"Take Your Family to the National Parks" Essay Contest!

Mr. Bjorn and I are on a quest to visit all the national parks! Here's your chance to visit one, too - for free!

If you've always dreamed of visiting a national park, and wanted to take your family along, here's your opportunity. Three grand-prize winners of the Traveler's first Take Your Family to the National Parks essay contest will win lodging for four members of their family in one of the country's national parks, and some gear to help to help them enjoy the trip.

Today's younger generations will become tomorrow's park stewards. With that in mind, we want to hear from youngsters in elementary, middle, and high school on how they view the national parks.

Entries are being accepted through March 1 from students in three age brackets: 8-11, 12-15, and 16-18. Essays, which must be solely the work of the participant, must be submitted to essays@nationalparkstraveler.com . Word limits are 300-500 for the first two age brackets, and up to 700 words for 16-18 year-olds.

Elementary students in the 8-11 age bracket should address this 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?"

For contest rules and submission guidelines, visit this page.