Environmental Student Action Challenge

Do you have an idea for a project that could reduce the environmental footprint of your school? Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (EPA) could help make it happen!

The Environmental Student Action Challenge invites Alberta students from grades K -12 to develop a school-based initiative or project that will help minimize negative human impacts to the environment.

Students are invited to submit their project ideas for a chance to win up to $1,000 that can be used to turn their proposal into a reality – and give them hands-on experience tackling an environmental issue that directly impacts them, their school or their community. The Government of Alberta will award up to $20,000 in funding annually to successful applicants to support their environmental action projects.

Successful applicants will be selected from each school level (Division 1, 2, 3, 4).

Participating teams are invited to contribute to the online learning community! Provide real-time project updates, share tips, ask questions and inspire new levels of learning – the provincial Environmental Student Action Challenge community is a great way to explore new ideas throughout the school year.

This website is continuously updated with information to help you with your application, so check back often!

Do you have an idea for a project that could reduce the environmental footprint of your school? Alberta Environment and Protected Areas (EPA) could help make it happen!

The Environmental Student Action Challenge invites Alberta students from grades K -12 to develop a school-based initiative or project that will help minimize negative human impacts to the environment.

Students are invited to submit their project ideas for a chance to win up to $1,000 that can be used to turn their proposal into a reality – and give them hands-on experience tackling an environmental issue that directly impacts them, their school or their community. The Government of Alberta will award up to $20,000 in funding annually to successful applicants to support their environmental action projects.

Successful applicants will be selected from each school level (Division 1, 2, 3, 4).

Participating teams are invited to contribute to the online learning community! Provide real-time project updates, share tips, ask questions and inspire new levels of learning – the provincial Environmental Student Action Challenge community is a great way to explore new ideas throughout the school year.

This website is continuously updated with information to help you with your application, so check back often!

  • 2018-2019 Diverting Food Waste from the Landfill

    Banff Elementary School

    Students at Banff Elementary School noticed a problem: although they were composting at school, very few of their families were composting at home. To help address the concern, students are creating a play that focuses on the importance of composting and reducing food waste. They will present the play to their school and community and provide at-home compost containers to parents to encourage them to reduce the amount of food entering the landfill.


  • 2018-2019 Energy Efficient Aquaponics Garden

    Career and Technology Centre

    Fish and food are the highlight of this Student Action Challenge project. Students will be upgrading their aquaponics system to increase energy efficiencies, allowing them to grow more produce that can be used in the foods program at their school.


  • 2018-2019 Food Waste Recycling

    St. Gabriel School

    Elementary school students in Fort McMurray are reducing the amount of food scraps ending up in the landfill by bringing Food Cylinders into their classrooms. Compost made from organic waste will be available for the school garden and for students and their families.


  • 2018-2019 Hydroponics in the Classroom

    Master’s Academy and College

    The whole school is involved in this Student Action Challenge project. The Regenerative Design Team is organising the building of a hydroponics system at their school. They are enlisting the help of younger students to plant the seeds and sharing the greens that they grow with the school. The project will help reduce the school’s carbon footprint by allowing for locally grown produce to be used in the lunch program.


  • 2018-2019 Indoor Vertical Garden with Local Flora

    Killarney School

    Students are taking hands-on learning to a new level. With the help of parents and community members, students are creating an indoor vertical garden. They are using the garden wall to enhance their curriculum learning, leading to an awareness of local flora and the role plants play in healthy indoor environments.


  • 2018-2019 J.H.Picard Courtyard Revitalization

    J.H. Picard School

    Students at J.H.Picard were tired of having a hot, unwelcoming courtyard at their school, so they decided to change the space. Students have already started growing plants in the courtyard and have seen an influx of local birds and bugs starting to use the space. They are continuing their revitalization project this year by planting native shrubs and flowers, transforming the once barren space into a welcoming oasis.


  • 2018-2019 Net Zero Farm Geo

    Canmore Collegiate High School

    A group of High School students is working to help address food insecurity at their school. They are building a durable and versatile indoor farm prototype that is fueled with waste and has a net zero carbon impact. Their structure will allow them to grow produce with hydroponic apparatuses which maximizes water consumption and space.


  • 2018-2019 Reduced-to-Zero Waste Lunches at ECNS

    Edmonton Christian Northeast School

    Elementary and Junior High students know that waste is a big deal at their school, and they want to reduce the amount that they create. Funding from the Student Action Challenge will help them purchase worm compost bins to reduce the amount of food waste that ends up in the landfill. Eventually, they would like to host a Waste and our World Fair to share their learnings with others.


  • 2018-2019 Rundle College Tower Garden

    Rundle College Jr. Sr. High

    Students at Rundle College are working to reduce their environmental footprint by building a Tower Garden. Students will have the opportunity to sample the greens grown on the tower if they bring in reusable containers, further reducing the amount of waste generated by disposable containers in the cafeteria.


  • 2018-2019 School Paper-Renewal Project

    John Ware School

    Students are hoping to reduce the amount of paper waste that they produce, starting with their own classrooms. Through a paper-reduction campaign, students in the Outdoor Education hope to inspire others to take part. Some paper waste will be turned into new poster paper by the students, which will be used to support the campaign or donated schools with low socio-economic status.