Win a trip to a National Park

The National Park Traveler is offering you a chance to win a 4-day, 3-night trip to one of 14 national parks; that is, if you're a student between the age of 8 and 18, or, you happen to have a child in that age range that has some pretty good writing skills.

The National Park Traveler announced today it's first "Take Your Family to the National Parks" Essay Contest. Entries are being accepted from students in three age brackets: 8-11, 12-15, and 16-18.

Elementary students in the 8-11 age bracket are being asked to address the question: "Why are national parks good for kids?"

Middle school students in the 12-15 age bracket should address this question: "If you were to write President Obama telling him why the National Parks should be saved, what would you say and why?"

High school students in the 16-18 age bracket should address this question: "What are the greatest threats to our national parks, and how can they be countered?"

The winning essays will be selected by National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis and will be announced during National Parks Week in mid-April. A list of the grand prize winners and runners up, and their essays, will be posted on National Parks Traveler.

One grand-prize winner from each age bracket will receive some cool gear, plus their choice of a three-night stay for four members of their family from a range of lodgings in Badlands National Park, Big Bend National Park, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Bryce Canyon National Park, Death Valley National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Isle Royale National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Mammoth Cave National Park, Olympic National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Shenandoah National Park, and Zion National Park.

For more information on prizes, rules, and how to enter the contest, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com