ASFPM RISE Challenge
RISE Challenge
2021 – 2022
The RISE Challenge engages young people in developing community resilience to environmental hazards. Young people are increasingly concerned about community resilience and combating the impact of climate change – and they want to start now. The Challenge meets this need by equipping your people to lead projects that increase their own community’s ability to both prepare and mitigate the effects of natural disasters.
In 2019, the ASFPM Foundation partnered with Earth Force and FEMA Region VIII to sponsor the Rocky Mountain Environmental Challenge (RMEC). The RMEC was a competition in Fort Collins, Colorado that combined project-based learning with the latest research in science technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. With the support of the ASFPM Foundation, the RMEC has grown into the RISE (Resilience, Innovation, Sustainability, Environment) Challenge in three states and positioned to grow to several more in coming years.
The 2021-2022 RISE Challenge was held in three states: Colorado, Illinois, and Montana. Over 35 projects were submitted and 475 students were directly involved with the projects. As part of the RISE Challenge, Earth Force cultivates relationships with local government officials and community leaders for student project support and resources for educators. ASFPM Foundation representatives, along with local ASFPM members and ASFPM Chapters help engage local city and stormwater staff from involved communities. State and local stormwater professionals assist in the judging of student projects and provide local content information.
The top five projects in each state receive a dollar prize award for their project. All prize money was donated by the ASFPM Foundation. Members of the ASFPM Foundation have served as judges for the RMEC and RISE Challenge. The RISE Challenge: 2021-2022 Report can be found here.
