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Contest
Download and print teacher entry information

 

Official "National Geographic Kids
Hands-On Explorer Teacher Challenge" Contest Rules 2007/2008

 

NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY AND A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

SPONSOR

Sponsor is National Geographic Society, 1145 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-4688 (“Sponsor” or “NGS”).

TERM

The Hands-On Explorer Teacher Challenge begins December 1, 2007, and ends February 15, 2008. All Entries must be postmarked by February 15, 2008, and received by February 22, 2008.  Entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned or acknowledged.

WHO MAY ENTER

Contest is open only to legal residents of the United States (excluding residents of Puerto Rico), who are full-time teachers in grades 3–8 on any subject matter during the 2007–08 school year and who plan to teach during the 2008–09 school year.  Employees of Sponsor, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company Division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc., Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland, Tourism Tasmania, and each of their respective parents, affiliates and subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies, and their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they live) or persons living in the same households of such individuals, whether or not related, are not eligible to enter or win a prize.  CONTEST IS VOID IN PUERTO RICO AND WHERE PROHIBITED. 

HOW TO ENTER

NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY AND A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

To enter, visit kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Explorer-trip-2008-teachers, download and complete an entry form, or fill out a 3"x5" note card with your first and last name, address, telephone number, e-mail address (if available), school name and address, and grade level(s) taught. Mail the completed 3"x 5"card or downloaded entry form, along with your Photograph, Essay, description for your activity, anda letter of support from your supervisor or school principal to:NG Hands-On Explorer Challenge, National Geographic KIDS Magazine/CDH, 1145 17th St., NW, Washington, DC  20036-4688. All entry cards must be complete in order for the entry to be valid.

Entry must comply with the following requirements (“Entry Requirements”):

  • In your classroom, conduct a hands-on activity related to Australia. You may choose to conduct your own activity, choose one from the Hands-On Australia Adventures poster, or select one of the activities online at www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions. The activity should be conducted in an innovative manner that actively engages students in learning.

  • In an essay of no more than 500 words, tell us the best practices you use to increase students’ knowledge and appreciation of the geography of Australia.

  • Please provide a detailed description of at least one innovative hands-on activity related to this instruction.

  • Submit a photo of your class doing the hands-on activity.

  • Submit a letter of support from your supervisor or school principal.

  • Photograph must be submitted in the form of a print between 3"x5" and 8"x10" (taken with film or digital camera).  No electronic, slide, or non-print submissions will be accepted.    

  • The use of public domain images is prohibited.

  • Photographs that include sculptures, statues, paintings, and other works of art will be accepted as long as they do not constitute copyright infringement or fraud; provided that entrants must be prepared to provide a release form as described below in “Third Party Releases/Licenses.” When photographing the work of others, it must be as an object in its environment and not a full-frame close up of another person’s art.

  • The content of the Photograph may or may not include you personally.

  • If the Photograph is taken by someone other than the entrant, entrant must be prepared to provide a license agreement signed by the author of the Photograph, in the form as provided below in “Third Party Releases/Licenses.”

  • You must be prepared to provide a signed written personal release from all persons who appear in the Photograph submitted (or, if minors, from their parents or legal guardians), authorizing use of the Photograph as provided below in “Third Party Releases/Licenses.”

  • The Essay must be a single work of original material created by the contest entrant.By entering the Contest, entrant represents, acknowledges, and warrants that the submitted Essay is an original work created solely by the entrant and that no other party has any right, title, claim, or interest in the Essay.

  • Modifying, enhancing or altering a third party’s preexisting work does not qualify as entrant’s original creation.

  • Obscene, provocative, or otherwise objectionable content will not be considered, and such determination is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.

  • The entries will be judged in accordance with the Judging Criteria, as defined below.

  • Limit one entry per person.

CONTEST PRIZES

THE POTENTIAL WINNERS ARE REQUIRED TO EXECUTE THE FOLLOWING: (1) AN AFFADAVIT OF ELIGIBILITY AND LIABLITY RELEASE; (2) WARRANTY OF OWNERSHIP AND LICENSE; (3) PUBLICITY RELEASE; AND (4) ANY OTHER AFFIDAVITS AND/OR RELEASES OR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED BY PRIZE SUPPLIER(S). UNLESS PROHIBITED BY LAW, THE POTENTIAL WINNER MUST SIGN THESE THREE DOCUMENTS NO LATER THAN 15 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PRIZE NOTIFICATION IN ORDER FOR SPONSOR TO AWARD THE PRIZE. NONCOMPLIANCE OR RETURN OF PRIZE NOTIFICATION AS UNDELIVERABLE MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION AND, AT SPONSOR’S DISCRETION, SELECTION OF AN ALTERNATE WINNER. 

 

Two (2) Grand Prize Winners will be selected. The Grand Prize consists of (1) an Australian Expedition from Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland, and Tourism Tasmania, for each Winner (“Expedition”), and (2) one digital camera. Expedition dates subject to change at the discretion of Sponsor. The Expedition includes meals, local transportation, and accommodations for nine nights as described in the Australia Expedition link on kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Explorer-trip-2008-teachers. Expedition also includes round-trip air transportation for each Winner from the major airport closest to that Winner’s home to Expedition departure point. Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") of Grand Prize is $5,500. Tips, taxes, insurance (including travel insurance), and all other expenses associated with acceptance and use of the prize not stated herein, or in the related print or electronic materials, are the sole responsibility of each Winner. Each Winner will use his/her digital camera to document the Expedition; entrants grant to Sponsor, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company Division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc., Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland, Tourism Tasmania and others (described below) a license to use such photographs as specified in “Entrant Licenses/Releases” below. Each Grand Prize Winner will receive the National Geographic Kids Expedition Team Medal of Distinction upon completion of the Expedition. All prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion.

  • Retail value of Grand Prize may vary depending on location of each Winner’s residence.  Any difference between actual retail value of prize and the approximate retail value will not be awarded.

  • No prize transfer, assignment, or substitution by Winners permitted. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any prize in which case a prize of comparable value, determined in Sponsor’s reasonable discretion, will be awarded.

  • Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received.

  • If a Grand Prize Winner is unable to travel on the dates of the Expedition (which are subject to change at Sponsor’s discretion), then, at Sponsor’s discretion, an alternate Grand Prize Winner may be selected based on the judging criteria below.

  • Each Winner will be responsible for all necessary travel authorizations and travel insurance. Travel arrangements will be made through Sponsor’s agent on a carrier of Sponsor’s choice.  Certain restrictions may apply. By accepting the Grand Prize, Winners represent that they understand that travel, whether in developed or remote areas and whether by plane, automobile, boat, raft, or other conveyance, or by foot, on land or water, and in the air, contains some inherent element of risk of accident, illness, injury, loss or death, which may be caused by negligence, forces of nature, wild animals or other agencies, known or unknown. Winners represent that they recognize that such risks may be present at any time before, during, and after the trip. In order to be considered a Winner and partake of the enjoyment of this Expedition, potential Winners must be willing to accept the risk, and to confirm their acceptance to such risk in writing at Sponsor’s request. Winners are responsible for obtaining all necessary vaccinations, if any, prior to the Expedition.

 

JUDGING

Contest consists of three (3) rounds of evaluation. The Judges will use the same Initial Judging Criteria in Round One and Round Two, and Finalist Judging Criteria in Round Three. The top twenty-five (25) candidates in Round One will proceed to Round Two. The top ten (10) candidates in Round Two will proceed to Round Three. Two (2) Grand Prize Winners will be selected from among the candidates in Round Three. (The content in the letter from the supervisor or school principal will not be considered in the evaluation.)

In Round One, a National Geographic staff person with experience in the fields of education and exploration will evaluate the entries based on the following criteria (“Initial Judging Criteria”):

 • Entry must demonstrate clear evidence that the best practices described increased students' knowledge and appreciation of Australia. (30%)

 • Entry must demonstrate that the hands-on activity was skillfully executed and that it had an impact on students (30%)

 • There is a clear relationship between the Photograph and the hands-on activity described in the Essay (20%)

 • The Essay is articulate and well written, is of an uncluttered nature, and is overall of high quality (20%)

In Round Two, a panel of National Geographic experts in the fields of education, exploration, photography, and the environment (the “Judges”) will evaluate the entries based on the Initial Judging Criteria.

In Round Three, each of the candidates selected by the Judges to proceed from Round Two will receive a telephone call from one of the Judges. The Judge will call on a business day during the hours of 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and 5 p.m. EST. The Judge will call up to three times and leave a message. If candidate does not respond to the Judge's telephone call within five (5) business days, candidate will be disqualified. Each candidate reached by a Judge will be asked the following questions:

           

  1.       Why did you choose this particular hands-on activity as the focus of your entry?
  2.       Please give one example of a way in which you have been an innovative teacher in your classroom.

 

The Judges will evaluate the candidates’ answers to these questions based on the following judging criteria (the “Finalist Judging Criteria”):

 

  1.       Ability of entrant to express himself or herself verbally; and
  2.       Contributions as a professional educator.

 

  • Winners will be chosen on or about April 4th, 2008 and notified by phone by April 11, 2008.
  • Decisions of the Sponsor and Judges are final and binding.

  • Sponsor reserves the right not to award all prizes in the event an insufficient number of eligible entries meeting the minimum judging criteria are received, as determined by Sponsor and Judges in their sole discretion.

 

ENTRANT LICENSES/RELEASES

Winning entries, the winners’ names, voices, likenesses, and photographs taken by the Winners on the Expedition may be published by Sponsor, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company Division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc., Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland, Tourism Tasmania, their designees, licensees or affiliates, in one of Sponsor’s magazines or on its website, or in any other medium, and/or in press releases associated with the Hands-On Challenge.  Photographs taken by the Winners during the Expedition may be published by Sponsor,Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company Division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc., and/or their designees, licensees or affiliates (the “Authorized Parties”) in magazines, on websites, or in any other medium, at Authorized Parties’ discretion. By participating, all entrants grant a license in any photographs taken by the Grand Prize Winners during the Expedition, to the Authorized Parties, and acknowledge that the Authorized Parties may use such photographs in any media now or hereafter known, without restriction, including commercially using and exploiting them to fullest extent possible. No Authorized Party will be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such use or exploitation.  By participating, all entrants further grant a license in the entries to the Authorized Parties, and acknowledge that any Authorized Party may use the entries and a name credit in any media now or hereafter known, without restriction, including commercially using and exploiting the entries to fullest extent possible worldwide in perpetuity. Authorized Parties will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such use or exploitation.  Additionally, by participating, each entrant grants to Authorized Parties the unrestricted right to photograph and film the Winners on the Expedition, and to use all statements made in connection with the Contest, and pictures, voice, and/or likeness of Contest participants, or choose not to do so, at their sole discretion. No Authorized Party will be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such use or exploitation.  

THIRD PARTY RELEASES/LICENSES

Upon Sponsor’s request, each entrant must be prepared to provide a signed written personal release from all persons who appear in the Photograph submitted, authorizing use of the Photograph by any Authorized Party in any media now or hereafter known, without restriction, including commercially using and exploiting it to fullest extent possible, including but not limited to Sponsor’s editorial publications, press releases, marketing and promotions.  In addition, each entrant must be prepared to provide a signed written license from any third party who took the Photograph submitted, authorizing use of the Photograph by any Authorized Party in any media now or hereafter known, without restriction, including commercially using and exploiting it to fullest extent possible, including but not limited to Sponsor’s editorial publications, press releases, marketing and promotions.  Similarly, upon Sponsor’s request, each entrant must be prepared to provide a signed written license from the copyright owner of any sculpture, artwork or other copyrighted material that appears in the photograph entry, authorizing use of the photograph by any Authorized Party in any media now or hereafter known, without restriction, including commercially using and exploiting it to fullest extent possible, including but not limited to Sponsor’s editorial publications, press releases, marketing and promotions. All releases must be in the form provided by Sponsor.  Failure to provide such releases upon request may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Blank release and license forms are available for download at kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Explorer-trip-2008-teachers.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

By participating, entrants agree to release, discharge, and hold harmless National Geographic Society; Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company Division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc., Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland, Tourism Tasmania, and each of their respective partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising agencies, agents and their employees, officers, directors, and representatives from any claims, losses, and damages arising out of their participation in this Contest or any Contest-related activities and the acceptance and use, misuse, or possession of any prize awarded hereunder.

Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company Division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc. nor its affiliates are liable for any of the prizes or the conduct of the Contest.

CONDITIONS

This Contest is VOID IN PUERTO RICO AND WHERE PROHIBITED. This Contest is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Certain restrictions may apply. Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, stolen, mutilated, incomplete, illegible, misdirected, or postage-due mail. Entries void if the Sponsor determines the entry to not be an original, or if the entries are illegible, incomplete, damaged, irregular, altered, counterfeit, produced in error or obtained through fraud or theft.

Participants also agree (a) to be bound by these Official Rules; (b) that the decisions of the Judges are final on all matters relating to the Contest; and (c) if he/she wins that Sponsor may use the winning Photographs and/or written Essay and each winner’s name, photograph, likeness, and/or voice in any publicity or advertising relating to the Contest or future promotions without compensation or approval (except in Tennessee and where prohibited by law). All federal, state and local taxes, fees, and surcharges on prizes are the sole responsibility of the prizewinners. In the event that the selected winner(s) of any prize are/is ineligible or refuses the prize, the prize will be forfeited and Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may choose whether to award the prize to another winner.

WINNERS' LIST

Winners' names will be available online at kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Explorer-trip-2008-teachers after May 15, 2008, or for a list of the names of winners send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: NG Hands-On Explorer Teacher Challenge Winners, National Geographic Kids, 1145 17th St., NW, Washington, DC  20036-4688, attn: Marketing Department (Residents of Vermont need not include postage.)

NOTICE TO INDIVIDUALS: REMOVAL FROM MAILING LIST: Any individual (or other duly authorized person) may elect to exclude the name and address of that individual from all lists used by Sponsor to mail skill contests or sweepstakes. To elect to have an individual’s name excluded from all such lists, submit a removal request in writing to: Hands-On Explorer Teacher Challenge, National Geographic Kids, 1145 17th St., NW, Washington, DC  20036-4688, attn: Marketing Department. This notification system may be used to prohibit mailing of all skill contests or sweepstakes by Sponsor to such individual.

SHORT FORM CONTEST RULES

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. To obtain Official Rules go to kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Explorer-trip-2008-teachers. Open only to legal U.S. residents (excluding Puerto Rico) who are full-time teachers in grades 3–8 during 2007–08 school year and who plan to teach during 2008–09 school year.  Employees of National Geographic Society, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Products Company Division of Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Inc., Tourism Australia, Tourism Queensland, Tourism Tasmania, and related companies (and their families and households) are ineligible. Entries must be postmarked by February 15, 2008, and received by February 22, 2008. Limit one entry per person. To enter conduct a hands-on activity related to Australia and write an original essay of no more than 500 words telling us what best practices you use to increase students’ knowledge and appreciation of the geography of Australia (“Essay”). Take a Photograph of your students doing the hands-on activity. (The “Photograph”).  Provide detailed description of at least one innovative hands-on activity related to this instruction. (The “Description”). Submit a letter of support from your supervisor or school principal. Visit kids.nationalgeographic.com/contests/Explorer-trip-2008-teachers to download and complete entry form, or  fill out a 3"x5" note card with your first and last name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, school name and address, and grade level(s) taught. Mail your completed entry along with your Photograph, Essay, description for your activity, and a letter of support from your supervisor or school principal as described in Official Rules to: NG Hands-On Explorer Challenge, National Geographic KIDS Magazine/CDH 1145 17th St., NW, Washington, DC  20036-4688.  All entries must be complete in order for entry to be valid. Two (2) Grand Prize Winners will win one digital camera and an Australian Expedition in July 2008. (ARV: $5,500).  Dates of prize trip are subject to change at discretion of Sponsor. CONTEST IS VOID IN PUERTO RICO AND WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. The odds of winning depend on the number of entries received.

 
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