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Official Contest Rules and Details

These are the official rules and regulation for the Get to Know Contest in Canada. This contest is separate from the Get to Know Contest held in the United States, and different rules apply to each contest.

Open to Canadian residents 19 and under (only the Video Category is open to all countries)
No purchase is necessary
Entries must be received by no later than May 25, 2011.
The theme for this year's contest is "This is My Forest," in celebration of the International Year of Forests
Enter as many categories as you want!
A list of prizes and honours are available for each category are available here:
[ Art | Writing | Photography | Video ]
Visit a National Park or Historic Site and you could win a Parks Canada Centennial Prize Pack! - Details here

Art Entry Regulations

Art entries should be of a "wild neighbour", which may be a plant or animal that lives in or near your area.We also invite you to visit a nearby park to create your entry. Pets or farm animals like dogs, cats, and horses are not eligible entries.
Learn the common and the scientific name any portrayed species (plant or animal).
Art entries should be full colour and no bigger than 17" x 12".
Mailed in entries will be returned only if: they do not win and a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) that fits the artwork is included with the submission. Entries are separated during the judging process. Teachers who wish to ensure all class entries are returned are reminded to submit a SASE with each entry.

Digital Photography Entry Regulations

You can submit a maximum of twelve photos.
You must take the photo(s) yourself.
Learn the common and the scientific name any portrayed species (plant or animal).
Be sure to use the highest quality setting on the camera – photos must be at least 3 megapixels, and ideally 6 or higher.
Only JPEG images are accepted (no RAW/DNG images).
Photos may not be altered in any way and must be taken during an experience in nature. The use of programs like Photoshop is strictly prohibited.
Photography entries must be submitted online.
"Photography is such a great way to develop a lifelong interest in wildlife and I invite all young people to go outside, take some photos, and enter the Robert Bateman Get to Know Contest!"
-Joel Sartore,
Photographer

Writing Entry Regulations

Entries must be 40 words or less. (Yes, forty!)
Entries should be about our "wild neighbours" of the forest.
"By going outside and developing a basic knowledge of biodiversity, we can all respond creatively to the need for change in the way we live, work, learn, and grow..."
-Margaret Atwood

Originality/Plagiarism

All entries must be original, and must not be a copy of any existing work. Whether you mean to or not, claiming that someone else's work is your own ("plagiarism") is a serious violation of copyright law. Plagiarism and forgery can result in charges being laid, fines imposed, or damages awarded. You must be very careful to make sure that your creation[s] are original and cannot be considered plagiarized. Be creative! Experience nature and share your experience with us through art.
The best way to be sure your art is an original is to get outside! We strongly encourage all entrants to go outdoors and experience nature for themselves. Get outside and observe your wild neighbours in their natural enviornment; make sketches, have a photo/video shoot in the best possible setting, get wild inspiration for your poetry. This contest is all about having fun and spending creative time outdoors. So get out there and share your experience through art.
Click Here for more information on Creativity and Plagiarism

Entrant Agreement

By submitting an entry, the participant and his/her adult representative (if under 18):

Certify that the entry submitted is entirely original.
Take any and all legal responsibility for breaches of copyright caused by plagiarism
Grant Get to Know a license to reproduce the submitted work, in whole or in part, for any purpose, including research, on the internet, in print publications and/or in any other medium without compensation of any kind and to publish the entrant's name, age, and home city/province in conjunction with the work.
Authorize persons accessing www.gettoknow.ca or any affiliated websites to view, download and print the work for personal and classroom educational purposes
If selected as a finalist, entrants and/or their adult representatives will be required to sign an agreement that transfers ownership of their work to Get to Know before they can be confirmed as winners.

Judging and Administration

For each category, 3 winning entries are chosen from each age group:

Kindergarten to Grade 4
Grades 5 to 7
Grades 8 to 10
Grades 11 to 12

This contest is jointly administered by the Get to Know Society and the Canadian Wildlife Federation. Get to Know reserves the right to disqualify any entrant who violates any of the contest rules, who attempts to influence or receive unfair consideration from the judges, or who tampers with the entry process or the operation of the www.gettoknow.ca web site or any affiliated websites. Get to Know reserves the right to cancel or modify the contest and/or the prizes in the event of grave circumstances beyond the control of Get to Know that would prevent the normal completion of the contest. Get to Know reserves the right to adjust the age categories listed above or change the distribution of winners amongst the categories as needed, depending on the number of entries received.