The Fairchild Challenge
Catalog organization: Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
Compiled by: ExtracurricularHub Editorial Team — editorial policy
Last updated
What Is The Fairchild Challenge?
The Fairchild Challenge is a free, teacher-led environmental-science competition for participating PreK-12 schools in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Monroe Counties. Schools register annually, choose any number of grade-level challenges, select student work for submission, and accumulate points toward school recognition and environmental-program grants. Entries may be digital, mailed, delivered to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, or presented at live events, depending on the challenge.
The live 2026-27 high-school program for grades 9-12 includes pine-rockland mapping, botanical-balcony design, future environmental storytelling, policy debate, orchid pollination research, and Growing Beyond Earth space-crop experiments. Teacher registration is open throughout the year, while every challenge has its own strict entry limit, rubric, workshop requirement, and deadline. Individual students do not apply directly. Certificates recognize participants, medals recognize top students, and top-scoring schools can receive up to $2,500; Fairchild reports more than $75,000 annually across prizes, equipment, and garden grants.
The Fairchild Challenge Key Facts: Cost, Deadline, and Eligibility
| Cost | Free |
|---|---|
| Format | Hybrid |
| Eligibility | Up to grade 12 |
| Application deadline | Rolling applications |
| Listing last updated | August 30, 2026 |
Program details shown here reflect the current catalog record.
Related Searches for The Fairchild Challenge
Similar Programs You May Like
Explore these related extracurricular opportunities:
- National Science Bowl Middle School Division — U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
- Science Olympiad Division B — Science Olympiad, Inc. and State Science Olympiad Chapters
- Plant the Moon Challenge — Institute of Competition Sciences
- Hudson Data Jam Competition — Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies
- Seacamp Marine Science Summer Camp — Seacamp Association, Inc.
Guides Related to The Fairchild Challenge
- How to Build a Spike: Turning One Interest into Stand-Out Activities — Admissions officers look for a spike—clear depth in one interest that shows initiative, impact, and growth. Here's
- Best Extracurriculars for Future Computer Science & AI Majors — Discover the top extracurriculars for aspiring CS and AI majors: coding clubs, hackathons, research programs
- Best Extracurriculars for Future Business, Finance, and Economics Majors — Explore top activities for aspiring business majors: DECA, FBLA, investment clubs, entrepreneurship ventures