Young Geographer of the Year and Rex Walford Award 2026 open for entries
Rivers are the lifeblood of our planet - carrying water, nutrients, and energy across vast distances. They sustain communities, support wildlife, and shape the landscapes we depend on. But rivers can also be a source of conflict. Where water is a shared, ‘water wars’ can be common. And who owns this water anyway?
If you’re a young person with a passion for communicating geographical topics, or an early-career teacher with innovative ideas for engaging your pupils, why not explore the multitude of geographical themes that rivers can uncover and enter one of our school competitions?
The Young Geographer of the Year competition is designed to get students thinking beyond the boundaries of the curriculum and engaging with the opportunities geography offers.
For trainee and early-career teachers with innovative ideas to engage pupils, the Rex Walford Award celebrates emerging talent in educational resource writing.
The theme for both the Young Geographer of the Year and the Rex Walford Award this year is From Source to Sea, giving you an opportunity to learn more about rivers – from the smallest stream to the widest river.
These flowing waters connect mountains to oceans and people to nature, reminding us that a sustainable and thriving environment is not just a resource, but a responsibility that we all share. As we learn more about the world’s rivers, it underlines our duty to protect them for future generations.
The deadline for entries for Young Geographer of the Year and the Rex Walford Award is Friday 2 October 2026 at 5:00pm GMT.
Keep reading to find out more or visit our schools competitions page.
Young Geographer of the Year
This competition recognises the outstanding work of the next generation of geographers. Students are invited to create a poster or Esri StoryMap, which explores rivers, showcasing the processes that shape them, the features they create, and the many ways they are used by both people and nature.
We are looking for eye catching, creative, and informative posters and StoryMaps that delve into topics like energy production, conflict, ecosystems, sustainability, trade and more. We want to see you demonstrate your understanding of why our rivers are so important and your posters and StoryMaps should include themes across human and physical geography.
There are four categories - from Key Stage 2 to Key Stage 5. All entries must adhere to the entry criteria for the relevant age category.
The competition is run by the Society with Geographical magazine and is kindly supported by Esri UK, Ordnance Survey and Philip’s Atlases.
The Rex Walford Award
Trainees and teachers in their first 6 years of teaching can enter by creating at least two creative and engaging lessons and accompanying resources, linked to the Young Geographer of the Year theme From Source to Sea.
