THE CONTEST

You can also download all of this contest information in a Microsoft Word file.

Help us reach our goal of 2,000 supporters by Earth Day on April 22, 2011!


  • Expand Arlington CANN (Children And Nature Network) and educate our community about the importance of connecting our children to nature.

  • Engage your school community and sign up as many Arlington CANN supporters as you can by April 15.

  • Win a prize for your school, with one prize awarded to top performing school at three levels: elementary, middle and high school:

    • Elementary School Prize - a nature party for the entire school featuring animals and naturalists from Gulf Branch Nature Center, Long Branch Nature Center, and Potomac Overlook Regional Park.

    • Middle School Prize - a biking trip for 20 students courtesy of BikeArlington.

    • High School Prize - a canoe trip in Pohick Bay for 25 students courtesy of Potomac Overlook Regional Park.

Arlington CANN will

  1. facilitate the use of outdoor spaces in Arlington by children of all ages;
  2. foster increased opportunities and time for unstructured play;
  3. work to make more safe, secure, accessible and appealing places for outdoor play; and
  4. raise awareness in our community about the consequences of "nature deficit disorder."

Here's the fine print:

  • The contest is open to any school in Arlington, public or private.
  • Supporters must be adults 18 years and older and live and/or work in Arlington. The participating school is responsible for having people sign as an Arlington CANN supporters by either:

      1) Putting their name and e-mail on the supporter page.
      2) Visiting our supporter page and filling out the online form.
      Please ask supporters to sign up by ONLY one of the above ways to facilitate judging the contest.

  • The three schools (one elementary, one middle and one high school) that get the most supporters by April 15 will win the prizes described above. The elementary and high school level prizes must be redeemed by the end of the 2010-2011 school year. The middle school prize must be redeemed in May or June for an after-school bike trip of one hour.
  • Hardcopy entries must be sent by mail to ACE and postmarked by April 15. Online entries must be submitted by midnight on April 15.