The National Wildlife Federation is proud to partner with NBC’s The Americas, a momentous opportunity to protect our shared planet.
Narrated by Tom Hanks, The Americas takes viewers on an epic journey across North and South America in a 10-part television event. Explore the wonder, secrets and fragility of the supercontinent’s most all inspiring landscapes and amazing creatures.
Watch The Americas, premiering February 23 at 7/6 c on NBC and streaming on Peacock to get inspired to spend time outside in nature, discovering the wonders of wildlife and wild places.
Let’s COME TOGETHER FOR NATURE!
NBC’s The Americas Green Hour™ School Challenge
Hey Students, Teachers and Parents!
Since spending time outside and connecting with nature has important health benefits, we are inviting you to submit innovative projects or ideas to get your school, classroom, group or club outdoors and connected with nearby nature in meaningful ways.
Accept The Americas Green Hour SchoolTM Challenge and apply for a grant to jumpstart your project today. Your school or youth program could be awarded a grant from $500 to $10,000.
Check out the examples below and come back soon for guidelines and to apply.
Guidelines
Get the details you will need to successfully apply.
NBC’s THE AMERICAS GREEN HOUR SCHOOL CHALLENGE OFFICIAL INFORMATION AND GRANT GUIDELINES
Eligibility
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.
Grant awards of up to $10,000 may be requested.
A simple budget completion form will be incorporated into the online submission.
Grants are awarded for a one-year period.
Entrants undertaking multi-phase projects are welcome to apply for funds. (The judges will consider funding for a single phase at a time.)
Criteria
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:
Impact and Scale (20% of score)
Project Feasibility/Realistic Budget (20% of score)
Creativity/Originality (20% of score)
Connection to The Americas (20% of score)
Communication (20% of score)
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).
Close Guidelines
Project Examples
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.
For more assistance review our Nature Inspired Project Planning Guide before you submit your application.
Close Examples
NBC’s The Americas Green Hour School Challenge 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.
Close Application
Sign up for more fun activities, inspiring stories, our latest news and special events.
