GENERAL INFORMATION

The 2025 OurEcho Challenge submission entries are open to youth in the USA, ages 13-16. Youth can enter individually or in teams of up to five (5) peers.

OurEcho Challenge Entry Period: February 24, 2025 - April 22, 2025, by 11:59 PM ET / 10:59 PM CT / 9:59 PM MT / 8:59 PM PT / 5:59 PM HT.

In order to ensure that teams are meeting the basic requirements for a qualifying entry, we encourage you to use the Project Planning Worksheet and review the respective Official Rules and Terms below prior to submitting your OurEcho Challenge entry.

EarthEcho International reserves the right in its sole discretion to further modify the timing of the OurEcho Challenge. If such changes are deemed prudent, the new timing and/or format will be noted in the Official Rules and on this website.

USA OFFICIAL RULES 

The OurEcho Challenge is offered only within the 50 United States and the District of Columbia. Young leaders, ages 13-16 during the Entry Period are encouraged to work individually or in teams of up to five (5) peers. "Team leaders" must provide their contact information with the submitted project entry.

Teams can collaborate with additional students, or "team associates," on their project entry. Team associates are not required to provide their contact information and should not appear in any images or videos in the team entry.

Teams have the option to work alongside an adult mentor. Mentors can be traditional educators, parents, and/or adult facilitators of more informal learning environments.

Any former member of an OurEcho Challenge Winning Team must not re-use their prior OurEcho Challenge winning entry materials to enter the OurEcho Challenge.

OurEcho Challenge Entry Period: February 24, 2025 - April 22, 2025, by 11:59 PM ET / 10:59 PM CT / 9:59 PM MT / 8:59 PM PT / 5:59 PM HT.

Regarding the use of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) tools: EarthEcho recognizes the power of AI tools as beneficial for participants to organize their thoughts or refine their entries. The usage of these tools in such a manner will not negatively impact an entry’s chances of acceptance. However, if a participant chooses to utilize an AI tool, it is crucial that the participant thoroughly review and revise all AI content, both for accuracy and for authenticity. Across all of EarthEcho’s programming, EarthEcho seeks individuals who feel genuine passion and who strive to articulate their thoughts and ideas authentically. Evaluators for EarthEcho's program applications are seeking innovators, problem solvers, and individuals or teams who see our global challenges differently. AI tools provide a poor substitute for human creativity and ingenuity. AI tools must not be used to engage in any form of fraud, cheating, plagiarism, or dishonesty.