Eco-Hero Awards

We are excited to announce that applications for the 2026 International Young Eco-Hero Awards are now open to environmental activists between the ages of 8 and 16. The deadline for all submissions is February 28, 2026.

Winners will be announced in the fall of 2026 and receive a certificate of achievement, media recognition, and cash prizes of up to $1,000. Follow us to learn about these inspiring environmental leaders!

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 $1,000
• 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.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

To ensure your application receives full consideration, please review the following criteria carefully before submitting:

Project Requirements

• The project must focus on environmental health, advocacy, research, or the protection of the natural world.
• It should be action-based, self-initiated, and not an assignment from a teacher or other adult.
• Projects must be at least 6 months in duration and either close to completion or completed within the last year.
• For invention-based projects, applicants should have conducted trials prior to applying.

Applicant Requirements

• Applicants must be between 8 and 16 years old on February 28 of the application year.
• Projects submitted as part of a Science Fair or Scouting Badge will only be considered if they include additional environmental action, educational outreach, or extended studies beyond the original scope.
• Previous winners, immediate relatives of AFN board members, and active reading panel members or judges are not eligible to apply.

What We Do Not Accept

• Projects related to domestic or confined animals.
• Compositions, reports, or purely academic submissions.

Additional Guidelines

• Applications should be completed thoughtfully, with attention to detail. Take your time to provide clear, well-written responses, as this will help us understand your impact.
• Science Projects: Please include your hypothesis and results, and explain them in layman’s terms. Consider how your work can inspire or inform a broad audience, including policymakers or the general public. Think of your abstract as an opportunity to engage and excite—what is the overall impact of your project?
• We strongly encourage applications from young people directly working with nature, such as restoring habitats, protecting wildlife, or mitigating environmental threats.

Language Requirements

• Applications must be submitted in English.

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

We look forward to learning about the incredible work you’ve accomplished to protect and preserve our planet! If you have any questions, please contact us.