Roberta Bondar Foundation is launching the Canadian Bondar Challenge, a weekly photo contest to encourage Canadian youth ages 13 – 18 to explore the natural environment in their communities. The contest goal is to promote a hands-on outdoor experience that inspires the sense of awe, respect and appreciation for living organisms that share our planet. I am not personally connected with the Foundation, just passing on this information because I believe we have to do something about the growing nature experience deficit in our society.
The photo contest will run throughout the month of August 2014. At the end of each week (each Friday), participants are asked to contribute one photograph that demonstrates the weekly theme along with a mini-essay (maximum 200 words) explaining their image, and why they took it. The contest will provide some friendly competition for youth from every Canadian province and territory, to show off what makes their environment so special.
Winners will receive a $50 gift certificate to various outdoor outfitters, The Roberta Bondar Foundation swag, a chance to have their photographs featured on the Foundation web & social media sites, and images displayed alongside Dr. Roberta Bondar’s photographs in The Foundation’s Travelling Exhibition. To make the participation as easy as possible, there are no technical restrictions for submitted photographs.
How to participate:
- Explore the natural environment around you.
- Take a photograph of what interests you most.
- Write a mini-essay (maximum 200 words) describing why you chose the photograph.
- Submit your image and written piece to contest@therobertabondarfoundation.org
- Follow the photo competition progress on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and WIN.
Theme of the Week:
Week 1 – submit by Friday, August 8, 2014
The Colours of Canada: demonstrate the diversity of colours in different natural environments in Canada.
Week 2 – submit by Friday, August 15, 2014
Finding Water: display the precious water source around you : lakes, rivers, oceans or a rainy day.
Week 3 – submit by Friday, August 22, 2014
In the Clouds: capture life in the sky. This could be mountains, clouds, sunsets, trees or birds (for example).
Week 4 – submit by Friday, August 29, 2014
What makes it Special: show off the uniqueness of the natural environment in your region.
Visit the Roberta Bondar Foundation web site to learn more.