COMPETITIONS & CONTESTS
Check Out these Competitions & Contests
for KIDS, TEENS, FAMILIES, AND SCHOOLS!
REGISTRATION IS OPEN: 2026 Olifer Math Competition (Grades 1-8)
Hosted by the Georgia Gwinnett College Math Department
They haven’t started promoting it yet, but permission has been given to share that REGISTRATION IS OPEN for the 9th Annual Olifer Math Competition, hosted by the Georgia Gwinnett College Math Department at GGC in Lawrenceville, GA.
The Olifer Math Competition is open to students in grades 1–8 who enjoy logical puzzles, creative problem-solving, and thinking beyond standard math lessons. *This is not a traditional math test.*
These questions don’t come from standard textbooks and don’t test school standards. Instead, they encourage critical thinking, logic, and innovation to find solutions.
Winners in each grade level receive math-themed giveaways, and all participants are recognized for their effort and participation.
Who should compete: Students in grades 1–8 who enjoy challenges, puzzles, and solving problems in new ways. This competition is a good fit for curious learners who like thinking through problems rather than memorizing formulas.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Location: Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville, GA 30043
Registration Fee: $12
Grades: 1–8
See Sample Questions & Register Here
Registration Deadline: March 14, 2026 (LIMITED SPOTS – REGISTER EARLY!)
NEST (New Entrepreneurs Shaping Tomorrow) for Georgia high school students
Join NEST (New Entrepreneurs Shaping Tomorrow) , a free business competition open to all high school students, including homeschoolers.
Why join?
Completely free entry for all high schoolers
Thousands in funding for winners plus awards for standout pitches
Judged and mentored by business professionals from Harvard, UPenn Wharton, and top private equity firms
The competition was created by: Dylan Yu and Kubby Bhatia, current high schoolers at the Westminster Schools in Atlanta.
Submit your digital pitch and get the chance to present at the NEST Summit next Spring! See More and Sign up – CLICK HERE
Open to all Georgia High School Students
Submission Deadline: January 30, 2026
Georgia Arbor Day Student Art Contest (Grades K-12)
Let your creativity take root! 
We are now accepting submissions for our Annual Georgia Arbor Day Student Art Contest. This year’s theme is Oh, The Places You’ll Grow! The contest encourages K-12 students to imagine all the places they will grow in their future.
Prizes donated by Scraplanta and Amazon.com will be awarded to top artists and their teachers, and winning pieces will be displayed at the Kendeda TreeHouse. Encourage a young creator in your life to join in!
Submit Your Art Today!
See More Here
Grades K-12
Submission Deadline: January 31, 2026
Safari Spelling Bee at the Library (Ages 6-15)
Join us for a safari-themed spelling bee that inspires a love of language through play, creativity, and friendly competition. The program encourages participants to explore new words while immersing themselves in the excitement of a jungle adventure, fostering confidence, teamwork, and academic enrichment.
EVENT DATE: Monday, February 9, 2026 (4:30pm-5:30pm)
Third Annual America Recycles Day Art Contest for students ages 5-19
Calling all young artists! The Georgia Recycling Coalition just announced its Third Annual America Recycles Day Art Contest for students ages 5-19. Help us celebrate recycling in Georgia by showcasing your talents! This year’s theme is Recycling Really Works.
Prizes awarded to winners in each category
Who Can Enter:
Students Ages 5-19
DEADLINE: February 18, 2026
Annual Rubber Band Contest for Young Inventors in Grades 5-8
Design and create a working invention/artwork that incorporates at least one (1) rubber band.
Around $2,000 in prizes to give away!
The first-place winner and runner-up in each division receives a top financial prize. The four remaining finalists in each division (who are not a first-place winner or runner-up) also receive a smaller financial prize. The top ten schools with the most student entries each receive an equal donation shared from a donation pool.
Who Can Enter:
Students in Grades 5-8
DEADLINE: February 20, 2026
🎨 Medieval Times Cookie Castle Build
🎺 Cookie Castle Contest Announcement FOR Girl Scout Troops 🎺
Troops are invited to construct a Medieval Castle 🏰 with cookie boxes & Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament crowns 👑! The top six winning troops may receive up to 15 tickets to their participating castle, meet and greets, swag bags, and more!
Six winners will be announced per participating castle. Prizes valid only at the selected participating castle.
Photo submissions accepted: Jan 18 – Feb 28:
Georgia Fish Art Contest (Grades K-12)
To enter, young artists create an original illustration of their chosen fish species from the Official Fish List. An essay, story or poem based on species behavior, habitat and/or conservation needs is also awarded.
Open to Grades K-12
LEARN MORE HERE
ENTRY DEADLINE: February 28, 2026
36th annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest (Grades K-5)
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources – Georgia DNR , The State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Environmental Resources Network, Inc. invite you and your students to participate in the 36th annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest!
As part of DNR and TERN’s “Kids for Conservation” initiative, this art contest provides a unique opportunity for kindergarten through fifth-grade students to explore the wonders of Georgia’s native plants and animals through the 2025–26 theme, “Welcome to the Wild World, Little Ones!”
The contest is open to individual students (no group drawings) in kindergarten through 5th grades. AI and computer generated artwork are not allowed.
Homeschool groups, public schools and private schools are encouraged to participate.
Open to Grades K-5
LEARN MORE HERE
Deadline: March 6, 2026
2026 PBS KIDS Writers Contest (Grades K-3)
GPB’s PBS KIDS Writers Contest encourages Georgia kids in kindergarten through 3rd grade to submit original, illustrated stories for great prizes and a chance to be featured on the GPB website.
Open to Grades K-3
LEARN MORE HERE
Deadline: March 31, 2026
The Rube Goldberg Cartoon Contest
–All ages are welcome – completely free to enter!
–Invention cartoons will be selected for the web gallery show
–Judged by the RGI team and members of the NCS
–Prizes include Visa gift cards, a Rube Goldberg print & more!
Submission Deadline: August 15, 2026
The America Library of Poetry – Student Poetry Contest
The Annual Student Poetry Contest is open to all students enrolled in grades 3-12 (including home schooled and tutored children)
Submission Deadline: August 30, 2026
Kids 13 and under – Ranger Rick Photo Contest
Kids 13 and under can enter any nature-themed photo they’ve taken on their own using a camera or phone camera app. Every month, winners will be selected by the judges and posted on the contest homepage in the Recent Contest Winners slideshow. Online winners will be in the running for Ranger Rick’s “Your Best Shots” Magazine Award. Magazine Award winners will be selected three times each year for publication in Ranger Rick magazine’s December–January, April, and August issues.
DEADLINE: ONGOING
