The Fairchild Challenge is a school-based environmental competition run by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, now in its 25th year. High school students enter a series of challenges built on an annual theme, including environmental art, garden design, short fiction, a Model UN-style environmental debate held at the Garden, and plant research with NASA's Growing Beyond Earth project. Top-scoring schools can win cash prizes of up to $2,500 for environmental programs.
Offered by Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. Competition for high school students in Coral Gables, Florida, USA. Format: Hybrid. Cost: Free. Grades 9–12. Deadline: 2026-12-04.
Fields: Environment, Arts, Writing
Info checked November 2026.
The deadline is December 4, 2026.
Yes. The Fairchild Challenge: High School is free to take part in.
High school students in grades 9 to 12. It runs online and in person (Coral Gables, Florida). Age, residency and citizenship rules are on the official page.
More academic competitions for high school students