Middle School - Challenge 2: - Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

GRADES 6 to 8 | 2024-2025

Challenge 2: Miami, My Garden – Gardens of Our Future

YOUR CHALLENGE:

Following last year’s exploration of Miami’s iconic gardens, this year’s Miami My Garden challenge takes us on a journey into the future. We’ll be re-imagining gardens that flourish despite a changing climate. For this challenge, we ask you to think of an important place in your community that is a cultural hub and reimagine it as a garden that thrives despite Miami’s rising temperatures. When designing your garden, think strategically and sustainably about how to design your garden. What ecologically minded features might this garden have to mitigate the effects of temperature? Present your future garden as a drawing with a legend identifying the most important features of your drawing. Your entry should also include a summary that describes your design, how your ecologically minded features mitigate the effects of temperature, and the cultural role that this space has in your community. Download PDF for this info on one page

✓ Submission Requirements:
	Original hand-drawn artwork by students in colored pencil, crayon, pens, markers only; no computer-generated design. Drawing must include a legend identifying the garden’s most important features. Drawings must be no larger than 8.5” by 11”.
	Drawing must include the student’s first name, last initial, grade and school name on the bottom right corner.
	On a separate sheet of paper physically attached to the back of the artwork, please submit a 150-300 word summary double spaced in 12-point font describing the design and how your ecological minded features mitigate the effects of temperature. Your summary should also describe the cultural role that this space has in your community.
	Digital Entry Form.
	Physically submit all drawing and 150-300 word summaries 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 entries any day of the week M-Sun, 10a-5p at the South/Employee entrance, or drop off at the Visitor Center.
	Electronic uploads of drawings will not be reviewed.
	Two submissions per school.
	On-time submission. Late submissions will be accepted with a reduction in points.

CHALLENGE RESOURCES:

Important Dates

Submissions Due:
Friday, December 6, 2024 by 5:00pm

Point Breakdown
Participants per submission	Individual
Maximum number of points per submission	100
Number of submissions per school	2

Evaluation Criteria:
Miami, My Garden – Gardens of our Future Rubric

Fairchild City in a Garden Standards

Canopy Cover

Innovative Green Design

Aesthetic and Iconic Design

Public Accessibility and Engagement

Heat Mitigation

Cultural Enrichment

Ecological Integration

This Challenge Meets these Standards of the
Green Schools Recognition Program

Category 1 (School Grounds Enhancement), Indicator B: Habitat Improvement
Category 4 (Curriculum Integration), Indicator A: Interdisciplinary Approach
Category 4 (Curriculum Integration), Indicator C: Field Experiences
Category 5 (Community Involvement), Indicator: Community Partnerships in School Activities