High School - Challenges at a Glance - Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

GRADES 9 to 12 | 2026-2027

Challenges at a Glance

Challenges	Submissions Due to Fairchild by 5:00 pm	Maximum Points	Maximum Number of Submissions
Educator Challenge: Innovative School Design	Friday, January 22, 2027	50	1 submission
1. Plotting the Pine Rocklands	Friday, October 9, 2026	200 (100/submission)	2 submissions
2. Miami, My Garden – Botanical Balconies	Friday, November 6, 2026	200 (100/submission)	2 submissions
3. Design in a Decade – Tales from 2036	Friday, December 4, 2026	200 (100/submission)	2 submissions
4. Environmental Debate *Event: February 5-6, 2027 from 9:30 am – 4:00 pm	Register teams by Wednesday, December 16, 2026 Debate Event from February 5-6, 2027	45 points per student participating in both Day 1 and Day 2 Bonus points to team(s) that advance to finals (number of these points depends on final placement) 1st place overall = 30pts 2nd place overall = 20pts 3rd place overall = 10pts 4th place overall = 5pts	Up to 6 debaters 2 students per team
5. Million Orchid Project – Pollination Investigation MANDATORY In-person Teacher Workshop: Saturday, September 19, 2026 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm **If you are unable to attend the mandatory workshop, please notify the Challenge team at challenge@fairchildgarden.org	Registration Form due for participation in this Challenge by Friday, September 18, 2026, at 5:00 pm Submissions due in Fairchild Challenge Portal on Friday, March 19, 2027	250 max 100 per submission 50 bonus points for datasheet	2 submissions
6. Growing Beyond Earth® Must register with GBE team and attend a MANDATORY Virtual Teacher Workshop. Registration is available on the GBE Website Growing Beyond Earth Student Research Symposium: Saturday, April 17, 2027 **If you are unable to attend the mandatory workshop, please notify the Challenge team at challenge@fairchildgarden.org	Trial 1 Data due Friday, November 20, 2026(submit on GBE Data Portal) Trial 2 Proposal due Wednesday, December 16, 2026 Trial 2 Data due Friday, March 19, 2027 (submit on GBE Data Portal) Trial 2 Presentation Due: Wednesday, April 7, 2027	300 max 75 for required Trial 1 data 75 for Trial 2 data 75 for Trial 2 proposal 75 for presenting at the GBE Symposium	Trial 1 data Trial 2 proposal and data Trial 2 Presentation at the GBE Symposium

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AWARDS and PRIZES

The Fairchild Challenge Awards Ceremony is Thursday, May 13, 2027. At this time, the following awards and prizes will be distributed:

Each high school that earns more than 1100 points will receive The Fairchild Challenge Award.
Each school that receives The Fairchild Challenge Award for five consecutive years will become a Fairchild Challenge School of Excellence.
The top-scoring schools will receive cash prizes, up to $2,500, to support their environmental programs.
Top-placing students will receive Fairchild Challenge medals and/or certificates. Special Merit winners will also be recognized.
All participating schools receive a limited quantity of four-person family passes to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden to distribute to actively participating students and teachers.

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