Stay tuned for updates on the 2026 National Geographic Slingshot Challenge
Tennessee Slingshot Challenge will open in the fall of 2025 when the National Geographic Competition is opened.
The Tennessee Geographic Alliance will be sponsoring "sister competitions". We will use the same rubric that National Geographic uses for their competition. Those that enter a submission for ages 13 and up will also need to submit to the National Geographic Slingshot Challenge.
There will be a $150 prize given to each first place team in each division. There will be a $100 prize given to the runner-up.
There will be a $150 prize given to each first place team in each division. There will be a $100 prize given to the runner-up.
High School (9-12) |
Middle School (6-8) |
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Opens: Now!
Closes: February 7, 2025 Winners Announced: TBD |
Opens: Now!
Closes: February 7, 2025 Winners Announced: TBD |
High School Winner! |
Middle School Winner! |
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Project Title: Small Lenses Big Change
Project Description: Small Lenses Big Change project raises awareness about the environmental impact of improperly disposing of contact lenses and promotes accessible recycling solutions. Contact lenses bypass wastewater filters, breaking into microplastics that pollute waterways, harm marine life, and enter our food chain. To address this, we partnered with a local optometrist to implement drop-off bins at schools, where students and teachers can easily recycle their lenses and blister packs. Collected materials will be sent to TerraCycle, transforming them into upcycled products like benches and playgrounds. Through storytelling and impactful visuals, our project empowers individuals to see how small actions, like proper contact lens disposal, lead to big environmental change. Together, we can turn small lenses into a movement for big change. |
Project Title: Over Fishing
Project Description: "Over-fishing is a huge problem in modern day society; people must take immediate action to prevent more fish from dying. Over-fishing is causing fish to die before they can reproduce. This leads to a decline in fish populations, which also results in destroying entire food webs in the marine ecosystem. Fishermen are likewise being greatly affected by the lack of fish in the oceans. They are struggling to earn enough money to make a living and survive. However, over-fishing can be prevented by reducing the amount of harmful pollutions in the oceans. To conclude, over-fishing is a huge problem for ocean life and humans alike; it is a huge problem in our world. " |
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High School Runner Up! |
Middle School Runner Up! |
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Project Title: Lead Levels in the Soil
Project Description: This program plans to help reduce the affects of lead in the soil. Lead in the Soil causes many health issues and is very prominent in our town of Chattanooga. We plan to help using Phytoremediation, the extraction of lead through plants. To do this, we plan to make an informational packet along with planting materials and send them to school to help decreases the levels of lead in the soil. |
Project Title: Time to End Air Pollution
Project Description: |
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