Middle School - Challenge 1: Miami, My Garden - Gardens on the Go

GRADES 6 to 8 | 2025-2026

Challenge 1: Miami, My Garden – Gardens on the Go

YOUR CHALLENGE:

Picture your commute to school – whether you walk, are in a car, or ride a train, you probably pass by a lot of concrete. Gardens and greenery don’t normally come to mind when we think of roadways. This year, we want to change that with your help by reimagining the bridges, highways, and sidewalks that criss-cross our city. Transportation is crucial to our daily lives so 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 of a part of the transportation systems of your community that incorporates plants in innovative ways.

Start by identifying a specific place or roadway that you pass by on the 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. When redesigning the 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 of 200-300 words that describes your design and identifies at least three ecologically minded features meant to strengthen these areas.

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✓ 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, write or type a 200-300 word written description double spaced in 12-point font describing the redesign of your transportation space, at least three ecologically minded features, and how the addition of plants will impact that space.
	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 and written descriptions delivered in person or mailed 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.