About

We wish to engage the intelligence, the passion, and the leadership of America’s young people to help restore and protect our physical world. Download the Poster

We seek ideas

We especially seek projects that can help build the next generation of conservation leaders by engaging young people in protecting and conserving our natural world.

We are looking for practical solutions.
We will give preference to submissions that demonstrate how you would implement your idea and what its impact may be.
We hope to build leaders.
Presentation counts, too.

Submissions can offer an innovative vision, outline a creative new program, or propose a new twist on an old model of conservation.

Guidelines

Participants must be between the ages of 15 - 25 on May 1, 2007, and be U.S. residents.
Contest launch date is July 1, 2007, 12 am ET.
Deadline for electronic submission is December 1, 2007, 11:59 pm ET.
Mail in entries must be postmarked by no later than December 3, 2007 and received by SCA no later than December 8, 2007.
To be accepted, written submissions can be no longer than 10 double-spaced typescript pages at 11 point font size. Multimedia submissions must take no longer than 20 minutes to view.
They must be reproducible and not one of a kind.
All entries must be entirely original work by the participant and not copied or remixed from any third party.

Judging

Submissions will be judged by a panel of SCA Alumni and staff based on the following criteria:

Concept (25%) - The degree to which it presents a well thought-out idea(s) for engaging young people in addressing an environmental challenge.
Need (20%) - The degree to which it addresses or averts a significant environmental challenge.
Fits Theme (15%) - The degree to which it illustrates an action-oriented, practical solution to a current environmental challenge.
Impact (15%) - The degree to which it clearly demonstrates the idea’s implementation and its impact or reach.
Creativity (15%) - The degree to which it is creative and innovative.
Structure (10%) - The degree to which it is eloquently presented and well organized.

A total of eight Finalists will be selected, including one entrant from each of the four regions in the fifteen to nineteen years of age group and one entrant from each of the four regions in the twenty to twenty-five years of age group.

A panel of Judges who are national experts will name the Grand Prize Winners, one from each of the age groups, and six First Prize winners.

Regions

Region 1 - Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Region 2 - Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, DC
Region 3 - Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming
Region 4 - Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah

Conservation in Action Contest Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

1. Eligibility: Conservation in Action Contest (the “Contest”) is open only to residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are between fifteen (15) and twenty-five (25) years of age as of May 1, 2007. Employees of The Student Conservation Association, Inc. (”SCA”), Mazda Motor of America, Inc., Mazda dealerships, S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, ePrize, LLC, and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, boards of directors, and agents and any agencies or other companies involved in the development or execution of the Contest or production or distribution of Contest materials, as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and household members of each such employee or member are not eligible. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited by law.

2. Sponsors: The Student Conservation Association, Inc. 689 River Road, P.O. Box 550, Charlestown, NH 03603-0550; Mazda Motor of America, Inc., 7755 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618-2922. Administrator: ePrize, LLC, One ePrize Drive, Pleasant Ridge, MI 48069.

3. Agreement to Official Rules: By participating in the Contest, contestant warrants that he/she fully and unconditionally agrees to and accepts these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsors and/or Administrator, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Contest. Winning the prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.

4. Timing: The Contest begins at 12:00 a.m. Eastern Time (”ET”), July 1, 2007 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET, February 15, 2008 (the “Contest Period”). The Contest period consists of an entry phase, initial judging phase, and a final judging phase. The entry phase of the Contest begins at 12:00 a.m. ET, July 1, 2007 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET, December 1, 2007 (the “Entry Phase (online)”). Mail-in entries (the “Entry Phase (mail-in)”) must be postmarked by no later than December 3, 2007 and received by SCA no later than December 8, 2007. The initial judging phase begins at 12:00 a.m. ET, December 9, 2007 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on January 14, 2008 (the “Initial Judging Phase”). The Final Judging phase begins at 12:00 a.m. ET on January 15, 2008 and ends at 11:59 p.m. ET on February 15, 2008 (the “Final Judging Phase”). SCA’s computer is the official time-keeping device for the Contest.

Timeline

Entry Phase (online) Start - July 1, 2007 12:00am ET End - December 1, 2007 11:59pm ET
Entry Phase (mail-in) Start - July 1, 2007 12:00am ET End - Postmarked by December 3, 2007 11:59pm ET
Initial Judging Phase Start - December 9, 2007, 12:00am ET End - January 14, 2008 11:59pm ET
Final Judging Phase Start - January 15, 2008, 12:00am ET End - February 15, 2008 11:59pm ET

5. HOW TO ENTER THE CONTEST

There are two (2) methods of entering the Contest:

a) Online Entry: During the Entry Phase (online), visit www.thesca.org/contest/ and follow the links and instructions for entry. Submit the completed registration form and your entry illustrating an action-oriented, practical solution to a current environmental challenge (the “Submission”). The entry must be either an essay in the form of a Word, WordPerfect, Open Office, KWord, or other standard word processing attachment (determined by SCA in its sole discretion, and essay entries must meet the criteria below) or a multi-media (video or audio) presentation in the form of a link to a multi-media hosting site.

b) Mail-in Entry: During the Entry Phase (mail-in), call (603) 543-1700 or visit www.thesca.org/contest, to obtain a registration form. Fully complete the registration form and mail it, along with your Submission to, “SCA/Mazda Conservation in Action Contest,” SCA, 689 River Road, P.O. Box 550, Charlestown, NH 03603-0550. Essay entries must meet the criteria below. Mail-in multi-media presentations must be sent as a broadcast quality master on a data DVD or a video DVD as an .avi, .mov or wmv file. All mail-in Submissions must be received by December 8, 2007.

The multi-media presentation shall not exceed twenty (20) minutes in length. All online multi-media entries must also be accompanied by a broadcast quality master on a data DVD or a video DVD as an .avi, .mov or .wmv file mailed to the address in Section 5b. The essay shall not be more than ten (10) 8.5″ x 11″, double-spaced, typed or typescript pages of 11 point font with one (1) inch margins. Entrants must comply with each of the requirements herein. Entries must not be inappropriate, indecent or obscene, as determined by SCA in its sole discretion. Proof of submission or sending is not proof of receipt by SCA. No submissions will be acknowledged or returned. SCA shall have the right to edit, adapt, and publish any or all of the videos/audios/essays submitted. SUBMISSION OF AN ENTRY IN THIS CONTEST CONSTITUTES ENTRANTS’ AGREEMENT TO GRANT SCA AN IRREVOCABLE ROYALTY-FREE WORLDWIDE LICENSE TO REPRODUCE AND DISPLAY THE ENTRY OR ANY DERIVATIVE THEREOF, CREDITED WITH ENTRANTS’ FIRST AND LAST NAME. Sponsors are not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, illegible, misdirected or postage-due requests, which are void. In addition, by entering, entrants represent and warrant that the entries they submit:

• Are their own original creations;
• Do not infringe any other person’s or entity’s rights, including, without limitation, contractual rights, rights of publicity and privacy, trademark, copyright, and patent rights; and
• Have not been submitted previously in a contest of any kind.

Limit: Each contestant may enter one (1) Submission during the Entry Phase of the Contest Period.

6. Judging:

a) Initial Judging Phase (December 9, 2007, 12:00pm ET - January 14, 2008, 11:59pm ET): All Submissions will be judged by a panel of Student Conservation Association, Inc., Alumni and staff (the “Initial Judges”), to be selected by SCA in its sole discretion, based on the following criteria (”Judging Criteria”):

Concept (25%) - The degree to which it presents a well thought-out idea(s) for engaging young people in addressing an environmental challenge.
Need (20%) - The degree to which it addresses or averts a significant environmental challenge.
Fits Theme (15%) - The degree to which it illustrates an action-oriented, practical solution to a current environmental challenge.
Impact (15%) - The degree to which it clearly demonstrates the idea’s implementation and its impact or reach.
Creativity (15%) - The degree to which it is creative and innovative.
Structure (10%) - The degree to which it is eloquently presented and well organized.

b) Final Judging Phase (January 15, 2008, 12:00pm ET - February 15, 2008, 11:59pm ET): A total of eight (8) Submissions (”Finalists”) as determined by the Initial Judges during the Initial Judging Phase, one (1) entrant from each of the four (4) regions (see the each “Region” below) fifteen (15) to nineteen (19) years of age (”Group One”) and one (1) entrant from each of the four (4) Regions twenty (20) to twenty-five (25) years of age (”Group Two”), will be judged based on the Judging Criteria above, by a second panel comprised of national experts (the “Final Judges”). The Final Judges will be selected by SCA in its sole discretion. Entrants will be notified that they are Finalists by phone and mail along with instructions for the Final Judging Phase.

REGIONS:

Region 1 - Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Region 2 - Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, DC

Region 3 - Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming

Region 4 - Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah

The Finalist from Group One with the top score, as determined by the Final Judges, will be the Group One Grand Prize winner. The Finalist from Group Two with the top score, as determined by the Final Judges, will be the Group Two Grand Prize winner. The remaining six (6) Finalists will be First Prize Winners. The Final Judges’ decision will be final and binding. In the case of a tie, SCA, in its sole discretion, will select the Group One and Group Two Grand Prize winners based on the Submissions that have the highest Concept score. Should a tie still remain, a new judge, to be determined by SCA in its sole discretion, will re-judge the remaining tied entries based upon the Judging Criteria.

Entrants are not permitted to share the same email address. Any attempt by any entrant to submit more than the stated number of Submissions by using multiple/different email addresses, mailing addresses, identities or any other methods will void that entrant’s Submission(s) and he/she will be disqualified from further participation in the Contest. In the event of a dispute as to any Submission made through the online method, the authorized account holder of the email address used to submit the Submission will be deemed to be the entrant. The “authorized account holder” is the natural person assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted address. Potential winners may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder.

7. Requirements of Contest Winner

The potential winners will be notified by email, phone or registered mail on or about March 14, 2008. The potential winners (or parent/legal guardian if winner is a minor in his/her state of residence) will be required to sign and return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability and Publicity Release, where permitted, within ten (10) days from the date of notification. This Affidavit will include a provision that winner understands and acknowledges that SCA may use his/her Submission and Personal Attributes (as referenced in Paragraph 9 of these Official Rules) in any media (including, without limitation, television, print, and radio advertising and marketing, internet, industrial use (e.g., in stadiums, in stores), and in any other commercial distribution) without compensation to the winner, his or her successors or assigns, or any other entity. If requested, winner agrees to conduct any and all media interviews (including but not limited to radio and television) related to the Contest and not to disparage the Sponsors during such interviews. Failure to comply with this requirement for any reason, or return of prize notification or prize as undeliverable, failure to return the Affidavit of Eligibility, Liability and Publicity Release within the specified timeframe, or noncompliance with these Official Rules will result in forfeiture of the prize and selection of an alternate potential winner. In the event that the potential Group One or Group Two Grand Prize winner is disqualified for any reason, the prize will be awarded to the entrant who received the next highest total score. If there are any other disqualifications, this procedure will continue until there are no remaining Finalists. At that point the prize will remain un-awarded.

8. Prizes

ONE (1) GROUP ONE GRAND PRIZE: A trip for one (1) to the 2008 EarthVision Summit in Washington, D.C., which occurs April 24 - 27, 2008, and $15,000 (in the form of a check). Trip package includes roundtrip coach-class airfare for one (1) from a major airport near winner’s home (determined by SCA in its sole discretion) to a major airport in or around Washington D.C.; four (4) days, three (3) nights hotel accommodations in the Washington, D.C. area at a hotel determined by SCA in its sole discretion (quad room); meal credit for all conference meals; and all conference fees. Winner must travel on dates determined by SCA in its sole discretion or prize will be forfeited. Approximate Retail Value (”ARV”): $15,850. ONE (1) GROUP TWO GRAND PRIZE: A trip for one (1) to the 2008 EarthVision Summit in Washington, D.C., which occurs April 24 - 27, 2008, a 2008 Mazda3i sport 4-door sedan, and $10,000 (in the form of a check). Trip package includes roundtrip coach-class airfare for one (1) from a major airport near winner’s home (determined by SCA in its sole discretion) to a major airport in or around Washington D.C.; four (4) days, three (3) nights hotel accommodations in the Washington, D.C. area at a hotel determined by SCA in its sole discretion (quad room); meal credit for all conference meals; and all conference fees. Winner must travel on dates determined by SCA in its sole discretion or prize will be forfeited. Sponsors will determine all features of automobile including but not limited to color of exterior and interior, and all other features or upgrades will be allowed only if permitted by delivery dealer and paid for by winner. Winner must be a licensed driver and will be required to provide proof of insurance at time of delivery. Winner is responsible for tax, title, license, registration, dealer preparation costs, auto insurance and other fees associated with prize. Winner must take delivery of prize from the automobile dealership designated by Sponsors. ARV: $25,325. SIX (6) FIRST PRIZES: A trip for one (1) to the 2008 EarthVision Summit in Washington, D.C., which occurs April 24 - 27, 2008, and $2,000 (in the form of a check). Trip package includes roundtrip coach-class airfare for one (1) from a major airport near winner’s home (determined by SCA in its sole discretion) to a major airport in or around Washington D.C.; four (4) days, three (3) nights hotel accommodations in the Washington, D.C. area at a hotel determined by SCA in its sole discretion (quad room); meal credit for all conference meals; and all conference fees. Winner must travel on dates determined by SCA in its sole discretion or prize will be forfeited. ARV: $2,850.

For all trip prizes: Actual value may vary based on airfare fluctuations and distance between departure and destination. Trip must be booked at least twenty (21) days prior to departure. Trip subject to availability and blackout dates. Travel must be roundtrip. SCA will determine airline and flight itinerary in its sole discretion. No refund or compensation will be made in the event of the cancellation or delay of any flight. Travel and accommodations are subject to availability. Travel is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Contest, and those set forth by the SCA’s airline carrier of choice as detailed in the passenger ticket contract. Sponsors not responsible if conference or any event is delayed, postponed or cancelled for any reason, in which event that portion of the prize is forfeited in its entirety and no substitution will be provided except as in Sponsors’ sole discretion. All expenses and incidental travel costs not expressly stated in the package description above, including but not limited to, ground transportation, meals, incidentals, passenger tariffs or duties, surcharges, airport fees, service charges or facility charges, personal charges at lodging, security fees, taxes or other expenses are the responsibility solely of winner. If winner is a minor in his/her state of residence SCA will provide airfare, accommodations, meals and conference admission for winner’s parent/legal guardian, who must travel on same itinerary as winner. Prize ARV will be adjusted to include parent/legal guardian travel. If winner is a minor in his/her state of residence parent/legal guardian must execute a liability/publicity releases prior to issuance of travel documents. Travel restrictions, conditions and limitations may apply. If in the judgment of SCA air travel is not required due to winner’s proximity to prize location, ground transportation will be substituted for roundtrip air travel at SCA’s sole discretion. SCA will not replace any lost, mutilated, or stolen tickets, travel vouchers or certificates.

For all prizes: Prize is non-transferable and no substitution will be made except as provided herein at the Sponsors’ sole discretion. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute the prize for one of equal or greater value if the designated prize should become unavailable for any reason. Winner is responsible for all taxes and fees associated with prize receipt and/or use. No more than the stated elements of the prize will be awarded. Total ARV for all prizes: $58,275.

9. Publicity

Except where prohibited, participation in the Contest constitutes winner’s consent to SCA’s use of winner’s name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions, biographical information, hometown and state (”Personal Attributes”) for promotional purposes in any media without further payment or consideration.

10. General Conditions

Sponsors reserve the right to cancel or modify the Contest if fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond Sponsors’ reasonable control impairs the integrity of the Contest, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion. In such event, Sponsors reserve the right to award the prizes at random from among the eligible entries received up to the time of the impairment. Sponsors reserve the right in their sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or any other promotion, or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest is a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Sponsors reserve the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsors’ failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.

11. Release

By entering this Contest, contestant agrees to release and hold harmless the Sponsors, Mazda dealerships, S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, ePrize, LLC, and their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, agents and agencies, and each of its and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents (collectively the “Released Parties”) from and against any losses, damages, rights, claims or causes of action of any kind arising, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, out of participation in the Contest or resulting directly of indirectly, from acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of the prize awarded in connection with the Contest, including without limitation personal injury, death, and/or property damage, as well as claims based on defamation and infringement of any other person’s or entity’s rights, including, without limitation, contractual rights, rights of publicity and privacy, trademark, copyright, and patent rights.

12. Limitations of Liability

The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by contestants, printing errors or by any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest; (2) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or network hardware or software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the entry process or the Contest; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the Contest or the processing of entries; (5) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from contestant’s participation in the Contest or receipt or use of any prize or while traveling to or from any prize-related activity; or (6) liability in connection with the Content. If for any reason a contestant’s entry is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, contestant’s sole remedy is another entry in the Contest during the Contest Period.

13. Disputes

Contestant agrees that: (i) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest, or any prize elements awarded, other than the administration of the Contest or the determination of winners, shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan (Southern Division) or the appropriate Michigan State Court located in Oakland County, Michigan; (ii) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Contest but in no event attorneys’ fees; and (iii) under no circumstances will contestant be permitted to obtain awards for and contestant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THE ABOVE MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the contestant and Sponsors in connection with the Contest, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Michigan, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of Michigan or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Michigan.

14. Entrant’s Personal Information

Information collected from entrants is subject to ePrize, LLC’s Privacy Policy http://www.eprize.com/privacy/privacypolicy.html and SCA’s Privacy Policy http://www.thesca.org/privacy_policy/

15. Winner List Requests

To obtain a winners list, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to: “Conservation in Action Contest,” c/o ePrize, LLC, P.O. Box 8070, Royal Oak, MI 48068-8070. Requests must be received by June 15, 2008 for the winner list.