Ecoeduca 2026 is an environmental education project led by the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), through the Polytechnic Institute (IPRJ) and its Laboratory of Sustainability and Polymer Chemistry (LaSQPol), in Nova Friburgo, Brazil. Using a gamified, competition-style format, it engaged 134 middle and high school students from local schools and a scout group to design and carry out climate action projects in their schools and communities. Teams chose one of three tracks: Sustainable and Resilient Cities, Carbon Footprint, or Nature-based Solutions. From April to September, students planned and implemented their actions, shared them on team-run Instagram profiles, and joined bonus activities with local partners. These included a used cooking oil collection campaign, carbon footprint calculations, a guided visit on eco-products and stingless bees, an Amazon-themed creative immersion, and SDG games and a composting workshop during IPRJ’s Environment Week. The closing event in October brought together the five teams, out of seven registered, that completed all stages to present their actions, learnings and results. Awards recognized every team that completed the challenge, the highest overall score, and the strongest social media engagement. Ecoeduca connects young people with local actors and turns climate knowledge into concrete action in the territory.