2025 Adventures in Nature Student Photo Contest

A white horse chases a brown horse at top speed through a green and scrubby setting, getting close enough to bite. By Jessica Finnie

2024 First Place photograph by Jessica Finnie

The Nature Conservancy in Arizona, in partnership with Arizona Highways and Arizona's Family,

presents the

12th Annual “Adventures in Nature” Student Photo Contest

Students aged 13-18 are invited to enter up to two photos that capture Arizona’s beauty and wildlife for a chance to win cash prizes. The contest is open for submissions between March 1-31, 2025,  and the top 10 winners will be announced on a virtual awards ceremony on April 17th, 2025. All contestants will receive a Zoom invitation by email.

See last year’s winners here.

Prizes:
First place - $5,000
Second place - $2,500
Third place - $1,000
7 Honorable Mentions - $250 each

Please view OFFICIAL RULES before submitting entries. 

Sponsored by The Nature Conservancy, Arizona's Family TV and Arizona Highways
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We will begin accepting submissions on March 1st, 2025.

GALLERY

Displaying 37 - 48 of 75
Photo by Xavier Vargas | On a Class Trip to mount lemon I saw this tree with the sun angled on the leaves creating a wonderful scene creating a wonderful green glow around the birch bark of the tree

Photo by Xavier Vargas

On a Class Trip to mount lemon I saw this tree with the sun angled on the leaves creating a wonderful scene creating a wonderful green glow around the birch bark of the tree

Location: Mount Lemon

Photo by Katelyn Mahnk |

Photo by Katelyn Mahnk

Location: Bisbee, AZ

Photo by McKenna Mathews | All animals see the world in different ways. Having horizontal rectangular pupils allows them to see nearly 360 degrees around themselves, which makes you wonder how they perceive the world when you see them through your camera lens.

Photo by McKenna Mathews

All animals see the world in different ways. Having horizontal rectangular pupils allows them to see nearly 360 degrees around themselves, which makes you wonder how they perceive the world when you see them through your camera lens.

Location: Catalina Arizona

Photo by Xavier Vargas | I was on a class trip to Mount Lemon in Tucson. I saw a fire pile deep in the woods surrounded by birch trees, when I took the photo home I decided that this would be one of the photos I would submit.

Photo by Xavier Vargas

I was on a class trip to Mount Lemon in Tucson. I saw a fire pile deep in the woods surrounded by birch trees, when I took the photo home I decided that this would be one of the photos I would submit.

Location: Mount Lemon

Photo by Katelyn Mahnk |

Photo by Katelyn Mahnk

Location: Bisbee, AZ

Photo by Matthew La Rue | Rock formations at Watson Lake

Photo by Matthew La Rue

Rock formations at Watson Lake

Location: Watson Lake in Prescott, AZ

Photo by Treyson Cook | A winding road leads through the rugged desert landscape toward a majestic mountain bathed in golden sunlight. The scene captures the beauty of the arid terrain, dotted with cacti and desert shrubs, under a sky filled with dramatic clouds.

Photo by Treyson Cook

A winding road leads through the rugged desert landscape toward a majestic mountain bathed in golden sunlight. The scene captures the beauty of the arid terrain, dotted with cacti and desert shrubs, under a sky filled with dramatic clouds.

Location: Phon D Sutton Recreation Area

Photo by Callie Burton | I took this picture early morning in summer. I actually had forgotten that I had gotten this photo until I was formatting my memory cards. I love how this photo reminds me that you don’t need to drive hours to get the perfect shot, sometimes it’s in your own backyard.

Photo by Callie Burton

I took this picture early morning in summer. I actually had forgotten that I had gotten this photo until I was formatting my memory cards. I love how this photo reminds me that you don’t need to drive hours to get the perfect shot, sometimes it’s in your own backyard.

Location: Heber-Overgaard, Arizona

Photo by Callie Burton |

Photo by Callie Burton

Location: Grand Canyon National Park

Photo by Kym Storry | Chuckwalla trying to enter my room

Photo by Kym Storry

Chuckwalla trying to enter my room

Location: New River

Photo by Kym Storry | Was looking out bathroom door when Bob Cat jumped onto block wall

Photo by Kym Storry

Was looking out bathroom door when Bob Cat jumped onto block wall

Location: New River

Photo by Lacey B | I little while after some storms new plant life sprouted, and I noticed it attracted the local wildlife like rabbits. So I grabbed my camera and laid down on my stomach to be eye level with the small critters and stayed still & silent. Awhile after I got into my spot this Cottontail popped out of the Creosote and slowly hopped through the slightly green clearing and I took a handful of photos, and this was my favorite.

Photo by Lacey B

I little while after some storms new plant life sprouted, and I noticed it attracted the local wildlife like rabbits. So I grabbed my camera and laid down on my stomach to be eye level with the small critters and stayed still & silent. Awhile after I got into my spot this Cottontail popped out of the Creosote and slowly hopped through the slightly green clearing and I took a handful of photos, and this was my favorite.

Location: Tucson, Arizona