Banner

Hot Topics

Contests from the Community

Contests from the Community

Kids' Science Challenge

Calling all kid scientists! Here’s your chance to use your creativity and know more about science as you invent new kinds of eco-friendly packaging (Zero Waste), design toys or games that enhances the life of a pet or zoo animal and demonstrates its intelligence (Animal Smarts), or come up with a new way to preserve, cook or sustainably produce food in flight or in Mars (Meals on Mars). The winning student in each category will receive great prizes and have the opportunity to meet and work with a world-class scientist and see his entry become a reality! For grades 3-6. For details, visit www.kidsciencechallenge.com. Deadline: Feb. 29.

Kids Write

The San Diego Book Awards is inviting budding writers, ages 10-13, to join this short story contest where they can show off their writing talent and take their imaginations to new heights! The top three finalists will receive cash prizes and will be honored at the awards ceremony on June 9. Open to San Diego County residents only. Submission guidelines at www.sdbookawards.com. Deadline: Feb. 15.

Search for Huggable Heroes

Build-A-Bear Workshop launches its ninth annual search for Huggable Heroes, a group of inspiring young leaders who have a commitment to serve, help others, and make a difference in their community. Kids, ages eight to 18, can be nominated through February 27 by visiting www.buildabear.com/huggableheroes or picking up an entry form at Build-A-Bear Workshop stores.

The 10 selected Huggable Heroes will each receive $10,000 ($7,500 in the form of an educational scholarship from Build-A-Bear Workshop and $2,500 from the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation to be donated to the 501(c)(3) charity or Canadian cause of their choice). In addition, the Huggable Heroes will receive a trip for themselves and one parent, or legal guardian, to St. Louis, home of Build-A-Bear Workshop World Bearquarters, where they will be celebrated for their work, participate in a professional photo shoot, and take part in a community service project.

Over the last three years alone, Build-A-Bear Workshop Huggable Heroes have raised funds and gathered items valued at nearly $40 million. They’ve logged countless hours giving back, launching toy drives, collecting supplies for underserved children, providing relief to victims of natural disasters, sending care packages and phone cards to soldiers, starting networks that mobilize and empower kids to help others and much more.


"Moms That Move" Online Contest

milkmakers, a Seattle-based company that makes lactation cookies to support nursing moms in their efforts to provide an abundant supply of breast milk to their babies, is sponsoring an online contest to help build a community of moms (and dads, too) inspiring each other to get started and be active.
For the next few months milkmakers will be hosting the following conversations on their Facebook page:
  • What are we doing to get moving?
  • How are we going to get started?
  • Why is it important?
  • What questions do we have about becoming active?
  • How can we support each other?
Parents can enter the contest by answering these questions with photos, video, and/or stories on the milkmakers' Moms That Move site at www.milkmakers.com/momsthatmove through February 28, 2012. The winner will receive gifts worth over $300, including a one-hour consultation with nutritionist Ashley Besecker, RD, CD, an iPod Shuffle, a Fitbug with one-year membership, a subscription to Shape magazine, milkmakers cookies and more.

Ranger Rick "Your Best Shots" Photography Contest

Ranger Rick magazine, published by the National Wildlife Federation, gives kids the opportunity to see their own cool nature photos in the magazine through its first ever Ranger Rick “Your Best Shots” Photography contest for kids under 13 years old.

The contest is free to enter, and the winner could have their photo featured on the Ranger Rick website and in the magazine. Judges will select a winner every month and children do not need to subscribe to Ranger Rick to enter the contest.

Children can enter with parent’s or guardian’s permission at www.nwf.org/rrbestshot. Two free printable picture frames are available for simply entering the contest. Even if you don’t enter the contest, you can vote for your favorite entries on the website.

Getting kids out to explore and photograph things in the natural world connects them with nature and provides a break from their inside world consumed with high tech devices. Here are some tips to help kids take award-winning photos:

  • Nature photography generally requires stillness so be patient and quiet to get a great shot
  • Think small: backyard wildlife make wonderful subjects
  • Get close, but not too close if you are photographing a wildlife critter
  • Be sure to respect and appreciate your photo subject and the nature around you when taking photographs.

More info on Ranger Rick and the magazine can be found at www.nwf.org/Kids

Nominate an Awe-Inspiring Mom! 
We all know at least one incredible mother who balances it all: a social life, a spiritual life, her job, her family, and her bank accounts, but what’s even more impressive is that she manages to do all of this while also making time to volunteer or lead organizations that help others. These women are an inspiration and American Mothers wishes to recognize and honor them for what they have achieved.

American Mothers, Inc. ® is a national non-profit organization that has a long tradition of honoring outstanding moms across the country and is now seeking nominations for the 2012 National Mother of the Year, Young Mother of the Year and Mother of Achievement awards. To qualify for the National Mother of the Year award, at least one of the nominee’s children must be over the age of 18. For the Young Mother of the Year award, all of the nominee’s children must be under the age of 18. To submit a nomination, visit  www.americanmothers.org. Deadline for submission of paperwork: Feb. 20.