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Imagine the city of tomorrow—and design it today.
Future City challenges students to imagine what communities could look like in the future and develop creative solutions to the challenges that cities may face. Teams research a problem, design a futuristic city, create a physical model, and communicate their vision.
Students combine engineering, environmental science, technology, urban planning, research, and creativity as they consider questions such as: How will communities provide clean water and energy? How will people move around? How can cities become safer, healthier, and more sustainable?
What students gain: Engineering design, research, sustainability thinking, public speaking, model building, writing, collaboration, and systems thinking.
Great for students who: Like designing, building, imagining the future, solving community problems, or presenting creative ideas.
OFFICIAL COSTS
• Organization registration: $25 (Unless announced by Norcal Future City to be FREE)
• Allowed TEAM Budget limit for the Physical model spending: up to $100. Track purchases and donated materials as required by the official rules.
Teams will manage their own budgets for recycled model supplies, printing, presentation materials, shirts, and local transportation.
HOPKINS WORKING BUDGET
Covers Team Registrations
• State/national travel, if earned, is budgeted separately by the families of the winning teams after qualification.
FUNDING PATHWAYS:
Recycled-material drive • PFA/PTA support • architecture and engineering sponsors • employer matching • mentor-firm donations • student design showcase fundraiser
SMART SPENDING RULES
Design before buying. Reuse clean materials. Maintain a model expense log with item, value, funding source, owner, approval, and receipt. Keep the official model under the $100 limit.
The Hopkins Financial Officer is Mrs. Deepika Srinivas, PFA Member.
STEAM Donations
STEAM Donations
To support the STEAM program, you may donate by scanning the QR code provided or by submitting a check payable to Hopkins_PFA (STEAM) to the Hopkins Middle School office.
For all donations, please clearly indicate the STEAM program, science competition, or challenge your contribution is intended to support.
For checks: Please write the name of your student’s STEAM program, competition, or challenge in the memo line.
Imagine, research, design, and present a sustainable city of the future.
This page will include the annual theme, team expectations, model and presentation resources, deadlines, and meeting links. (Under Construction)
2026–2027 SEASON • GRADES 6–8
Information checked August 17, 2026
CURRENT CHALLENGE: FIRE RESILIENT FUTURE
Teams will design a resilient city at least 100 years in the future that can prevent, protect against, and recover from urban wildfires. Students should study the Wildland–Urban Interface, ignition sources, ember spread, fire-resistant construction, defensible space, evacuation, emergency communication, infrastructure resilience, ecological recovery, public health, water and energy systems, and equitable rebuilding.
CURRENT DATES
Educator registration opened in May 2026. The handbook is released in August; mentor registration also opens in August. Team work begins in September, with research, design, and building continuing through the fall. Regional competitions occur in January 2027 and the national competition occurs in February. The official Northern California regional date and location are currently listed as TBD. Northern California contact: california_northern@futurecity.org.
TEAM AND PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Future City is for grades 6–8. The national program requires a dedicated program facilitator, access to research and design tools, recycled building materials, and at least three middle-school students. The official registration fee is $25 per organization, and the model/presentation materials budget is up to $100. Hopkins team's size and capacity are determined by the coordinator. The competition includes the following sections: an essay, model, simulation, project plan, presentation, and Q&A session.
CORE DELIVERABLES
• A project plan showing responsibilities, schedule, goals, and progress.
• A city created through the approved city-design/simulation process.
• A research-based city essay explaining the city and wildfire solution.
• A physical scale model made primarily from creative/recycled materials and within the official budget and dimensions.
• A timed team presentation and judge question-and-answer session.
Always use the 2026–2027 handbook and Northern California instructions for exact word limits, measurements, deadlines, and scoring.
HOW STUDENTS SHOULD PREPARE
Research real wildfire case studies and credible sources. Define the city’s climate, location, population, economy, infrastructure, and risks before choosing solutions. Connect every futuristic feature to a realistic scientific or engineering principle. Maintain citations, model scale, a shared project plan, and a design log. Rehearse the presentation so all students can explain the full city—not only their assigned section.
PARENT AND MENTOR GUIDELINES
Parents and mentors may ask questions, teach skills, help locate resources, supervise tools, and support transportation. Students must make the design decisions and complete the project. Obtain coordinator approval before purchasing supplies. Judges value an integrated city more than an expensive model.
WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL TEAM
Strong teams use the engineering design process, manage deadlines, assign clear roles, listen to every member, test ideas against the challenge, and revise after feedback. The essay, model, simulation, project plan, presentation, and Q&A should all tell the same coherent story.
OFFICIAL RESOURCES
Middle School overview and schedule: https://futurecity.org/future-city-middle-school/
2026–2027 theme: https://futurecity.org/
Regional dates and contacts: https://futurecity.org/future-city-regions/
HOPKINS INFORMATION
Questions: Under Construction
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