2026 Adventures in Nature Student Photo Contest

“Reprieve” by Max Tuttle/Honorable Mention in the 2025 student photo contest, is a photo of a green and purple hummingbird against a dark backdrop.

Photograph by Max Tuttle

The Nature Conservancy in Arizona, in partnership with Arizona Highways Magazine, presents the 13th 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 1st and March 31st, 2026, and the top 10 winners will be announced on a virtual awards ceremony on April 16th, 2026. All contestants will receive a Zoom invitation by email. See last year’s winners here.

Prizes:
1st place — $5,000
2nd place — $2,500
3rd place — $1,000
7 honorable mentions — $250 each

Please view the updated OFFICIAL RULES before submitting entries.

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The contest will begin accepting submissions on March 1st, 2026 at 12:00 p.m.

GALLERY

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Photo by Adzo Seddo |

Photo by Adzo Seddo

Location: Tucson, AZ

Photo by Kaylyn Lesemann | perfectly yellow flowers

Photo by Kaylyn Lesemann

perfectly yellow flowers

Location: Andrada Polytechnic High School

Photo by Analise Gomez | A view of the Lowell Americana Project. Frozen in time showing what life was like in the 1940's mining town.

Photo by Analise Gomez

A view of the Lowell Americana Project. Frozen in time showing what life was like in the 1940's mining town.

Location: Lowell, Arizona

Photo by Eli Mathews | Pine Siskin in the sun on a warm fall day at Woodland Lake.

Photo by Eli Mathews

Pine Siskin in the sun on a warm fall day at Woodland Lake.

Location: Pinetop, AZ

Photo by Alex Forsell | A cactus behide Andrada High School

Photo by Alex Forsell

A cactus behide Andrada High School

Location: Andrada Polytechic High school

Photo by JaVon King | Open field with patches of flowers

Photo by JaVon King

Open field with patches of flowers

Location: Andrada Polytechnic High School

Photo by Cory Brooks |

Photo by Cory Brooks

Location: andrada polytechnic high school

Photo by Jaden Dimaano | Photo of a bee about to enter a flower to collect pollen.

Photo by Jaden Dimaano

Photo of a bee about to enter a flower to collect pollen.

Location: Tuscon Arizona

Photo by Jazmyn | A small flower that I took that stood out from the dirt

Photo by Jazmyn

A small flower that I took that stood out from the dirt

Location: Andrada Polytechnic High School

Photo by Adzo Seddo | "I too have planted marigolds," - Eugenia Collier

Photo by Adzo Seddo

"I too have planted marigolds," - Eugenia Collier

Location: Tucson, AZ

Photo by Connor Gottstein | A photograph i had taken and took effort to take, had to lean on a rock and stand still to get a good quality, but it was worth it. The bird looked shocked and so was i to get a perfected frame of the bird.

Photo by Connor Gottstein

A photograph i had taken and took effort to take, had to lean on a rock and stand still to get a good quality, but it was worth it. The bird looked shocked and so was i to get a perfected frame of the bird.

Location: Andrada Polytechnic Highschool

Photo by Riley McGuire | I caught this deer on my camera while staying in a cabin. Me and my family were on a walk and they were right next to our cabin so I grabbed my camera and took the shot.

Photo by Riley McGuire

I caught this deer on my camera while staying in a cabin. Me and my family were on a walk and they were right next to our cabin so I grabbed my camera and took the shot.

Location: Pinetop-Lakeside Arizona