Community-Driven Climate Programs

The Green Heart STEM Challenge has launched its 2026 program, engaging nearly 5,000 students, 132 educators, and 71 schools across 11 states in community-centered climate action.

Designed for students in grades 6–9, the program advances environmental stewardship by empowering young people to address local ecological challenges through applied STEM learning. Using a hybrid model that combines in-person programming in Atlanta, Houston, and Miami with nationwide virtual participation, the Challenge supports both place-based impact and broader environmental engagement.

The program follows a "four-year thematic cycle—EARTH, WIND, FIRE, and WATER—to promote comprehensive understanding of environmental systems." The 2026 EARTH theme emphasizes soil health, urban tree canopy, composting, and food waste reduction, encouraging solutions that improve ecosystem resilience, reduce waste, and support sustainable resource management. Student teams develop practical, locally informed strategies with potential for measurable environmental benefits within their communities.

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