We’re happy to present an electronic booklet of winning entries from our Stomp Out Carbon contest. This April, we asked children across the country to share their ideas on how people can reduce their carbon footprint. We received more than 1,475 entries from 43 states. We were impressed and amazed by the creative and inventive ideas that were sent in. We thank everyone for their participation.
Our e-booklet features the entries of our winners (Sydney Stokes, ten, of Gahanna, Ohio; and Shianne Freebairn, 11, of Henderson, Nevada), our runners-up (Will Ardis, nine, of Lebanon, Tennessee; and Claire Shappie, 11, of Murrieta, California), and our honorable mentions.
We’ve also included information on the Zoo's green practices and green tips for you. We hope you will incorporate some or all of these ideas into your daily life and become a conservation ambassador.
Download the Stomp Out Carbon e-booklet. Zoom in to read the small type and share with your friends and schools by email instead of printing out the e-booklet.
Learn how you can shrink your carbon footprint. 
Take our green quiz.
What You Should Know
One of the most important things facing the world is climate change. Scientists agree that human activities, especially the use of fossil fuels such as coal and oil, are increasing how much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are in the atmosphere—and warming the surface of the planet. Global temperatures are increasing, sea levels are rising, wild fires are occurring more often, hurricane strength is growing. Many thousands of species will be threatened with extinction because of global warming.
Before 1750, when the Industrial Revolution began, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was about 280 parts per million. The current concentration is nearly 380 parts per million. This increase in carbon dioxide, combined with methane and other greenhouse gases that are emitted from human activities, allows less heat to escape into space, trapping it near the earth's surface.
In the past century, the average global temperature has increased by almost 1° Fahrenheit. Scientists are predicting that this century will see an increase of 2 to 6°F. If that doesn't sound like much, consider this: During the last ice age, when glaciers covered a lot of North America 18,000 years ago, the global temperature was just 7°F colder than it is today.
What You Can Do
The good news is we can shrink our carbon footprints. A carbon footprint is a calculation of the total carbon dioxide emissions created by human activities such as driving, flying, or using electricity. Each person in the United States contributes about 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year.
To celebrate Earth Day and enter our contest, we wanted kids to think about how to save energy, make a smaller footprint, and protect the planet. There are many things—large and small—you can do each day, from recycling to reducing electricity use, reusing materials, and educating others about conservation and the importance of our actions.
We selected one winner in each age category: ages six to ten and 11 to 14. Both winners will be treated to round-trip air transportation for four on United Airlines, along with a two-night stay at the luxurious Omni Shoreham Hotel. FONZ will offset the carbon from their flight. We’ll host them and their families at the National Zoo for an exclusive VIP tour to meet the animals at the new Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat and Asia Trail. We’ll also introduce them to our exhibit, horticulture, and animal care staff members who are developing new ways to incorporate earth-friendly materials into exhibits and making everyday choices to reduce the Zoo’s carbon footprint. They will also receive a fabulous Fujifilm digital camera and an eco-friendly FONZ gift basket!
Details, Details
The contest ran from April 1 to April 30, 2007, and kids could submit as many entries as they wanted. We judged entries and selected one winner in each age category based on creativity and clarity of message.
Learn about the National Zoo’s Green Team Tips for making environmentally-friendly decisions in everyday living. Remember, your actions affect the world around you—and together we can make a difference to protect the future of people and wildlife!
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TO ENTER: Children ages six to 14 may enter. Print out and complete the entry form in full and send it, along with your 8.5x11" paper, to: Friends of the National Zoo, Stomp Out Carbon, 3001 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washingtonm DC 20008. You can also submit your entry online. Or, place your entry in an envelope marked “Stomp Out Carbon” and drop it off at the front desk of the National Zoo’s Visitor Center between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Entries will be accepted by mail or in person beginning April 1, 2007, and no later than May 1, 2007. Multiple entries will be accepted. FONZ and contest sponsors are not responsible for lost or misdirected entries. Employees and affiliates of contest sponsors, and members of their immediate families, are not eligible to win. No entry fee or purchase is required. Open to legal residents of the 50 states and District of Columbia. Void where prohibited. Contest entries will be judged by representatives of the National Zoo, FONZ, and contest sponsors, on or about May 2, 2007. Contest will be judged based on creativity and clarity of message. Chance of winning depends upon the number of entries received.
The winner will be notified by phone and/or email around May 3, 2007. If the winner resides outside the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area, United Airlines will provide coach-class, round-trip air transportation for the winner, and three other family members, from the closest airport serviced by United Airlines. The winner and three guests will receive a two-night stay at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. The winner will also receive an exclusive VIP tour of the Fujifilm Giant Panda Habitat and Asia Trail, a Fujifilm FinePix A400 digital camera, and a FONZ eco-friendly gift basket. Prizes are subject to change. No cash substitutions. Taxes on winning prize(s) are the sole responsibility of the winner and not contest sponsors. The winner and his or her family may be interviewed by the press and photos of the winning family will be taken at the National Zoo. Photos associated with the contest will become the property of Friends of the National Zoo.
