Nature Hero wins Rep. James “Jim” Himes’ (CT-04) 2020 Congressional App Challenge

When asked what inspired the creation of Nature Hero, the student said, “During the COVID-19 pandemic it has become more difficult for people to safely spend time outdoors. I was inspired to create an app that helps anyone find beautiful trails and public outdoor spaces in Connecticut’s 4th district, and encourages them to explore in a safe way.”

Over 6,500 students registered for the 2020 Congressional App Challenge. These students created and submitted 3,088 functioning apps, marking the end of an extremely successful Congressional App Challenge amid the COVID-19 pandemic. All told, 308 Members of Congress hosted Congressional App Challenges in their districts across 49 states, Puerto Rico, the Mariana Islands, and Washington, DC.

The CAC is an initiative of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Members of Congress host competitions in their districts for middle school and high school students, encouraging them to learn to code and inspiring them to pursue careers in computer science. The Internet Education Foundation provides the CAC with supplemental support. In the six years of the Congressional App Challenge, thousands of functional apps have been created by over 30,000 students, and participant demographics surpass all industry diversity metrics.