Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District Named 2024 Organization of the Year

The Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District (RCRCD) is making waves in the environmental education scene. They’ve just been named the 2024 Organization of the Year by three major California environmental education groups.

This recognition comes from the Association for Environmental & Outdoor Education (AEOE), Ten Strands, and the California Environmental Literacy Initiative (CAELI). They’re impressed with RCRCD’s creative programs and educational projects.

The state honor follows a national win for RCRCD District Manager Shelli Lamb, who recently received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of Conservation Districts.

Diana Ruiz, the recently retired Public Affairs Manager who spearheaded many of the celebrated programs, says, “We’re thrilled to receive this recognition from California’s leading Environmental Education organizations.”

RCRCD’s award-winning projects include the LandUse Learning Center demonstration garden, the Fresh and Local food and farm guide, and Riverside’s Mayor’s Monarch Challenge.

The district has given new life to a 100-year-old USDA research facility in Riverside, turning it into a Resource Conservation Center. It now houses a nursery for growing native plants and a 3-acre demonstration garden showcasing sustainable practices for Southern California’s main land uses.

Estrella Risinger, Executive Director of AEOE, praises the district: “Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District is doing amazing work in their community and the surrounding region.”

RCRCD offers free environmental education programs, volunteer opportunities, and community activities at three different locations. They’ve also created localized conservation publications in both English and Spanish.

One of RCRCD’s standout projects is its Monarch Recovery Program, which includes a 2-acre Monarch habitat at its Agricultural Greenbelt Facility in Riverside. This summer, RCRCD became one of just five groups in California to join a pilot program for raising, tagging, and releasing Monarchs.

The RCRCD works to protect natural resources in western Riverside and San Bernardino counties. They provide resource management help to private and public land users and coordinate habitat conservation projects.