High School - Challenge 2: Miami, My Garden - Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

GRADES 9 to 12 | 2025-2026

Challenge 2: Miami, My Garden – Gardens on the Go

YOUR CHALLENGE:

Picture your commute to school – walking down the sidewalk, driving on the highways, or waiting at the bus stop. You probably see lots of concrete and asphalt, creating what scientists call “urban heat islands” that can be several degrees warmer. But what if transportation spaces could do more than just move people and vehicles – they can reduce temperatures while being beautiful? With your help, we hope to reimagining how we see transportation centers in our community. How can we use plants to improve these systems for us and our natural world?

For this challenge, we ask you to draw a new vision for one part of the transportation systems of your community that incorporates plants in innovative ways. Identify a specific place or roadway that you pass on your way to school — it could be a bridge, a bus stop, a train station, intersection, or highway that does not currently have many plants growing on or around it and redesigning that space, think strategically and sustainably. What are some ways we can use features from our natural landscape to strengthen our urban environment? Present your chosen location as a drawing with a written summary that describes your design and identifies at least three ecologically minded features meant to strengthen these areas. Download information as one page with lesson plan

✓ Submission Requirements:
	Drawing of a transportation space with a creative title. Original hand-drawn artwork by students in colored pencil, crayon, pens, markers only; no computer-generated design. Drawings must be no larger than 8.5” by 11”.
	On a separate sheet of paper physically attached to the back of the artwork, please submit a 300-500 word summary double spaced in 12-point font describing the design and how your three ecologically minded features can improve the roadways.
	The drawing AND written description must include the student’s first name last initial, student grade level, teacher’s name, and school name ON THE BACK of the drawings and written description.
	Physically submit all drawings delivered in person or mailed to Fairchild Challenge via certified mail to 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, Florida 33156, ATTN: Education Department. Hand deliver drawings ANY day of the week 10a-5p at the Visitor Center.
	Digital Entry Form (for school and student information only). Electronic uploads of drawing and written descriptions will not be reviewed.
	Two submissions per school.