The Fairchild Challenge
The 2026-2027 Fairchild Challenge List is LIVE!
Click a grade level below to check out this year's activities.
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
We invite PreK-12th Grade Teachers and Administrators to attend the annual Fairchild Challenge Launch and Brunch!
Middle & High School Launch August 29, 2026 from 9:30am-1:30pm
Elementary School Launch September 12, 2026 from 9:30am-1:30pm
The Fairchild Challenge is our award-winning, interdisciplinary environmental science competition designed to engage students of diverse interests, abilities, talents and backgrounds to explore the natural world.
- Recognized as a benchmark for exceptional STEM education
- Empower PreK–12 students to become the next generation of scientists, researchers, educated voters, policy makers and environmentally minded citizens
- Schools can participate in any number of the annual Challenges to accrue points throughout the year
- Winning entries receive awards and prizes
- We partner with local environmental organizations, professional researchers, and government departments to create real connections to science
The Impact of the Fairchild Challenge
76,000 students participated in the 2025-2026 school year
356 participating schools and counting!
Planted 1500 native endangered plants
in schoolyards this year
in schoolyards this year
Annually award schools more than $75,000 in prizes, equipment, and garden grants
Need help? Contact us at challenge@fairchildgarden.org
2026-2027 Partners of the Fairchild Challenge
