Eco-Hero Awards

Every year since 2003, Action For Nature (AFN), a U.S.-based non-profit, has sought to recognize and reward young people who are taking action to solve the world’s tough environmental problems.

We are proud to honor the work of young people between the ages of 8 and 16 all over the globe who have done creative environmental projects with a cash prize, certificate of achievement, and public recognition.

PRIZES

Winners receive a cash prize of up to $500, a special certificate of achievement, public recognition on our website and in the media, as well as exclusive access to our Eco-Hero Alumni Facebook Group.

APPLY TO WIN

Are you an Eco-Hero?

Want the world to know what you’ve done?

Or do you know an Eco-Hero?

Please read the Application Guidelines to see if you are eligible to apply to become a Young Eco-Hero.

If you or someone you know is eligible, encourage them to apply.

Have you been working to preserve the world around you?

Have you been teaching others how to protect the environment?

Have you been doing an environmental research project?

If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then you are a Young Eco-Hero. All Eco-Heroes serve as role models, showing others that individuals are important and can make a difference.

JUDGING

Youth from countries around the globe send in their applications and explain their work. Then a panel of judges including experts in environmental science, biology and education determines the year’s top achievers.

Our judges are experts in environmental science, biology and environmental health, who are looking for young people to follow in their footsteps.

We are proud of all of our winners, and of all the applicants from around the world.

This is a great chance for you to share your environmental activism and creative work. We look forward to again supporting young people from all around the world working to save our planet.

Applications for the 2024 International Young Eco-Hero Awards are now OPEN until February 28, 2024. Please read the guidelines below before you apply.  Want to become an Eco-Hero but not sure where to start? Get inspired to take personal action for nature!

REWARDING ENVIRONMENTAL INITIATIVE

Action For Nature (AFN), a non-profit organization,  created the International Young Eco-Hero Awards to recognize and reward the successful individual environmental initiatives of young people ages 8 to 16. AFN encourages young people around the world to carry out individual environmental action projects. We believe that young people can have a positive impact on the environment and are vital in changing the way we live on our planet.

Winners are selected by a team of independent judges with experience in environmental issues.

PRIZES

Winners will receive:

• PUBLIC RECOGNITION AND MEDIA PRESS RELEASE
• CASH PRIZE UP TO $500
• CERTIFICATE OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR OUTSTANDING EFFORTS TO HELP PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE ENVIRONMENT
• EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO OUR ECO-HERO ALUMNI FACEBOOK GROUP

Just as importantly, winners will serve as role models for other young people by demonstrating that each individual can make a difference.

To apply, applicants who have initiated an environmental project of their own will document it by completing our online application form.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

1. The project concerns environmental health, advocacy, research or protection of the natural world.
2. The project is action-based and self-initiated, and not one assigned by a teacher or other adult.
3. The project should be at least 6 months long and close to completion or completed within the last year.
4. If the project is an invention, some trials should be completed before applying.
5. Applicants must be between the ages of 8 and 16 on February 28th in the year of application.
6. Science Fair and Scouting Badge projects will only be considered if they include environmental action, educational outreach to others or extended studies beyond the Science Fair and Scouting Badges.
7. We do not accept (a) projects related to domestic or confined animals, (b) compositions or reports.
8. Previous winners, immediate relatives of AFN board members, active reading panel members, or judges, may not apply.
9. Only applications in English are accepted.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Preference is given to projects of 2+ years and/or ongoing projects.

The applications will be judged according to several criteria, including but not limited to:

• originality
• difficulty
• organization
• length of time devoted to the project
• influencing/educating others
• use of outside resources (e.g. library, experts, media, community leaders)
• degree of success in reaching goals
• the impact on the environment