Last Chance to Submit Your Video Stories

Date: August 25, 2009
Contact: Kerry Olson, 360 854-7302

Entries Due: September 1, 2009

The National Park Service invites people to gather their photographs and videos of Washington National Parks and submit them to KCTS 9’s My Parks! Digital Storytelling Contest by September 1. Students in grades 7-12 are eligible to win prizes—including having their film shown to millions of viewers on KCTS 9—for their films exploring their experiences in nature.

KCTS 9’s My Parks! Digital Storytelling Contest is produced in partnership with Washington’s National Park Units and is presented in conjunction with the upcoming Ken Burns documentary, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, premiering September 27 on KCTS 9.

"People love to take photos and movies of their trips to parks." said, Chip Jenkins Superintendent of North Cascades National Park "We would really like to see them! The My Parks! contest is a great way for kids to share their stories of their National Parks. "

The Ken Burns documentary, The National Parks, explores the stories of individuals passionately inspired by the natural world to preserve the most monumental, beautiful and beloved parts of our country not for private use, but for the future good of all. The My Parks! contest aims to ignite that passion in young people in Washington State and British Columbia, to spend time exploring the natural world through the abundant parks of our region.

People are encouraged to share their stories of visiting, exploring or caring for any one of the 13 units of the National Park System in Washington. These include:

Ebbey’s Landing National Historical Reserve (https://www.nps.gov/ebla/index.htm)

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site https://www.nps.gov/fova/index.htm

Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park https://www.nps.gov/klse/index.htm

Lake Roosevelt Nation Recreation Area https://www.nps.gov/laro/index.htm

Lewis and Clark National Historical ParK https://www.nps.gov/lewi

Mount Rainier National Park https://www.nps.gov/mora/index.htm

North Cascades National Park, Lake Chelan National Recreation Area and Ross Lake National Recreation Area https://www.nps.gov/noca/index.htm

Nez Perce National Historical Park https://www.nps.gov/nepe/index.htm

Olympic National Park https://www.nps.gov/olym/index.htm

San Juan Island National Historical Park https://www.nps.gov/sajh/index.htm

Whitman Mission National Historic Site https://www.nps.gov/whmi/index.htm

In The National Parks, Burns again explores who we are today through the lens of history, particularly through the photographs, diaries and letters of those who experienced it. The videos created this summer for My Parks! may become not only the record of our history, but powerful expressive tools for today’s teens.

"We hope that parents and youth organizations from clubs to teachers to Scouts to church groups encourage their kids to participate in the My Parks! contest." said Jenkins.

Contest overview
Students may individually or as teams create a story of their visit and relationship to a national park or natural setting. Videos must be submitted on CD-ROM or DVD to KCTS 9, and may not exceed three minutes in length. Entries will be judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling and integration of copy and images. Winners will be recognized during an awards ceremony at KCTS 9. The grand prize includes a chance at showcasing the story on KCTS9.org and on the air in our local companion series The National Parks: Northwest Stories.

The contest is open to all students in grades 7 – 12 in Washington and British Columbia. Stories must be postmarked by September 1, 2009; winners will be notified by September 15, 2009.

For complete rules and entry forms, visit KCTS9.org/nationalparks, call 1.800.930.6060 or e-mail [e-mail].