See Students' Creativity in Project Green Challenge

Project Green Challenge empowers students to make their lives more sustainable, from gardening to fashion. Photo: Courtesy of Project Green Challenge

The Project Green Challenge (PCG) is a brand new competition that’s making waves. A 30-day eco lifestyle initiative designed “to inspire high school and college students to transition from conventional to conscious,” it runs through the month of October with simple, high-impact daily steps.

Participation in the challenge is skyrocketing. More than 2,600 students  from more than 500 schools have signed up since its kickoff on Oct. 1, with participants in 48 states and 20 countries.

Dreamed up by the creative minds at eco-student organization Teens Turning Green, PCG runs till Oct. 31 – and there’s still time to join.

Although participants are vying for cool prizes like a green dorm makeover, a bicycle, or a $5,000 scholarship, the daily challenges are more about empowering students to make small yet impactful changes in their everyday lives.

READ: Students! Win $5K, Dorm Makeover and More

“Amidst the craziness of class, work, friends, and sleep, it’s hard to always make time in your life for the environmentally-friendly practices you believe in and want to support,” writes Raychel, a PCG participant. “Being a part of PGC has allowed me to set aside time each day to do just that, and hopefully by the end of the month, this time and these habits will become so ingrained in me that I can’t help but live them out everyday!”

Moreover, students are learning how to understand how their actions impact sustainability as a whole.

Even through the challenge is almost up, there’s still time to jump in and participate in its last week to make a difference and check out PCG’s Green Guides. Plus, you’ve already got a head start being an Earth911 reader, as a day completely focused on recycling is coming this week.

Editor’s Note: Earth911, Inc. is an official media partner of the 2011 Project Green Challenge. It was not compensated for its participation, but rather, Earth911 was utilized as a resource throughout PCG.