NBC’s THE AMERICAS GREEN HOUR SCHOOL CHALLENGE OFFICIAL INFORMATION AND GRANT GUIDELINES
Any student, parent, educator, or eligible youth program leader for grades K-12 is eligible to enter NBC’s The Americas Green Hour School Challenge project idea for their non-profit school, club, team or favorite after-school program/learning institution (library, science center, Boys and Girls Club). The application must include contact information for the sponsoring adult (teacher, advisor, group director) at the school or institution receiving the grant.
Applicants may submit any innovative project or idea that gets their school, class or club outdoors and connected with nearby nature in meaningful ways. Your proposal will show passion for wanting to be part of the solution to get youth outdoors and engaged with nature, have the potential to leverage the power of young people to inspire others, and build public support for their school or organization’s project.
The project should be creative and fun, ultimately helping students, parents, families, and the wildlife lover in all of us to get outdoors and connect with nature on a regular basis!
The scale of the project does not always determine its merit. For projects to be significant for all involved, they need to be tailored to your community, well-researched, outcome-oriented, planned, communicated, well-promoted and evaluated.
All project locations that foster the understanding that nature can be explored, protected and restored within your community–regardless of where you live–will be considered equally. Proposals will be reviewed by a committee of NWF staff and experts.
Project ideas will be judged on a specific point system:
Projects may range from school field trips to visiting nearby nature sites to action projects that benefit the local environment.
We are looking for creative project ideas that get your group outdoors and help the school and community learn, celebrate and care for wildlife and wild places.
We will provide background and activities for students and educators to study wildlife and science, explore environmental solutions and safeguards. We will provide links to activities and stories to inspire the creation of your challenge project.
NWF’s EcoSchools U.S. provides additional tips to help you plan a project that involves educators, students, administrators and parents (the whole school community).
This program is in no way administered or fulfilled by NBCUniversal Media LLC, nor any of its parent, subsidiary, and affiliate companies (collectively, “NBCU”). Applicants are providing information to the National Wildlife Federation and not to NBCU. By participating in the program/promotion, each applicant agrees, on behalf of themselves and for applicant’s heirs, executors, and administrators to release and hold harmless NBCU and each of its respective officers, directors, agents, and employees from any liability, illness, injury, death, loss, litigation, or damage that may occur, directly or indirectly, whether caused by negligence or not, from such applicant’s participation in the program/promotion and/or applicant’s acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of the grant. NBCU is not involved in the selection process or administration or fulfillment of the grant.
Here are some ideas from Green Hour™ to inspire you. But feel free to think outside of the box. From building a Nature Play Space™ to restoring a local habitat, no project is too big or too small. For example, a class in Florida went shark tagging with a local university. (Too extreme?) Just be sure your proposal is realistic for your school and location.
Add a Nature Play Space.
Be artistic with projects from recycled and natural materials to celebrate nature in your community.
Design a Pollinator Garden.
Make an outdoor reading circle with a lending library.
Plant Trees for Wildlife.
For more ideas check out other Green Hour™ activities.
For more assistance review our Nature Inspired Project Planning Guide before you submit your application.
We believe in the power of young people to inspire change and make a difference. We are looking for straightforward descriptions of how you will get your group outdoors and connected to nature in a meaningful way. We will fund a range of school projects from $500 up to $10,000.