Student Innovation Challenge 2025
Presented by Raincoast and Take a Stand: Youth for Conservation.
Take a Stand: Youth for Conservation and Raincoast’s Salish Sea Emerging Stewards education program share the goal of inspiring and engaging youth to become environmental stewards and take action in their community to make positive change. The Student Innovation Challenge is an opportunity to encourage youth to undertake projects and celebrate their efforts and achievements.
Contest details
We are looking to showcase the original and inspiring youth-led projects that promote education, stewardship and conservation of the local wildlife, habitats and Indigenous cultures of coastal British Columbia. Projects will be featured in our virtual showcase event that will bring together other youth doing incredible work in their communities and professionals working to protect and sustain nature.
Themes include:
- Local wildlife and habitats of coastal BC
- First Nations presence, cultures and longstanding history on the coast
- Climate Change
- Human connections and impacts
Ways to share your project
You may share your project in one of the following ways.
1. Video (4 mins max)
A short video showcasing or outlining your project and what you are doing.
2. Presentation (7 mins max)
A pre-recorded educational presentation narrative accompanied by a slideshow or PowerPoint, or presentation and slideshow showcasing a project in the community.
3. Creative Expression + Narrative
Share your creative talents by submitting something you made or created that also holds an important message (e.g. painting, photo, poem, music, dance, poster, or any other creative expression piece you can think of – think outside the box!). Tell us what it represents and any messages you hope to convey through it with a narrative.
Eligibility
This contest is open to students in grades 5-12 and post-secondary youth up to 25 years old. throughout British Columbia.
A chance to win great prizes
Your work will be showcased at a virtual event that will be viewed by people of all ages from all over. It will also connect you with a rich network of peers and professionals and can help inspire others. A panel of judges will review the projects and awards will be given out to some of the most inspiring submissions within each theme.
How to enter
- Read the official contest rules (PDF) and regulations document.
- Fill out the Student Innovation Challenge Contest Entry Form (PDF). Each student participating in the project is required to sign the entry form, even if their submission will be judged collectively.
- Submit your entry to kermode [at] sfu [dot] ca.
Dates
Entry submission deadline: April 30, 2025 @ 11:59pm PST
Categories for judging
Students of Grades 5 to 7
Students of Grades 8 to 12
Young Adults, Aged 19-25
Contacts
For any other questions or comments regarding the contest, please contact Raincoast Education Coordinator: pascale [at] raincoast [dot] org or Allison Kermode at kermode [at] sfu [dot] ca