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

GRADES 6 to 8 | 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 from a middle school teacher
1. Miami, My Garden – Botanical Balconies	Friday, November 13, 2026	200 (100/submission)	2 submissions
2A. Shade Our Schools – Feeling the Heat *If you can’t pick up materials for this Challenge on that date, please email the Challenge Team at challenge@fairchildgarden.org	Friday, January 15, 2027	200 (100/submission)	2 videos
2B. Branching out with STEMLab *This Challenge is only open to MDCPS Schools chosen for STEMLab Program STEMLab Teacher PD Workshop August 6th, 2026 (Attendance is mandatory to remain in STEMLab program)	Friday, January 15, 2027	200 (100/submission)	2 videos
3. Plant It and They Will Come – Native Plant Garden OPTIONAL Teacher Workshop at Fairchild Garden on Saturday, October 3, 2026 *Plant Pick Up at Fairchild October 3-4, 2026	Registration Form due to signal participation in this Challenge by Friday, September 18, 2026 at 5:00pm Digital entry form due Friday, January 29, 2027 to schedule judging visit Judging tour of schools: March 1-13, 2027	200 50 BONUS points to school with most iNaturalist observations	1 school garden with 1 visit from judges to hear student presentation of the garden
4. Native Plant Profiles	Friday, February 19, 2027	200 (100/submission)	2 videos
5. Growing Beyond Earth® Must register with GBE team and attend a MANDATORY Virtual Teacher Workshop 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 Optional Trial 2 Data due Friday, March 19, 2027 (submit on GBE Data Portal) Optional 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 BONUS points for presenting at the GBE Symposium	REQUIRED: Trial 1 and 2 data AND Trial 2 proposal Optional: Student Presentation at the GBE Symposium

Download as PDF – Coming Soon!

AWARDS and PRIZES

The Fairchild Challenge Awards Ceremony is Saturday, May 15, 2027. At this time, the following awards and prizes will be distributed:

Each middle school that earns more than 700 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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