Attorney General Clark Announces Sixth Annual Earth Day Essay Challenge

Essay Challenge for Vermont's 4th, 5th, and 6th Graders

Attorney General Charity Clark wants to hear young Vermonters' thoughts on the environment. For the sixth year in a row, the Attorney General's Office is holding an Earth Day Essay Challenge for Vermont students.

"I look forward to this essay challenge every year. These essays provide hope for the future and make me especially proud of our state," Attorney General Clark said. "It's inspiring to see the ideas, passion, creativity, and research that the students provide in their essays. I also really appreciate the teachers who inspire and support these students in their work."

The Earth Day Essay Challenge is open to any fourth-, fifth-, or sixth-grade student in Vermont, including home-schooled students. The challenge will run from now until April 17, 2026. Students can submit other types of writing instead of an essay if they would like-for example, a story, poem, or biographical piece about someone.

Ideas for topics include things like: What do you love about Vermont's environment? How do you enjoy Vermont's environment? What do you care most about and what does Earth Day mean to you? What are your concerns about the future of Vermont's environment? What do you think we should do to help protect the environment? Participants do not need to cover all these topics-these are just ideas.

All submissions will be posted on the Attorney General Office's website for Earth Day (April 22) 2026. Posted essays will include a participant's first name and school. Please indicate with your submission if you prefer that your essay not be posted. Essays from prior years' events can be found on our website .

Participants will receive a note about their essay from a member of the Attorney General's Office and will be entered in a drawing to have Attorney General Clark speak with their classroom after the essay challenge is over. Members of the Environmental Protection Unit are also available to speak with participating classes about the environmental work of the Attorney General's Office during the essay submission period.

For more information on the Attorney General's Earth Day Essay Challenge, including how to submit your essay, please see the Earth Day Essay Challenge webpage .

CONTACT: Amelia Vath, Senior Advisor to the Attorney General, 802-828-3171