service-learning projects and community impact.

September 2012 - Barb King Environmental Stewardship Award

Energy Saving Adventures was cited as a contributing factor for “what County Parks is doing to cultivate environmental stewardship in others.”

December 2012 - Director's Gold Star

Awarded a Director’s Gold Star for creating and managing RecXplorers, a hybrid conservation and outdoor recreation program designed to empower youth to make changes in the world around them through responsible recreation.

Provided 250 outdoor field trips for 3,200 participants.

December 2011- National Association of Counties Achievement Award

Recognized in the Children and Youth Category for the program’s ability to support community needs in the areas of energy efficiency and sustainability through resource conservation.

November 2011 - National Recreation and Park Association Best Management Practice

Received recognition by the Conservation Task Force as a best management practice for youth engagement.

Signature Programs

The Energy Saving Adventures program has grown through the signature programs it has provided for youth in San Diego county. With the help of regional partners, these project collaborations have helped provide services for an estimated 3,000 local teens.

In 2014, the Local Government Commission named the ESA RecXplorers program as a “Program with Promise” and published a case study highlighting the curriculum-based board game.

View the full case study