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The Rodale Institute's Kidsregen.org
2007 Organic School Garden Awards
Complete Contest Rules and Regulations
Special Note
This program is a contest that recognizes and rewards the most
outstanding organic school gardens. It is not a grant to create a new
garden.
Deadline to Enter
Entries must be postmarked by 10-31-2007. Entries postmarked after this
date will not be considered. However, you may send your entry as early in
the year as you like. No entry fee is required.
Who is Eligible?
Any school* within the 50 United States with an organic garden may enter
the contest.
The garden may be entered as a single classroom, multiple classrooms, an
entire school, or a home school*.
The garden must be used by the school/classrooms for educational purposes.
It can be of any shape, size, and style — let your imagination guide
you!
| *Eligibility Limitations |
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Home schools with fewer than 12 students working
with the garden are not eligible. |
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Winning schools may not enter the contest again
within 2 years. |
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Anyone related in any way to the work or staff
of The Rodale Institute or Kidsregen.org is not eligible for this
contest. |
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This contest is limited to schools and does not
include youth groups or associations. |
Judging Details
The panel of judges will include professionals in the fields of education
and organic/regenerative gardening. The contest will be judged on a point
system totaling 100 points, divided as follows: 50 points for gardening
techniques used (judged from the entry form and the essay), 24 points for
the essay, 16 points for garden presentation (judged from the photographs),
and 10 points for overall poster presentation.
Essay Guidelines
(24 possible points):
Students and their teachers will submit a one-page narrative not to exceed
800 words, which discusses from their point of view:
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Educational use of the garden
(4 points): explain how the garden is used as an educational tool
within the classroom and school (who uses it, how does it integrate
into classroom lessons and curricula, etc.). |
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Garden maintenance
(4 points): explain how it is done and why (techniques and methods
being used and promoted, etc.). |
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Social aspect of the garden
(4 points): if the garden is permanent, who takes care of it between
semesters (students, teachers, families, senior citizens, etc.)?
Explain if any special events are organized around the garden (harvest
festivals, food tasting, writing cookbooks, special craft, etc.). |
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Students' involvement in the garden
(4 points): describe how the students help with planning, building,
planting, maintaining, etc. |
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Use of the garden's produce
(4 points): explain how the end product of the garden is being used
(donated to soup kitchen, as part of an entrepreneurial project,
used in the school cafeteria, taken home by students, etc.). |
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Impact on students
(4 points): explain what students learn from the garden and how
it shapes or influences their thinking in the classroom and in their
everyday lives. |
Poster Guidelines
(26 possible points):
Submit 1 poster: a 14" x 10" white poster board to which you have
affixed four
4" x 6" original color photographs (no scanned photos or photocopies
will be accepted). Digital photographs must be printed to standard photo
quality. Be sure to include a description or caption for each photo.
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Garden Presentation Using Photos:
(16 points) |
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One photo must show the garden in
its entirety |
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One must demonstrate the existence
of organic techniques within the garden (compost pile, companion
planting, etc.) |
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One must show the students and their
teacher(s)**in the garden |
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One is your choice (you may choose to point out
something of special interest) |
| **Include signed
release
forms for all people pictured in photos. |
| Overall
Poster Presentation: (10 points) |
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Be creative — feel free to
use paints, markers, crayons, stickers, fabric, drawings, and lots
of imagination to decorate your poster and write your descriptions.
Photo descriptions are limited to one or two sentences and may be
applied to the poster as you wish. |
| Print the name and
complete address of your school on the back of your poster (do NOT
include your school name on the front). |
| How
to Enter Guidelines |
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Register NOW:
In order for your garden to be included, you MUST REGISTER.
Fill out the online registration
form and submit it to us as early as possible.
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Your complete
contest entry packet must be postmarked by 10-31-2007: Complete
the official
entry form (incomplete entries will not be entered in the contest)
and place in a large envelope (do not bend the poster) along with
signed release
forms, essay, and poster and mail it the address below:
The Rodale Institute
Organic School Garden Awards
611 Siegfriedale Road
Kutztown, PA 19530
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Important notice:
All entry material becomes the property of The Rodale Institute and Kidsregen.org.
By submitting the same you acknowledge and agree that The Rodale Institute
and kidsregen.org may reproduce the same and all materials may be displayed
(in part or in whole) at The Rodale Institute and Kidsregen.org's discretion
in printed or digital format. Such presentation material will not be returned
to you. Finally, you acknowledge and agree that should your school be
selected as a winner under this competition, then to the extent any of
the photographs or materials submitted contain the names or likeness of
students, teachers and/or others, you will be required to have the adult
individuals (and the parents/guardians of such students) sign Release
forms provided by us so that we can display those photographs or materials
concerning your winning garden. Such requirement would be a condition
of your accepting the award.
The Rodale Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in
Kutztown, PA. The Rodale Institute works with people worldwide to achieve
a regenerative food system that renews environmental and human health.
Kidsregen.org is an educational program of The Rodale Institute.
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