In celebration of the Zoo’s new seal and sea lion exhibit, Friends of the National Zoo invites you to help keep our ocean blue! Compete to earn your school a “Seal” of Approval by entering "Project Blue Planet." One lucky group from each of three categories—elementary, middle, and high school—will win a $1,500 cash prize towards continuing their green (and blue!) efforts.
It’s easy to feel small in the face of large environmental problems like oil spills or air and water pollution, but you can make a huge difference. How? By starting an eco-team or class project to educate your classmates and inspire them to take action. A healthy planet starts in your school (and school yard)!
This contest challenges kids nationwide to involve their schools and communities in conservation. We will provide the tools to get started, and National Zoo Green Team members will be on hand to help along the way.
Depending on your school’s environmental priorities, there are many ways you can achieve a “seal” of approval. Form your team and follow easy instructions that will help you reduce waste, improve energy use, and create a healthier environment for students and local wildlife.
Register now and start your project or see samples of previous projects!
Keep in mind that once your project is complete, you will need to submit the following:
- Description of how the project educates others
- Documentation of up to ten photos and/or a link to a video (five minutes maximum) showing the project from beginning to completion. The Zoo will place projects on poster boards for judging.
- To be eligible, projects must begin after February 1, 2012 and end by August 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in September 2012.
Project Categories
The following categories suggest several different projects for teams to choose from. Students and schools are also encouraged to come up with their own projects that are not listed.
See samples of previous projects
Waste
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Waste from humans can end up in oceans where it kills marine life. Research shows that plastics breaking down in marine environments release toxic chemicals into sea water and marine food webs Actions:
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Energy |
Our energy use puts heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere and causes the global climate to change. Climate change melts polar ice, particularly in the Arctic. Marine mammals depend on ice for bearing young and to supply their specialized diets. Actions:
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Habitat |
A primary challenge wildlife faces is loss of habitat. Local land-based decisions by humans can influence the health of marine mammals. Actions:
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Lifestyle |
More than 300 million Americans make decisions every day that directly affect the environment, both locally and miles from where we live. Making Earth-friendly choices about what we eat and buy ultimately affects wildlife everywhere on the planet. Actions:
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How to Submit Your Project
Submit the following by mail or e-mail:
- Description of how the project educates others
- Documentation of up to ten photos and/or a link to a video (five minutes maximum) showing the project from beginning to completion. The Zoo will place projects on poster boards for judging.
- To be eligible, projects must begin after February 1, 2012 and end by August 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in September 2012.
To:
Project Blue Planet Contest
Friends of the National Zoo
PO Box 37012, MRC 5516
Washington, DC 20013
Or
Email
Judging and Prize Information
Judges will consist of representatives from the National Zoo’s Green Team, Whole Foods Market, and the Officer Snook Water Pollution Program. Entries will be judged on their projects' environmental impact, educational content, and creativity.
Schools will not be judged on their previous green efforts, but on the changes and advancements implemented through Project Blue Planet. This enables all schools to have an equal chance at the grand prize.
A grand prize of $1,500 will be awarded to one school from each age group, along with one honorable mention of $1,000.
A description of the winning entries and honorable mention will be featured on the National Zoo website. All groups who finish and submit their projects according to contest rules will receive a "seal" of approval.
New Seal and Sea Lion Exhibit
Visitors will be immersed in a multi-sensory experience that gives them the smell, sound, look, and feel of the California coast, plus the chance to get up close to large marine mammals. They will have a chance to get their feet wet in an artificial tidepool and will learn about the delicate balance between human actions and the health of our coastlines. Construction of the new facility will use sustainable building practices, in line with its conservation message. Learn about the new exhibit and take a virtual tour.
