2026 registration coming soon!

Please reach out to Fiona McCarthy at fiona.mccarthy@audubon.org to get on the email list for 2026 registration reminders. 

 

The Native Plant Backyard Challenge supports Central Ohio residents in turning a part of their yard into native plant habitat, providing food and shelter for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife.  

We challenge YOU to introduce native plants in your yard! In 2021, Grange Insurance Audubon Center and Columbus Audubon teamed up to create the Native Plant Backyard Challenge (NPBYC). To date, over 600 households have taken the challenge spanning 47 zip codes across Ohio. This annual program provides resources for new and returning households who would like to transform or further develop their outdoor spaces with native plants. The NPBYC includes community events, educational workshops, giveaways, and more throughout the year. The challenge works to ensure that participants become ambassadors for native plants in their community! 

REGISTRATION

New Challenge Participant - $35.00

Returning Challenge Participant (must have participated in a previous year of the program) - $30.00

*Those registering also have the option to become a Grange Insurance Audubon Center, Columbus Audubon, National Audubon Society member as an individual or family. Click here to become a member! Already a GIAC, CA, NAS member - contact Allison Clark at allison.clark@audubon.org to check your membership expiration date and renew easily online.

2026 TIMELINE OF EVENTS

Details for each event, including location and timing, will be sent to participants after registering for the program. More workshops and classes to be added in 2026! 

Kick-off Gathering 

Saturday April 11th 

Join us at Grange Insurance Audubon Center to kick off the 2026 NPBYC! Local environmental, gardening, and native plant focused organizations will be tabling this event. Each participating household will be able to pick up this year's official toolkit! The kick-off is a fantastic opportunity to engage with community organizations, learn more about native plants, and pick up some useful resources.  

Rain Gardens 101 Nicole Tabit, Franklin Park Conservatory 

Thursday April 30th

Why are rain gardens so important? Discover how rain gardens can reduce runoff, support local biodiversity, and enhance your landscape's resilience to climate challenges. A Franklin Park Conservatory Educator will guide you through the basics of implementation, from site assessment to design needs, while considering which plants to select, and how to create a vibrant and eye-catching landscape design with them. 

Native Plant Sale  

Sunday May 3rd 

Our native plant sale provides NPBYC participants with an opportunity to purchase some of the native plants that they want to include in their garden! Multiple vendors will be selling a wide selection of plants at Grange Insurance Audubon Center. 

Garden Tour 

Sunday June 14th 

On June 14th, community members and program participants will be opening up their native garden spaces for you to explore, as well as connect with other local native plant gardeners and enthusiasts! Touring participants will be able to visit multiple local gardens around Columbus on a come-and-go basis throughout the day.  

Season's End Gathering and Plant Swap 

Sunday August 30th 

Celebrate your native gardening successes at our Season's End Gathering! We'll hear from a few NPBYC participants about how they transformed their yard using native plants. This is a great opportunity to connect with the challenge community and share your experience. We'll also be holding our first annual plant swap on this day!

*If you are interested in participating in the upcoming 2026 NPBYC but the fee may be cost prohibitive, please reach out to Fiona McCarthy (GIAC Engagement Coordinator, Stewardship) at fiona.mccarthy@audubon.org to request to be placed on our sponsorship wait list. Sponsorship inquiries will be filled as sponsorship opportunities arise. You will be notified via email as soon as your request can be filled. 

*If you are interested in sponsoring a household, there is a ticket option on our registration page that allows you to purchase a ticket for another household. To be clear, by purchasing this ticket option you will ONLY be sponsoring a household to take part in the challenge and will NOT be a participant yourself. If you would like to participate in the challenge AND sponsor a household, you will have to purchase both a regular ticket and a sponsorship ticket. If you purchase a sponsorship ticket and there is no household to claim it, the payment will act as a donation to the challenge and the center. 

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GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE NPBYC? Please contact Fiona McCarthy, GIAC Stewardship Engagement Coordinator, at fiona.mccarthy@audubon.org.