2026 Adventures in Nature Student Photo Contest
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.
GALLERY
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Photo by Anagiselle Guerrero
Dear Day,
I heard the wet mud squelch under my weight. I heard my tongue click against my worn-out breath. I heard the jackrabbit skitter along the cacti. In the hesitant flutter of monarch wings, I heard the summer after high school.
Location: Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
Photo by Anagiselle Guerrero
In the hair-sticky summer, my body glitter catches the sunlight, and lulls me to sleep.
Location: Sabino Canyon Recreation Area
Photo by Diego Garcia
This photograph shows a street located in Sedona with a speed limit of 25
Location: Sedona
Photo by Luis Leal
Location: Arizona Parks and Rec
Photo by Tristan Munchinky
Following the so far lackluster monsoon season last August, I was determined to capture the next storm that rolled through the valley. Amidst a constant barrage of flashes, this glorious "spider web" bolt illuminated the sky, stretching across the night with its branches.
Location: Lookout Mountain
Photo by August Zucchi
a truly vibrant sunset over the Tucson mountains with beautiful soft pink and gold rays of light
Location: Tucson
Photo by Kayla Conrad
A desert tortoise is enjoying her romaine lettuce lunch, while the sun shines on her shell.
Location: Tempe, Arizona
Photo by Kayla Conrad
The sun is almost set, nothing but crickets can be heard, and the flames of the fire are burning brighter than ever.
Location: Flagstaff Arizona
Photo by Zach Hines
After driving along an off-roading trail in Sedona, my friends and I came to a lookout spot that had a view over an interesting mountain range to the east. There were some people that were using this side-by-side to off-road and they parked it here.
Location: Sedona
Photo by Zach Hines
After about 4 hours of so of trying to navigate through different trails and getting lost many times, my friends and I made it to the top of Flatiron right after sunrise. The views were impeccable and the initial sunlight gave the rocks vivid color.
Location: The top of Superstition Mountain's Flatiron (rock formation near it)
Photo by Jackson Pedersen
A single old cactus with twists in turns lining the sun up perfectly between it
Location: Off of twin peaks Marana
Photo by Theo Pray
While I was going to the library with my mom, I noticed a wonderful array of spiderwebs on small patch of beargrass. Upon closer inspection, I saw that it was actually a bunch of different spiders that just so happened to make the beargrass their home -all of them being different species. The photo I submitted is of the biggest spider that I could see on the beargrass.
Location: W. Anne Gibson-Esmond Station Library