Students invited to design our new bear house
Calling all students and educators around the world! Help us design Free the Bears' newest bear house.
As part of the 2026 Colchester Zoological Society's STEM Design Challenge, students around the world are invited to become enclosure designers for a real wildlife sanctuary – Free the Bears' Luang Prabang Wildlife Sanctuary in Laos.
Students will design an enclosure that meets the needs of rescued sun bears, animal care staff, and visitors. It is a unique opportunity to combine STEM and conservation in one project. There are also exciting geography links to explore, along with lots of footage of sun bears!
Think climbing platforms, enrichment, swimming pools, sustainable innovations, keeper areas, the design options are endless.
Students will design an enclosure that meets the needs of rescued sun bears, animal care staff, and visitors. It is a unique opportunity to combine STEM and conservation in one project. There are also exciting geography links to explore, along with lots of footage of sun bears!
Think climbing platforms, enrichment, swimming pools, sustainable innovations, keeper areas, the design options are endless.
This student design challenge is free, fully online, and open worldwide for young people aged 5-16.
Contest submissions close 27 March 2026.