Earth Day Photo Contest

I wanted to share this contest info. What a great way to participate in Earth Day/Arbor Day!



IGES Earth Day Photo Contest for Grades 5-8

Win a Digital Camera; Photos must be snapped April 22-29

2009 Earth Day Photo Contest Banner Graphic

For Immediate Release
April 2, 2009

Contest Web Site: www.strategies.org/EarthDayPhoto

IGES logoEarth is a system of connected parts -- air, land, water and life. Each part is constantly changing, and affecting and being affected by the other parts. Of all the seasons, changes are especially noticeable during spring. Birds migrate across the sky as the weather warms. Creek waters rise as melted snow trickles down from distant mountains. Spring showers give life to plants and wildlife. And thunderstorms and tornadoes are spawned as warm and cold air clash.

During the week of Earth Day (April 22), U.S. students in grades 5-8 can be part of a unique national effort to capture our changing world. Anytime from Wednesday April 22 through Wednesday April 29, 2009, take a photograph of something that is changing in your local environment. It could be a change occurring in your backyard, outside your school, in a local park, or off in the distance toward the horizon.

Then, research and write an explanation of the photograph (400 words or less) that answers the following questions:

· What is the change taking place in your photograph?
· What part or parts of the Earth system may be causing the change?
· Was the change expected?
· How might the change impact surrounding areas, including people?
· How might this picture look different in the future?

Entries will be judged by Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) staff based on relevance to topic (depiction of change in the environment), uniqueness and overall appearance of the photo, and thoroughness of the written explanation.

The top three winners will receive a digital camera, digital photo frame and digital photo keychain, respectively. The top 10 winners will receive their photograph in a special frame commemorating Earth Day 2009, and their photographs and accompanying descriptions will be featured along with selected honorable mentions on the IGES Web site, www.strategies.org.

Entries must be received by email or postmarked by May 9, 2009. Winners will be announced on the IGES Web site around June 2, 2009.

For submission instructions, entry form, and suggestions for using this activity in the classroom, please visit:

www.strategies.org/EarthDayPhoto

About IGES: Located in Arlington, Va., IGES was established in 1994 and is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization supported by public and private entities. IGES is a trusted leader in Earth and space science education, communication and outreach, and in fostering national and international cooperation in observing the Earth.

Sponsor a Student Contest: Is your company or organization looking for a way to support science education? Contact IGES at info@strategies.org for sponsorship opportunities. In addition to the photo contest for grades 5-8, IGES offers a science-themed art contest for students in grades 2-4, and cash awards for grades 9-12 students demonstrating the best use of geospatial tools or data to study Earth.

EE Week Photo Blog Contest: Do you have a positive story of how you and your organization are bringing environmental education to students? National Environmental Education Week would like to hear about it. Upload your own photos and stories -- about activities either inside or outside the classroom before, during or after EE Week -- on the EE Week Photo Blog. Entries will be accepted April 20, 2009 through May 22, 2009. See http://www.eeweek.org/photoblog for more information.

CONTACT
Dan Stillman
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies
(703) 312-7138 (Phone)
(703) 312-8657 (FAX)
Email: dan_stillman@strategies.org