Countdown to the Agri-Earth Competition
Learn about Urban Agriculture, the Environment, and How to Be a Good Earth Steward.
Check out the Topics Below!
Sustainable Living
Sustainable living describes a lifestyle that attempts to reduce the use of Earth’s natural resources by an individual or society. It supports a clean, healthy environment and ecosystems
Climate Change
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. These shifts may be natural, but since the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of climate change.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy (including solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass) is energy that is collected from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale.
Food Justice & Security
Food Justice is communities exercising their right to grow, sell, and eat healthy food.
Food Security is the state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.
Sustainable & Urban Agriculture
Urban agriculture, urban farming, or urban gardening is the practice of cultivating, processing, and distributing food in or around urban areas.
Eco-Entrepreneurship
“Ecopreneurs” are entrepreneurs whose business efforts are not only driven by profit, but also by a concern for the environment.
Urban Ecology
Urban ecology is the scientific study of the relation of living organisms with each other and their surroundings in the context of an urban environment.
Environmental Science
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physics, biology, and geography to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems.
Ready to Register?
To participate, adult leaders must register teams (eventually consisting of at least six youth members and at least one adult coach).
To register, you will need:
- A Gmail account (one can be created specifically for this purpose)
- A provisional team name
Program Overview
The Agri-Earth Competition engages youth in learning about agriculture and the environment to include sub-categories related to each field. Youth in the program will become more knowledgeable about the environment, urban agriculture, food security, food safety, sustainable energy, water quality, climate change, renewable energy and careers in the STEAM sciences. Teams of six youth, led by at least one adult volunteer coach, learn information in these topic areas and prepare to compete against each other in a District of Columbia State Competition. Some questions are provided to guide participants’ research, but independent learning in the topic areas offers a greater chance of winning the competition. Competitors are divided into two age categories: grades 5–8 and grades 9–12 or age 10-18.
Program Benefits
Through this exciting competition, youth will develop teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving skills while becoming agents of change in their communities. Through hands-on activities and real-world challenges, participants will explore ways to protect the environment, improve food systems, and build a more sustainable future.
The competition will spark curiosity, inspire innovation, and introduce students to exciting career opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Mathematics (STEAM). Participants will discover that careers in agricultural and environmental sciences extend beyond traditional office settings, offering opportunities to work outdoors, explore emerging technologies, and collaborate with scientific teams.
By combining experiential learning with teamwork and creativity, this competition will empower youth to discover new interests, develop valuable skills, and envision themselves as future scientists, innovators, and environmental leaders who can make a lasting difference in their communities and beyond.
Document Library
Field Trip Form
Behavior Contracts
Allergy Notification Form
Tax Donation Form
University of the District of Columbia
College of Agriculture, Urban Sustainability and Environmental Sciences (CAUSES)For more information, please visit www.udc.edu/causes/.