Shane McConkey Ecochallenge
Projects Due by Earth Day.
The Shane McConkey EcoChallenge empowers young people to learn about environmental issues in their community, engage in critical thinking to identify innovative solutions, and take action as EcoChallengers for the planet. Enter by April 22, 2024.
CLEAN UP YOUR SCHOOL
CLEAN UP A WATERWAY
Create Art
protect wildlife
Inspire others
Plant some trees
Entering is Easy!
We launched the EcoChallenge eight years ago to support up-and-coming environmental thinkers with the global understanding, geographic knowledge, and skills to solve our world’s most pressing problems.
- Choose an environmental issue
- Work as a team or on your own
- Enlist an advisor (teacher, parent, local leader)
- Create a plan to address your chosen issue
- Put your plan into action
- Report results via a super simple online form
- Winners announced May 1!
BONUS: Students who submit great photos and video of their team and project will receive an additional prize!
Win $27,250 in Prize Money
Awards for the Shane McConkey EcoChallenge will be judged in following categories. The extent to which you take your action plan will determine how your project is judged and rewarded. Individuals may enter and teams will be limited to groups/classrooms of no more than 30 students.
Extreme EcoChallengers
An Extreme EcoChallenge project addresses a large-scale environmental issue and provides a solution that disrupts the status quo. These projects will change our world for the better.
1st Place wins $6,000
2nd Place wins $4,000
3rd Place wins $2,000
Advanced EcoChallengers
These challengers are true battle-born eco-warriors with ninja-like skills at fighting climate change. They will stop at nothing to engage their community and community leaders get involved with their problem-solving initiative, taking action to make change a reality. Black Diamond Challengers are not afraid to call on local governmental agencies, the media, and influential voices to make their problem heard. These Challengers know their end game and fight to make positive change a reality.
1st Place wins $5,000
2nd Place wins $3,000
3rd Place wins $1,000
Intermediate EcoChallengers
These EcoChallengers are eager to make the world a better place and are serious about generating tangible results from their actions. They apply research and data to prove their problem exists and they weave their findings into their action plan. They are deeply involved in generating awareness and support from their school, community, and environmental influencers to see their plan through with measurable results.
1st Place wins $3,000
2nd Place wins $1,500
3rd Place wins $500
Beginner EcoChallengers
A Green Circle EcoChallenger can be an individual or team. These projects can be as simple as an art project created from upcycled materials, or a poem written to shed light on an environmental issue close to the Eco Challenger’s heart. This level offers kids a space to express their concern, love and commitment to the environment through whatever medium speaks to them.
1st Place wins $1,500
2nd Place wins $500
3rd Place wins $250
* Prize money will be delivered to the winner’s school or nonprofit organization of choice. Prize money cannot be delivered to individuals.
Every entry makes a world of difference
Every student who enters the Shane McConkey EcoChallenge is a winner because they have thought critically and creatively about their environment and taken an action to make a difference. From upcycled art projects to beach cleanups; composting initiatives to banning styrofoam in their cafetierias; our EcoChallengers have done some wonderful things. What will you do?
benefits of entering the Ecochallenge
Join the Cycle of Awesomeness!
Each year, we’ve been inspired by the ingenuity and creativity of young people around the country and we are energized to continue our momentum as there’s still more work to do to ensure a healthier and more sustainable future for all.
Watch the process In One Class:
Play Video
Thank you, Encinitas Day School and Mr. decking Our 2019 Third Place Winners!
Some of the skills students learn while engaged in the Shane McConkey EcoChallenge are as follows:
Environmental Awareness
EcoChallenges engage students in real-world environmental issues, increasing their awareness of pressing environmental concerns such as climate change, pollution, waste reduction, and conservation.
Hands-On Learning
Students gain practical, hands-on experience in problem-solving, critical thinking, and project management as they work on eco-friendly initiatives.
Leadership Skills
EcoChallenges require students to take leadership roles in planning and executing projects. This fosters leadership skills, teamwork, and the ability to motivate others.
Empowerment
Successfully completing EcoChallenges empowers students, giving them a sense of accomplishment and the belief that they can make a difference in the world.
Interdisciplinary Learning
EcoChallenges often involve multiple subjects, encouraging interdisciplinary learning. For example, a project to reduce plastic waste may involve science, math (data analysis), communication (raising awareness), and even art (creating reusable bags).
Problem-Solving Skills
EcoChallenges often involve multiple subjects, encouraging interdisciplinary learning. For example, a project to reduce plastic waste may involve science, math (data analysis), communication (raising awareness), and even art (creating reusable bags).
Problem-Solving Skills
Students learn to identify environmental problems, research potential solutions, and implement action plans. These problem-solving skills are valuable in many aspects of life.
Sustainability Education
EcoChallenges promote sustainability education, teaching students how to live more sustainably and make eco-conscious choices in their daily lives.
Networking
Students often collaborate with community organizations, experts, and peers during EcoChallenges, expanding their network and connecting with like-minded individuals who share their passion for environmental conservation.
Resume and College Applications
Participation in EcoChallenges can enhance a student's resume and college applications. It demonstrates their commitment to environmental causes and their ability to take initiative.
Personal Growth
Through EcoChallenges, students develop a stronger sense of responsibility, empathy for the environment, and a desire to contribute positively to society.
Global Perspective
EcoChallenges can help students see the interconnectedness of environmental issues on a global scale, fostering a more global perspective and a sense of global citizenship.
Past Winners Highlights
2022 Extreme Winner Jonah Nazarian, Brentwood School, Beverly Hills, CAlifornia
Our very first Extreme EcoChallenge, Jonah won for his Flex Charge battery, a groundbreaking development in sustainable battery technology that eliminates the use of rare earth metals, which are often obtained through environmentally damaging processes, reducing the negative impact on the environment. The Flex Charge battery’s moldable properties allow it to adapt to different shapes and designs, saving space and reducing the need for additional materials, leading to less waste. Furthermore, the battery can be mechanically recharged, eliminating the need for chemical reactions and minimizing the release of toxic substances and greenhouse gases.
2021 Winner Ryan Hickman, San Juan Capistrano, Ca
To date, Ryan has recycled nearly 1,600,000 cans and bottles. Hundreds of people regularly attend his beach clean up events where hundreds of pounds of trash including tiny pieces of plastic is collected. Ryan also runs solo mission beach clean ups every week and talks to people about what he’s doing. Ryan speaks to classrooms all over the world about recycling and clean up events and has partnered with the Ocean Institute to teach 4th and 5th grade classes the importance of a clean ocean and how they can make a difference through their daily actions.
2020 Winners: Don't Drop the Top, Donner Trails Elementary, Truckee, CA
These kids collected over 400lbs of plastic bottle lids that aren’t recyclable in their area. These tops were then melted down and recycled into community benches. This program was so popular with locals that Shane McConkey Foundation became a partner to continue the program. Learn more on our Don’t Drop The Top page. To date, we have saved milliions of unrecycleable tops, lids, and caps and turned them into 13 benches spread throughout Truckee and Lake Tahoe.
2019 Winners: Hot Springs High School, Montana
A small school on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Northwest Montana, took on a big mission to reduce waste and educate their community. To combat waste in their school, the students took turns volunteering during lunch to wash dishes so they could replace the single-use plates and utensils. During the school year, they saved 17,600 styrofoam plates and even more plastic utensils from the landfill.
Additionally, they partnered with POW to host an Environmental Symposium that drew over 150 attendees, even calling their senators to support the environment. The students sewed 70 reusable bags from old fabric and received 200 more from supportive companies and distributed these to the community.
