Colorado Eco Hero Mascot Design Contest 🐾
Pick a Colorado Native Animal. Turn It into an Eco Hero.
Recycle Colorado is excited to launch a new creative challenge for students across the state! Instead of our traditional poster contest, we are inviting K–12 students to design a Colorado Eco Hero, a mascot inspired by a real Colorado animal who helps protect our state through recycling, composting, reuse, and waste reduction.
What would a mountain-loving waste hero look like? What animal would step up to protect Colorado’s land, water, wildlife and your future? Now it’s your turn to decide!
We hope you and your classroom are able to participate this year. Instructions for designing your mascot and submitting your design are included below. Please share this information with others who may be interested in participating!
Participating Schools, Organizations, and Students
The guidelines for the 2026 Mascot Design Contest are all included in the Participant Packet. Please download the document below to receive everything you will need to participate. You can also download the participant packet and share with others who may be interested in participating.
Las bases del Concurso de Diseño de Mascota 2026 se incluyen en el Paquete de Participantes. Descargue el documento a continuación para recibir todo lo necesario para participar. También puede descargar el paquete de participantes y compartirlo con otras personas interesadas en participar.
Design files or images and release forms should be received by Recycle Colorado no later than April 17th, 2026. You will receive a confirmation email once your submission has been reviewed following the deadline.
All students (kindergarten through high school) in Colorado public and private schools (including home schools) and youth organizations are eligible.
Students can work individually, as a team, or as a classroom to design a mascot.
- Winners will be selected in multiple categories, including:
- Most Colorado
- Coolest Composting Champion
- Most Radical Recycling Hero
- Judges’ Choice
- The winners and participating classrooms will receive stickers with their student’s mascot printed on them.
Selected designs may inspire or become part of Recycle Colorado’s future youth mascot and educational materials.
- K–2: Focus on drawing and naming your mascot
- 3–5: Design and name a mascot and give them a catchy slogan
- 6–12: Design and name a mascot, give them a catchy slogan, and a super power!
Colorado’s wildlife depends on clean land, water, and air. Your mascot can help inspire others to protect our state by reducing waste and recycling right. Your creativity could help shape how young people across Colorado think about waste!
Thank you to our Sponsors
Previous Contest Resources
Last year's theme was "Thank You Waste Diversion Teams!". Students were encouraged to create a poster demonstrating their appreciation for members of waste diversion teams who collect and sort trash, recycling and composting in schools, communities or in waste diversion facilities. Waste diversion includes trash, recycling and compost. Team members are made up of custodians and cafeteria workers, collection truck drivers and loaders, and facility sorters.
Discover last year's contest resources and more by clicking the button below!