Join classrooms across the globe in a collective effort to take action on plastic pollution!
Empower your students to navigate real-world challenges and take action in their own way.
Challenge Snapshot
All educators who complete the steps below and submit the Final Reflection Form on time will be entered into a $500 USD classroom prize drawing.
Educators in the U.S. who complete the challenge and submit the Final Reflection Form will receive a FREE Wayfinder Society Shirt
(while supplies last)!
Deadline to complete the challenge and submit your Final Reflection Form is
May 5, 2025, before 12pm PT.
Be celebrated during our End-of-Year Event – spotlighting top Actions and most engaged classrooms! More details soon!
Detailed Challenge Overview
We’re here to help you every step of the way. You’ll receive step-by-step guidance and support directly from the Wayfinder Team.
1. Sign Up & Get Connected
Start by signing up through this Google Form. Shortly after, you’ll receive a direct email from a real Wayfinder team member – not an automated blast! We’ll personally ensure you have everything you need to succeed in the challenge.
You’ll also receive timely reminders about key milestones and exclusive resources to help you along the way. Fast, direct support is always just an email away!
Be sure to check your eligibility before entering the Challenge!
2. Kick Off with a 6-Minute Intro Video
Begin your challenge by watching this 6-minute video with your class. It sets the stage for your next step, sparking curiosity and excitement! Your students will discover why plastic pollution matters and how they have the power to drive real change.
3. Conduct a Campus Cleanup Investigation
After watching the intro video, it’s time to investigate! Lead your class through a Campus Cleanup Investigation, where your students will explore their surroundings, uncover plastic pollution, and map out problem areas. Feel free to check out the investigation guide ahead of time!
4. Empower Students to Take Action
Now it’s time to put the power in your students’ hands! Using the Wayfinder Society Student Hub, they’ll take meaningful action while tracking their impact. Our team will help you set up a class code and make creating student profiles easy.
In order to complete this step of the challenge, at least 3 of your students must earn at least one Wayfinder Pathway Badge. We make it fun with this Free TAKE ACTION! Toolkit, packed with prizes you can award to your students however you choose. Supplies are limited so be sure to reserve yours before they’re gone! (The TAKE ACTION! Toolkit is only available in U.S.)
5. Report Back to Earn Your Shirt & Spot in the Raffle
Complete the Final Reflection Form by May 5, 2025 before 12pm PT to let us know how the Classroom Challenge went for you and your students. It should take you between 10-15 minutes.
Your insights help us:
- Measure our collective impact as a community of educators and students.
- Report to our funders to keep this program free.
- Improve the experience for future participants!
All educators who complete the challenge and submit the Final Reflection Form on time will be entered into a $500 USD classroom prize drawing.
Additionally, educators in the U.S. who complete the challenge and submit the form will receive a FREE Wayfinder Society “Teach the Change” T-shirt (while supplies last)!
Remember to check your eligibility before entering the Challenge!
6. Celebrate Your Impact With Us!
Join us in May for the virtual Wayfinder Society Community Celebration! (Details coming soon.)
While attendance isn’t required to complete the challenge, this is a great chance to celebrate your students’ hard work! We’ll be highlighting top submitted projects during the event and in our End-of-Year Report – we can’t wait to showcase the incredible Earth Month Actions your class takes!
Check out the 2023/2024 Wayfinder Society Report here.
Eligibility Details
The Classroom Challenge is open to educators teaching in traditional classroom settings, including those in public, private, and charter schools—both in the United States and internationally! If you work with students in a classroom environment and want to engage them in learning and action around plastic pollution, you’re welcome to join.
International educators are encouraged to participate and are eligible for the $500 USD classroom prize raffle. However, due to shipping limitations, only educators in the United States will be eligible to receive a free Wayfinder Society “Teach the Change” T-shirt and Take Action Toolkit, while supplies last.
The $500 classroom prize will go directly to an educator who submits a complete Final Reflection Form and must be used in a way that benefits both the educator and their students—such as purchasing classroom materials, supporting student-led projects, or enhancing environmental education efforts. The prize recipient will be required to submit a brief report within six months of receiving the prize detailing how the funds were used.
If you’re still unsure whether you qualify, we’re happy to help! Contact us at wayfinder@algalita.org with any questions about eligibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does this cost?
The Wayfinder Society program—including Action Guides, Student & Team Accounts, and expert Action reviews—is completely free, thanks to our generous funders and donors. Their support allows us to provide accessible resources and personalized guidance, empowering students to learn about and take action on environmental issues.
How does the class code signup work?
Check out the Student Hub Teacher Guide for details.
What happens if I can't complete all the steps?
We understand that every classroom has different schedules and capacities, and we appreciate any effort to engage students in environmental action! However, to be eligible for a Wayfinder Society t-shirt and to be entered into the raffle, all required steps must be completed.
If you’re unable to finish every step, you’re still welcome to participate and submit your progress—you just won’t qualify for the rewards. If you have any questions or need guidance, feel free to reach out—we’re happy to help!
Who reviews the students' submissions?
Wayfinder Society is powered completely by the Algalita team.
Trina 
Emily 
Anika 
Katie
Our small team of employees, currently including Trina, Emily, Anika, and Katie, read each submission as soon as possible and assess it according to our rubric. This is a lot of work, but we believe in the power of personalized support for students, and the power of human interaction – even if it’s through written messages. This program allows us to support students across the world who are passionate about addressing plastic pollution and related issues and who don’t have other forms of support or mentorship.
Read our team bios and learn about our amazing board and advisors here.
What is our Action review rubric?
As our Actions generally do not include correct/incorrect answers, a submitted Action is approved if:
- The user provides a comprehendible response to at least 60% of the questions.
- The user demonstrates that they’ve understood the prompt and attempted to provide a reasonable response.
Actions are generally declined if:
- The user provides a nonsensical or inappropriate response.
- The user provides a plagiarized response.
How can the $500 classroom prize be used?
The prize winner must be the same educator who submitted the Final Reflection Form. The funds must be used to support your work in the classroom in a way that benefits both you and your students—whether that’s purchasing supplies, funding projects, or enhancing learning experiences.
To ensure transparency, recipients will be required to submit a brief report within six months of receiving the prize detailing how the funds were used.
Do you have more questions or need to contact us?
Please reach out to us if you have additional questions, need assistance, or to let us know how we can better accommodate your needs. Contact us.
Inspire your students with these stories from our Student Mini-Grant Awardees.
Anaïs
Anaïs has been active in the Ohio River Valley bringing attention to the proposed petrochemical buildout in the region with the goal of amplifying fights in our region and energizing the local community.
Hannah
Hannah has led the trend for Litterless Lunchboxes in Australia through her positive energy and dedication to her new org – Sea Good.
Raul
Raul led his Southern California community college away from plastics through his focus on environmental justice for his community. He’s currently studying GIS.
“Educators are our greatest allies toward a cleaner, safer world.”
Katie Allen, Executive Director
