Awards and competitions

This page is for current awards and competitions with links to wildlife and environment. We also include some other projects you can join in with. We want to show you where to get funding for your ideas, and how to be rewarded for your achievements!

 The newest items will always be at the top! If you hear about items we could feature here please let us know by emailing watch@wildlifetrusts.org

Please note that we are currently unable to include ongoing award schemes from other organisations - such as brownies, scouts or other environmental organisations as there are simply too many.

FIND THE REAL SHAUN THE SHEEP

The Year of Food and Farming aims to get more children finding out first-hand about food, farming and the countryside. As an added incentive to get out and about this spring, the Year has teamed up with Aardman to get children searching to find the real Shaun the Sheep.

If you are aged 5–12, why not head out into the countryside with your camera and have fun trying to find Shaun. When you find a look-a-like, simply take a photograph and enter it into the Find the Real Shaun competition at www.yearoffoodandfarming.org.uk. For the best Shaun the Sheep look-a-like, there is a chance to win an exclusive, framed still from the Shaun the Sheep series signed by the Director, and a free family ticket to visit a national farm attraction.

NATIONAL JUNIOR SEA LIFE CONFERENCE

SEA LIFE Centres and Sanctuaries are holding the first ever National Junior SEA LIFE Conference in Birmingham on July 15th and 16th.

The search is on to find youngsters in the UK, aged 10 - 14, to give a brief presentation, with the help of a SEA LIFE marine expert, on any marine conservation issue they feel strongly about. Any 10-14-year-olds keen to take part should write to, or e-mail their nearest SEA LIFE or Sanctuary explaining in no more than 100 words what marine conservation topic they would like to talk about. The conference includes a tour of the National SEA LIFE Centre, Birmingham, and a special Conference dinner at the luxurious Hilton Metropole Hotel. Day 2 will be ‘presentation day.'

The deadline is March 31st....so get those letters and e-mails off as soon as you can. find the locations of your nearest centre and contact details on http://www.sealife.co.uk/map.php
Visit the ‘Where Are We' page for full contact details.

Take part in Molewatch - summer 2008
No prizes for the most molehills, but a chance to help 'the little gentleman in the velvet waistcoat'. Check out www.molewatch.org.uk or call 0207 498 4533

Money and glory for teenage projects
Volvo Adventure - in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme - is an educational programme that rewards environmental activities among the decision makers of the future. Environmental projects are undertaken by young people to improve their local environment. The best projects will be selected for an all expenses paid trip to Sweden where cash prizes of up to $10000 are up for grabs.

Volvo Adventure is open to young people around the world aged between 13 and 16 years. Teams must be between 2 to 5 young people with one adult as a supervisor. You start by registering your project and then you can access all sorts of support and expertise before final submissions by 31 January 2008. Register on www.volvoadventure.org where you can also find more information about the programme and the competition.

Bob the Bunny for under 13s
Linked to Volvo Adventure is an online learning journey with Bob the Bunny where you can can earn a certificate and graduate to a competition and further web based information. If yo are intersted, check out http://www.volvoadventure.org/int_homepage.aspx

The Beatrix Potter™ Green Award is designed to inspire creativity and discussion around the environmental issues that children are most interested in and concerned about.
TO ENTER!
Children need to write a story and add their own drawings or photographs to illustrate it.

Perhaps along the lines of:
• What do you love about the natural world?
• How do you get involved in environmental issues?
• How would you like to help the planet?
WIN!
• A fantastic mountain bike and a year's free membership to the National Trust for your family or a friends family
• Runners up prizes of Beatrix Potter™ goody bags worth £150
Two age categories: 5 - 7 and 8 - 11 years
Closing date for entries 30th April 2008

Find out more on www.peterrabbit.com

 

The Observer Ethical Awards
Find out more on http://observer.guardian.co.uk/ethicalawards/0,,1704194,00.html
There are a number of categories including
Ecover Award for Young Campaigner of the year
Last year's winners, Meare Village primary school, demonstrated a real dedication to ethical issues, with their link with a Kenyan school and initiatives such as their walking bus to school. This year, the category will be open to anyone in full time primary or secondary education. Ecover will be providing £2,000 a year for 3 years to go towards the winners' sustainable project.

They want to hear about the work you or your group has done so far, and more importantly what you plan to do with the prize money to really make a difference. Please send us your entry either in a written statement of no more than 1000 words or use any media of your choice to tell us about your work. If you're making a recording of any kind (audio, video, DVD), please limit its length to 5 minutes. All material is non returnable.
Enter online via the hyperlink above or send your entry to: The Observer Ethical Awards, PO Box 55727, London E14 1BJ

and The Observer  ‘Conservation Project of the Year’ which has a £1,000 prize to fund existing or further conservation work.

The paper says “The winner might be a local group doing its best to make sure UK habitats and species are protected, or a UK-based charity working on a global conservation project.”

Closing date 2 March 2007

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Volvo Eco adventure - awards for young environmentalists
These awards are for groups of young people aged 10-16 who are involved in, or planning, environmental activities and projects. The clsoing date for entries is 31 March 2007. You can win £500 to put towards your project and be chosen to take part in an expenses-paid international conference in Sweden.

Awards are made to ten projects across the UK - for full details visit www.volvoecoadventure.org or call the team on 0207 593 5278

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Watch awards

Watch runs two award schemes for its subscribing members. We have  Gold Award for members aged 8 and over and Watch Starlet for children starting aged 5,6 or 7. If you join Wildife Watch you will be sent details in your starter pack. If are already a member but you missed out then contact your local Wildlife Trust for the materials to get you started.