How to Enter Campus RainWorks
REGISTRATION FOR THE 12TH CAMPUS RAINWORKS CHALLENGE IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO EXPRESSED INTEREST THIS YEAR.
The Campus RainWorks Challenge is open to institutions of higher education across the United States and its territories. With the support of a faculty advisor, teams that compete are asked to design an innovative green infrastructure project for their campus that effectively manages stormwater pollution and also provides additional benefits to the campus community and environment. Teams that meet the eligibility requirements can submit entries.
Check out the official Campus RainWorks 2024 Competition Brief (pdf) (August 2024) for the 12th Annual Campus RainWorks Challenge to learn more about the challenge's design categories, submission requirements, eligibility requirements, and other rules for participation.
On this page:
Requirements
REGISTRATION FOR THE 2025 COMPETITION IS CLOSED.
Once a team submits the registration form, they will receive a registration number via email. EPA processes Campus RainWorks registrants in biweekly batches. Registration numbers are typically sent out on Mondays and Wednesdays during the registration period.
Calendar
- 12th Campus RainWorks Challenge Announcement: September 2024
- Entries Due: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 – EARTH DAY!
- Winners announced: Summer 2025
Prizes
EPA will award a total of $50,000 to first, second and third place winners. Winning teams will earn a student prize to be divided evenly among student team members and a faculty prize to support green infrastructure research and/or training. Prizes will be distributed as follows:
- 1st Prize: $30,000
Student Prize: $25,000
Faculty Prize: $5,000 - 2nd Prize: $13,000
Student Prize: $10,000
Faculty Prize: $3,000 - 3rd Prize: $7,000
Student Prize: $5,000
Faculty Prize: $2,000
Cooperating Organizations
These cooperating organizations assist EPA with conducting outreach and judging entries:
American Society of Landscape Architects
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can the proposed project be off campus?
Teams can choose a nearby elementary, middle, or high school as their site; otherwise, all designs must be based on the team's campus.
Are community and technical colleges eligible to participate?
Yes, community colleges and technical colleges are eligible to compete. All students enrolled at an eligible institution as defined in the Campus RainWorks 2024 Competition Brief (pdf) can participate.
Are graduate students eligible to participate?
Yes, all undergraduate or graduate students enrolled at an eligible institution as defined in the Campus RainWorks 2024 Competition Brief (pdf) can participate.
Can a student team have more than one faculty advisor?
Yes, having more than one faculty advisor may lead to more multidisciplinary teams that can offer more comprehensive green infrastructure designs. However, teams must designate a primary faculty advisor to receive the faculty prize if the team were to win.
Can a college or university have more than one team?
Yes.
Does a team need to show support from campus facilities staff?
Yes, teams need to show that that they have met with facilities staff and have their support.
Is there a recommended team size?
No, teams can be as large or as small as desired and interdisciplinary teams are highly encouraged.
What should my team do if we don't have time to complete our entry?
If you cannot complete your entry, please send an email to RainWorks@epa.gov informing us that your team is withdrawing from the challenge.
How will prizes be distributed?
EPA will pay student prizes via direct deposit. Student prizes will be distributed evenly among all student team members. Faculty prizes must be deposited into a departmental account under the care of the winning faculty advisor. All prizes are subject to federal income taxes. EPA will comply with Internal Revenue Service 1099 reporting requirements.