Help Make Change to Your Community!
The 2024 People and Planet Challenge is an exciting opportunity for middle and high school students to inspire sustainable change in their community while learning about topics like air quality and water conservation. Challenge activities help participants develop leadership skills and can be completed as a class, in small groups, clubs, or even individually.
See below for an overview of the challenge and learn how YOU can get involved!
Challenge Overview
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Participate in Challenges and Run a Campaign
Become a sustainability leader in your community! By researching local and global sustainability topics, you will learn how people have impacted our environment and then use that knowledge to launch a sustainability campaign. All challenge materials are available in English and Spanish. |
Part 1: Air and WaterBuild your environmental knowledge and discover which sustainability topic you’re passionate about.
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Part 2: Build Your Knowledge on Air and Water Quality Use an online tool to understand local environmental issues and how history continues to impact air and water quality today.
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Part 3: Develop Your CampaignBecome a sustainability leader! Plan and launch your campaign to improve sustainability in your community.
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Challenge Prizes
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Win Prize Money to Move Your Sustainability Vision Forward!
Campaigns submitted by November 20th will be eligible to win money for their school, classroom, or club to continue supporting the sustainability efforts started during the challenge. See below for more on prize eligibility.* |
Top Campaign
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Runner-Up CampaignsStudent campaigns that do not receive a grand prize but still make a big impact on their community, may be eligible to receive other prizes!
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Receive a Sustainability Specialist Certificate
Additionally, each student who completes the Submission Document and submits their campaign materials will receive a Sustainability Specialist Certificate from SEI’s Energize Schools program via email. |
*Prize Eligibility
The People and Planet Challenge is open to all middle school and high school students, teachers, and administrators from September 3 to November 20. To be eligible for the prizes, your school must be within the Southern California Edison service area or the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, which includes: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, southwestern Solano, and southern Sonoma counties.
Challenge Participation Options
Educators can easily adapt content and activities to align with a variety of timelines and courses. We suggest participating using one of the following three options.
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Option A: Campaign Proposal |
Option B: Campaign Launch |
Option C: Materials Only |
Time Frame |
Year-long project |
Semester- long project |
Flexible to fit your needs |
Suggested number of class periods this semester |
3-4 |
6-8 |
1-8 |
Challenge Materials |
Students complete a campaign proposal in the fall, and then launch the campaign in the spring. |
Students complete the entire challenge in the fall. |
Complete any challenge materials in the fall. |
Required Submission Materials |
- Submission Document - Part 3 |
- Submission Document - Campaign Materials |
- Any student materials |
Submission Due Date |
November 20, 2024 |
November 20, 2024 |
November 20, 2024 |
Participation in the Competition |
Yes, but in the spring. |
Yes, in the fall. |
No *But if you complete Parts 1-3 and Campaign Launch, submit to be eligible for prizes! |
Prize Eligibility |
Top proposals are eligible to win a $350 prize to facilitate their campaign launch in the Spring, and will be eligible for the $1000 when they submit a full campaign then. |
Top campaigns are eligible to win prizes between $350-$1,000. |
Not eligible for prizes. *But if you complete Parts 1-3 and Campaign Launch, submit to be eligible for prizes! |
Who is Eligible for This Prize? |
Only schools within the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. |
Schools within the Southern California Edison's service area or the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. |
N/A |
Eligibility to receive Sustainability Certificate |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Previous Submissions
Check out submissions from previous Earth Day and People and Planet Challenges!
Students at High Tech High International convinced their school administration to replace single-use plastic forks in their school cafeteria with compostable wooden or bamboo alternatives.
Students at Abraham Lincoln High School filmed a video around the school neighborhood to inform the community about air pollution and offer alternative methods of transportation.
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Garfield High School's biology class created posters, videos, and artwork that educated viewers on ways to create a healthier environment.
9th grade physics students at High Tech High International took action to improve indoor air quality by building and delivering homemade air filters to elementary students at their school.
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Burlingame High School’s Service Commission class hosted a Clean Commute Day when students and staff biked, walked, or carpooled to school.
Summit Shasta‘s Environment Club engaged in a four-day project to quantify their school’s waste sorting practices and educate school stakeholders on the importance of recycling and composting.
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During Spring 2024, high schools across California participated in the Earth Day Challenge, inspiring change in their communities by creating sustainability campaigns. Check-out the winning campaigns!
Partners
This challenge is funded by grants from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
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