Fairchild Challenge Satellite Partners

What began in 2002 as an environmentally-themed competition for Miami-area high schools, with some 1,400 participants in its first year, has blossomed into a global movement in environmental education, with more than 100,000 participants in its Miami-region and Satellite Partner programs during the 2010-2011 program year.

Throughout the years, The Fairchild Challenge has clearly become a model beyond South Florida, influencing programs nationally and internationally. The success of the program in the Miami region prompted Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden to share it as a replicable model with other regions, both within the U.S. and abroad. The eagerness with which so many institutions have embraced the program exemplifies its relevance in a diverse array of settings.

Fairchild Challenge staff at the garden train educators from institutions around the globe to develop their own Fairchild Challenge programs. Annually, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden hosts an intensive three-day Fairchild Challenge Satellite Partners training workshop. This workshop is open to representatives from institutions that are interested in learning more about the program and how to establish a Fairchild Challenge program in their local region. Sites trained include botanic gardens, arboreta, nature centers, museums, parks and zoos, among others.

Indeed, The Fairchild Challenge is quickly becoming a worldwide movement to engage young students effectively in civic-minded thinking about environmental issues, and promoting awareness, scholarship and stewardship. To date, sixteen institutions have launched Fairchild Challenge Satellite Partner programs in their locales, nationally and abroad, and more are expected to launch in the near future. Please visit our Media Center web page to view coverage of our Satellite Partner programs in the media.

The Global Competition partnership with BGCI and The Global Showcase

Several years ago, The Fairchild Challenge joined forces with Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) to extend the program’s reach globally. During the past couple of years, The Fairchild Challenge and BGCI in partnership have offered a Global Competition (formerly known as the Global Option) to Fairchild Challenge Satellite Partner sites, BGCI member gardens and Plant Conservation Day partners around the world.

We're excited to announce that The 2011-2012 Global Competition is open to all botanic gardens worldwide, in addition to Fairchild Challenge sites, BGCI members and PCD partners. The 2011-2012 Global Showcase (Art; School Garden / Habitat Restoration; and Environmental Action challenges) is open to Fairchild Challenge sites. Learn more about the exciting new 2011-2012 Fairchild Challenge / BGCI Global Competition and 2011-2012 Fairchild Challenge Global Showcase.

News and announcements

Calling all botanic gardens worldwide: We invite you to participate in The 2011-2012 Fairchild Challenge / BGCI Global Competition. This year's exciting competition for middle and high schools - Plant Champions / Olympic Wreath - has been recognized by The London 2012 Inspire Programme. Please review the Global Competition and Global Showcase FAQs and contact us for more information or to participate.

The top entries of The 2010-2011 Fairchild Challenge Global Showcase in art, school garden / habitat restoration, and environmental action are now online.

The winners of The 2010-11 Fairchild Challenge / BGCI Global Option have been announced - see the top 10 entries!

The next Fairchild Challenge Satellite Partners Training Workshop will take place at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden from January 25-28, 2012. Please contact us right away for more information.