Nearly 5,000 Students Are Now Designing Climate Solutions Through the Green Heart STEM Challenge

Across classrooms and communities in multiple U.S. cities, thousands of middle school students are now working on something most STEM competitions ever require: turning environmental ideas into real-world solutions.

The Green Heart STEM Challenge, a national initiative of the Captain Planet Foundation, has entered its active project phase, with nearly 5,000 students currently developing environmental solutions they plan to pitch and potentially implement in their own communities.

The 2026 student teams are finalizing submissions that include short pitch videos and written implementation plans outlining how their ideas could be carried out in the real world.

Unlike many academic competitions, the Green Heart STEM Challenge is intentionally designed to move students beyond theory. Teams identify a problem in their school or neighborhood, design a solution, and develop a plan for implementation. Finalist teams later work with professional mentors to refine their projects and may receive funding to bring their ideas to life.

“The Green Heart STEM Challenge shows students that their ideas can become real solutions,” said Leesa Carter Jones, president and CEO of the Captain Planet Foundation. “We are giving young people the opportunity to think critically about environmental challenges in their own communities and then providing the mentorship and support needed to turn those ideas into action.”

The Challenge sits at the intersection of STEM education, climate literacy, and community problem-solving, encouraging students to explore environmental issues they can see and experience in their daily lives.

Ideas emerging from previous cohorts have included projects focused on erosion prevention, composting systems, clothing reuse initiatives, and pollution reduction programs in schools and neighborhoods.

One former Challenge participant, Maximo, implemented a project designed to address creek erosion in his community in Atlanta. “I thought it would be extremely difficult. But because of the guidance and support from the program, it was actually easier than I expected,” he says.

His team ultimately planted more than 1,000 live stakes along creek banks to stabilize erosion and restore ecosystem health. “When I drive past the creek now, I can see the difference… Seeing that change firsthand makes me feel really proud,” he notes.

Programs like the Green Heart STEM Challenge are designed to give students both the structure and the professional support needed to translate ideas into action. Students are guided through the innovation process by educators and mentors from partner organizations, like Accenture, learning skills that range from project planning and budgeting to collaboration and public presentation.

“You’re never too young. I thought I was too young when I started. I didn’t think my idea would go anywhere. But once you have the resources and support, you realize you can actually do it,” adds Maximo.

The Challenge now engages students in multiple markets across the United States and continues to expand as educators seek hands-on STEM programs that connect learning to real-world environmental challenges.

For organizers, the ultimate goal is simple: help students understand that their ideas, and their actions, can create real world change and positively shape the communities they live in. As they enter the fourth year, the Green Heart STEM Challenge continues to show what’s possible when students are trusted with real responsibility, and supported to turn ideas into action.