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What is it?
The Nature Hero Awards™ are Ireland’s largest outdoor learning awards across the education sector. It is a mark of excellence for a school recognising exceptional work by young people & teachers to help nature.
The aim is to create an educational space that nurtures a love of nature, develops a knowledge of our biodiversity & encourages action to help it locally. It covers many topics from nature conservation to school gardening, ecoliteracy to wellbeing. While it is mainly an award of participation, there's also some great prizes to be won too! It is open to pre, primary & secondary schools within the Republic of Ireland.
Our partner:
€10,000
School Garden Fund
WHAT'S NEW FOR 2025/ 26?
Thanks to your feedback we've made some BIG changes:
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Sharing the €10k prize fund more evenly, see below.
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Much easier application - simpler submission form.
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Helpful Guide Booklet.
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No more photo submissions - just simply WhatsApp us a simple, short walkthrough video!
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Hugely extended deadline up to May 29th (extra 8 weeks!) & winners announced September.
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New training webinar series for teachers.
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New sponsorship programme to connect your school with potential sponsors*.
WHAT DO YOU WIN?
The ultimate goal for your school is to achieve Golden Eagle status and receive a sustainably-made, Irish, wooden Nature Hero Award plaque - the mark of excellence for schools in outdoor learning.
The steps preceding Golden Eagle are Silver Stag and Bronze Badger - both recognised with a smaller plaque. All schools will receive a digital participation certificate.
We're sharing the prize fund more evenly this year under the following categories for outstanding schools:
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Overall National Winner - €5,000
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Best Preschool - €1,000
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Best Primary School - €1,000
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Best Secondary School - €1,000
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Spot prizes - €250 x8
Carlow ETNS, national winners 2024, being presented with their award by then-Minister for Nature Malcolm Noonan.
Register now
Forms & Guides
Please download your Submission Form
and Guide Booklet below.
Available 5th Sept
Submission Form
or
Guide Booklet
What do schools think?
scoil uí gramhnaigh, Meath
Dunboyne Senior Primary School,
Meath
St. Molaga's Senior NS,
Dublin
Where are our nature heroes?
Recipients of the Nature Hero Award 2025 (brackets indicate change on 2024 results)
First
Dublin - 10 (up 5)
Second
Cork - 8 (up 3)
Third
Meath - 6 (up 1)
Donegal - 5 (up 3)
Galway - 5 (up 4)
Kilkenny - 3 (no change)
Kerry - 2 (up 1)
Limerick - 2 (down 1)
Mayo - 2 (up 2)
Offaly - 2 (up 1)
Sligo - 2 (up 1)
Carlow - 1 (no change)
Cavan - 1 (no change)
Clare - 1 (no change)
Kildare - 1 (down 1)
Laois - 1 (up 1)
Leitrim - 1 (no change)
Tipperary - 1 (down 1)
Waterford - 1 (no change)
Westmeath - 1 (down 1)
Wexford - 1 (no change)
Longford - 0 (no change)
Louth - 0 (no change)
Monaghan - 0 (no change)
Roscommon - 0 (no change)
Wicklow - 0 (down 3)
Further information:
- Terms & Conditions are available here.
- *Sponsorship Programme. We are often approached by businesses and local authorities looking to support local schools. A key priority for these sponsors is that their nature funding will be used and appreciated by schools. We therefore connect these funders directly to schools registered for the Nature Hero Awards who are showing ambition to help biodiversity. It is therefore worthwhile being part of this programme. Sponsorship in the past has involved everything from simple nature kits all to way up to entire school gardens and outdoor classrooms. Please note we can't guarantee sponsorship but we will do our absolute best for your school.