NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY AND A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. MANY WILL ENTER, FEW WILL WIN.

SPONSOR

Sponsor is National Geographic Society, 1145 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-4688 ("Sponsor" or "NGS").

TERM

The Hands-On Explorer Challenge begins August 5, 2010 and ends December 1, 2010. All Entries must be postmarked by December 1, 2010 and received by December 7, 2010. Entries become the property of Sponsor and will not be returned or acknowledged.

WHO MAY ENTER

Contest is open only to legal residents of the United States (excluding residents of Puerto Rico) and Canada (excluding residents of Quebec) who are ages nine to fifteen (9–15) as of July 1, 2011. Employees of Sponsor, The Cayman Islands, Nikon Inc. and each of their affiliates and subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies, and their immediate family members (spouse, parent, child, sibling and their respective spouses, regardless of where they live) or persons living in the same households of such individuals, whether or not related, are not eligible to enter or win a prize. Entrants must have a parent's or legal guardian's permission to enter. CONTEST IS VOID IN PUERTO RICO AND WHERE PROHIBITED.

HOW TO ENTER

To enter, visit kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/contests/explorer-trip-2011, download, print, and complete an entry form, or a fill out a 3”x5” note card with your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address (if available), date of birth, and parent’s or legal guardian’s signature. Mail your completed entry form or 3”x5” card, along with your Essay and Photograph (described below) to: NG Kids Hands-On Explorer Challenge, National Geographic Kids magazine/CDH, 1145 17th St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. Entry form must be complete for entry to be valid.

*Entry must comply with the following requirements (“Entry Requirements”):

*To enter, write an original personal essay, in English, of no more than 300 words. Think about how water is essential to life everywhere—from the dew on a leaf to the sea that surrounds the Cayman Islands. Creatively incorporate the topic of water in your essay that tells us what inspires or excites you as you actively explore your world (“Essay”). Then take a photograph of what, where, or how you explore the subject of your essay (the “Photograph”). You must be the photographer. The Essay and the Photograph must each be a single work of original material created by the contest entrant. By entering the Contest, entrant represents, acknowledges, and warrants that the submitted Essay and Photograph are original works created solely by the entrant and that no other party has any right, title, claim, or interest in the Essay or the Photograph.

- Limit one Essay and one Photograph per person. Entrants who submit more than one Essay or more than one Photograph will be disqualified.
- Photograph must be submitted in the form of a print between 3”x5” and 8”x10” (taken with film or digital camera). No electronic, slide, or non-print submissions will be accepted. - The use of public domain images is prohibited.
- Photographs that include sculptures, statues, paintings, and other works of art will be accepted as long as they do not constitute copyright infringement or fraud; provided that entrants must be prepared to provide a release form as described below in “Third Party Releases/Licenses.” When photographing the work of others, it must be as an object in its environment and not a full-frame close up of another person’s art.
- The content of the Photograph may or may not include you personally. If the Photograph includes you, it has to be you who takes the photograph, for example by using the camera’s timer. - If the Photograph includes other people, you must be prepared to provide a signed written personal release from all persons who appear in the Photograph submitted, authorizing use of the Photograph as provided below in “Third Party Releases/Licenses.”
- Modifying, enhancing or altering a third party’s pre-existing work does not qualify as entrant’s original creation.
- Obscene, provocative, or otherwise objectionable content will not be considered, and such determination is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.

*The entries will be judged in accordance with the Judging Criteria, as defined below.
* Limit one entry per person.

CONTEST PRIZES

THE POTENTIAL WINNERS (AND PARENTS OR LEGAL GUARDIANS) ARE REQUIRED TO EXECUTE THE FOLLOWING: (1) AN AFFIDAVIT OF ELIGIBILITY AND LIABILITY RELEASE; (2) WARRANTY OF OWNERSHIP AND LICENSE; (3) PUBLICITY RELEASE; AND (4) ANY OTHER AFFIDAVITS AND/OR RELEASES OR ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE REQUIRED BY PRIZE SUPPLIER(S). UNLESS PROHIBITED BY LAW, THE POTENTIAL WINNER MUST SIGN THESE DOCUMENTS NO LATER THAN 15 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PRIZE NOTIFICATION IN ORDER FOR SPONSOR TO AWARD THE PRIZE. NONCOMPLIANCE OR RETURN OF PRIZE NOTIFICATION AS UNDELIVERABLE MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION AND, AT SPONSOR’S DISCRETION, SELECTION OF AN ALTERNATE WINNER.

Fifteen (15) Grand Prize Winners will be selected. The Grand Prize consists of (1) a 7-day Expedition to the Cayman Islands, provided by The Cayman Islands, for each Winner and his/her guest (“Expedition”), and (2) one Nikon digital camera. The Expedition is currently scheduled for July 2011, but is subject to change at the discretion of Sponsor. Each Winner’s guest on the Expedition must be his/her parent or legal guardian. The Expedition includes meals, local transportation, and double occupancy accommodations for the Expedition nights. Expedition also includes round trip air transportation for each Winner and his/her guest between the major airport closest to that Winner’s home and the Expedition departure point. Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") of Grand Prize is US$7,500. Tips, taxes, insurance (including travel insurance), and all other expenses associated with acceptance and use of the prize not stated herein or in related print or electronic materials are the sole responsibility of each Winner and his/her travel companion. Each Winner will use his/her Nikon digital camera to document the Expedition; entrants grant to Sponsor, The Cayman Islands, Nikon Inc. and others (described below) a license to use such photographs as specified in “Entrant Licenses/Releases” below. Each Grand Prize Winner will receive the National Geographic Kids Expedition Team Medal of Distinction upon completion of the Expedition. All prize details are at Sponsor’s sole discretion.

* Retail value of Grand Prize may vary depending on location of each Winner’s residence. Any difference between actual retail value of prize and the approximate retail value will not be awarded. * No prize transfer, assignment or substitution by Winners permitted. Sponsor reserves the right to substitute any prize in which case a prize of comparable value, determined in Sponsor’s reasonable discretion, will be awarded.
* Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received and skill of the entrant. * If a Grand Prize winner is unable to travel with a parent or legal guardian on the dates of the Expedition (which are subject to change at Sponsor’s discretion), then, at Sponsor’s discretion, an alternate Grand Prize Winner may be selected based on the judging criteria below.
* Each Winner and his/her travel companion must travel together on the same itinerary. Certain restrictions may apply. Each Winner and his/her travel companion will be responsible for all necessary travel authorizations and travel insurance. Travel arrangements will be made through Sponsor’s agent on a carrier of Sponsor’s choice. By accepting the Grand Prize, Winners and their parents or legal guardians represent that they understand that travel, whether in developed or remote areas and whether by plane, automobile, boat, raft, or other conveyance, or by foot, on land or water, and in the air, contains some inherent element of risk of accident, illness, injury, loss or death, which may be caused by negligence, forces of nature, wild animals or other agencies, known or unknown. Winners and their parents or legal guardians represent that they recognize that such risks may be present at any time before, during and after the trip. In order to be considered a Winner and partake of the enjoyment of this Expedition, potential Winners and their parents or legal guardians must be willing to accept the risk, and to confirm their acceptance to such risk in writing at Sponsor’s request. Winners and their parents or legal guardians are responsible for obtaining all necessary vaccinations, if any, prior to the Expedition.

JUDGING

* Contest consists of three (3) rounds of evaluation. The Judges will use the same Initial Judging Criteria in Round One and Round Two, and Finalist Judging Criteria in Round Three. The top fifty (50) candidates in Round One will proceed to Round Two. The top twenty-five (25) candidates in Round Two proceed to Round Three. Fifteen (15) Grand Prize Winners will be selected from among the candidates in Round Three.
* In Round One, National Geographic staff with experience in the fields of education and exploration will evaluate the entries based on the following criteria (“Initial Judging Criteria”):

1. Clear relationship between the Essay and the Photograph 30%
2. Entry must demonstrate genuine interest in exploration and environment 30%
3. Demonstration of active exploration 20%
4. Expression of one’s passion to explore 10%
5. Journalistic quality, uncluttered nature, and overall quality of Essay 10%

In the event of a tie, the entry with the highest score in the “Expression of one’s passion to explore” will be deemed the winner. If a tie still remains, the highest score in the “Journalistic quality, uncluttered nature, and overall quality of Essay” will be deemed the winner.

* In Round Two, a panel of National Geographic experts in the fields of education, exploration, photography, and the environment (the “Judges”) will evaluate the entries based on the Initial Judging Criteria.

In the event of a tie, the entry with the highest score in the “Expression of one’s passion to explore” will be deemed the winner. If a tie still remains, the highest score in the “Journalistic quality, uncluttered nature, and overall quality of Essay” will be deemed the winner.

* In Round Three, each of the candidates selected by the Judges to proceed from Round Two will receive a telephone call from one of the Judges. The Judge will call on a business day during the hours of 2pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) and 5pm EST. The Judge will call up to three times and leave a message. If candidate does not respond to the Judge's telephone call within three (3) business days, candidate will be disqualified. Each candidate reached by a Judge will be asked the following questions:

1. Why did you choose this particular subject as the focus of your entry?
2. Please give one example of a way in which you have been a good team member in the past.

* The Judges will evaluate the candidates’ answers to these questions based on the following judging criteria (the “Finalist Judging Criteria”):

1. Ability of entrant to express himself or herself verbally; and
2. Past contributions to a team as a team member.

In the event of a tie, the entry with the highest score in the “Ability of entrant to express himself or herself verbally” will be deemed the winner.

* Winners will be chosen on or about February 15, 2011 and notified by phone by March 1, 2011.
* Decisions of the Sponsor and Judges are final and binding.
* Sponsor reserves the right not to award all prizes in the event an insufficient number of eligible entries meeting the minimum judging criteria are received, as determined by Sponsor and Judges in their sole discretion.

ENTRANT LICENSES/RELEASES

Winning entries, the winners’ names, voices, likenesses, and photographs taken by the Winners on the Expedition may be published by Sponsor, The Cayman Islands, Nikon Inc., their designees, licensees or affiliates, in one of Sponsor’s magazines or on its website, or in any other medium, and/or in press releases associated with the Hands-On Explorer Challenge. Photographs taken by the Winners during the Expedition may be published by Sponsor, The Cayman Islands, Nikon Inc., and/or their designees, licensees or affiliates (the “Authorized Parties”) in magazines, on websites, or in any other medium, at Authorized Parties’ discretion. By participating, all entrants grant a license in any photographs taken by the Grand Prize winners during the Expedition, to the Authorized Parties, and acknowledge that the Authorized Parties may use such photographs in any media now or hereafter known, without restriction, including commercially using and exploiting them to fullest extent possible. No Authorized Party will be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such use or exploitation. By participating, all entrants further grant a license in the entries to the Authorized Parties, and acknowledge that any Authorized Party may use the entries and a name credit in any media now or hereafter known, without restriction, including commercially using and exploiting the entries to fullest extent possible worldwide in perpetuity. Authorized Parties will not be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such use or exploitation. Further, winners (and their respective parents and legal guardians) waive all moral rights in and to the photographs in favor of the Sponsor. Additionally, by participating, each entrant grants to Authorized Parties the unrestricted right to photograph and film the Winners on the Expedition, and to use all statements made in connection with the Contest, and pictures, voice, and/or likeness of Contest participants, or choose not to do so, at their sole discretion. No Authorized Party will be required to pay any additional consideration or seek any additional approval in connection with such use or exploitation.

THIRD PARTY RELEASES/LICENSES

Upon Sponsor’s request, each entrant must be prepared to provide a signed written personal release from all persons who appear in the Photograph submitted, authorizing use of the Photograph by any Authorized Party in any media now or hereafter known, without restriction, including commercially using and exploiting it to fullest extent possible, including but not limited to Sponsor’s editorial publications, press releases, marketing and promotions. Similarly, upon Sponsor’s request, each entrant must be prepared to provide a signed written license from the copyright owner of any sculpture, artwork or other copyrighted material that appears in the photograph entry, authorizing use of the photograph by any Authorized Party in any media now or hereafter known, without restriction, including commercially using and exploiting it to fullest extent possible, including but not limited to Sponsor’s editorial publications, press releases, marketing and promotions. All releases must be in the form provided by Sponsor. Failure to provide such releases upon request may result in disqualification and selection of an alternate winner. Blank release and license forms are available for download at kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/contests/explorer-trip-2011. Download the personal release. Download the artist release.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

By participating, entrants (and their parents or legal guardians) agree to release, discharge and hold harmless National Geographic Society, The Cayman Islands, Nikon Inc., and each of their respective partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising agencies, agents and their employees, officers, directors, and representatives from any claims, losses, and damages arising out of their participation in this Contest or any Contest-related activities and the acceptance and use, misuse, or possession of any prize awarded hereunder.

CONDITIONS

THIS CONTEST IS VOID IN PUERTO RICO, THE PROVINCE OF QUEBEC AND WHERE PROHIBITED. This Contest is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Certain restrictions may apply. Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, stolen, mutilated, incomplete, illegible, misdirected, or postage-due mail. Entries void if the Sponsor determines the entry to not be an original, or if the entries are illegible, incomplete, damaged, irregular, altered, counterfeit, produced in error or obtained through fraud or theft.

Participants also agree (a) to be bound by these Official Rules; and (b) that the decisions of the Judges are final on all matters relating to the Contest. All federal, state and local taxes, fees, and surcharges on prizes are the sole responsibility of the prize winners. In the event that the selected winner(s) of any prize are/is ineligible or refuses the prize, the prize will be forfeited and Sponsor, in its sole discretion, may choose whether to award the prize to another winner.

WINNERS LIST

Winners' names will be available online at kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/contests/explorer-trip-2011 after March 30, 2011, or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Hands-On Explorer Contest Winners: National Geographic Kids, 1145 17th St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, attn: Marketing Department (Residents of Vermont need not include postage.)

NOTICE TO INDIVIDUALS: REMOVAL FROM MAILING LIST: Any individual (or other duly authorized person) may elect to exclude the name and address of that individual from all lists used by Sponsor to mail skill contests or sweepstakes. To elect to have an individual’s name excluded from all such lists, submit a removal request in writing to: Hands-On Explorer Contest, National Geographic Kids, 1145 17th St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036, attn: Marketing Department. This notification system may be used to prohibit mailing of all skill contests or sweepstakes by Sponsor to such individual.