Community members learn about a student-led worm farm project at a sixth-grade booth during the YES Earth Day Festival on April 25. Photos courtesy of Aleksei Kudriashov

OREGON HOUSE, CA (MPG) - Yuba Environmental Science (YES) Charter Academy hosted its annual Earth Day Festival on April 25, bringing together students, families and community partners for the school’s largest event of the year.

Part open house, part environmental fair, the festival serves as a showcase of the school’s project-based learning model while creating space for local agencies, nonprofits and residents to connect around sustainability and education.

First-grade teacher Connie Murthaugh presents her class project on growing milkweed to support monarch butterflies during the YES Earth Day Festival on April 25. Photos courtesy of Aleksei Kudriashov

Held at the school’s campus on Texas Hill Road, the free public event featured a mix of student-led exhibits, hands-on activities and informational booths from local organizations. Families moved between displays highlighting classroom projects while vendors and agencies offered resources focused on environmental stewardship, agriculture and wildfire preparedness.

Student projects were central to the event, with classrooms presenting work tied to real-world environmental issues. A 10th-grade water conservation project explored ways to reduce water use while younger students focused on topics such as pollinator support and waste reduction. One of the day’s featured moments was the ribbon-cutting for a new student-led worm farm designed to divert cafeteria food waste from landfills. The project aims to reduce methane emissions while producing nutrient-rich compost to support the school’s agricultural programs.

Another highlight was the presentation of the school’s Environmental Steward Leadership Awards, continuing a YES tradition of recognizing individuals who demonstrate a commitment to environmental responsibility. This year’s honorees, Steven Dambeck, Brad Roman, Gabe Pannell and Georgios Tsirigotis, were recognized for their role in a grassroots wildfire mitigation effort that cleared 10 acres of brush in Oregon House in 2025.

YES instructor Mike Condon shares information about a 10th-grade water conservation project with visitor Brad Roman during the YES Earth Day Festival on April 25 in Oregon House. Photos courtesy of Aleksei Kudriashov

The festival also included activities such as nature walks, art displays, games and a book fair. Organizations including the Yuba Foothills Agricultural Communities Association, Yuba County Resource Conservation District, Yuba Watershed Protection and Fire Safe Council, Dobbins-Oregon House Improvement Foundation, the Yuba County Museum and the YES Foundation’s Community Supported Agriculture program engaged with attendees throughout the day.

Founded in Oregon House, YES Charter Academy is a public charter school centered on environmental science and experiential learning, offering a project-based curriculum that emphasizes sustainability, agriculture and community involvement. The school has recently expanded to include grades 11 and 12, with enrollment currently open, reflecting the school’s continued growth alongside its expanding role in the foothills community.

Representatives from the Yuba Watershed Protection and Fire Safe Council share wildfire preparedness information with community members during the YES Earth Day Festival on April 25. Photos courtesy of Aleksei Kudriashov