2009 Hands-On Explorer Challenge

Posted by 2009 Kids Expedition Team in Hands-On Explorer on November 5, 2008
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The 2009 Hands-On Explorer Challenge is underway! If you’re a kid living in the United States and you will be between the ages of 9 to 14 by June 3, 2009, you could win a trip to Peru.

How To Enter

Contest Rules

Looking for inspiration? Read excerpts from last year’s winning essays.

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Categories: Hands-On Explorer Challenge

Comments

  1. Junebug1998
    November 26, 2008, 7:58 pm

    I wish i was u. i`m going to be in the next year hopefully.( if my mom says yes). hope u had a wonderfull time.

  2. susanmd
    December 2, 2008, 3:11 pm

    Adam and I are still sharing wonderful stories about our trip to Australia this past July. It will always be remembered as an experience of a lifetime. We loved the people of Australia, the beautiful sights and memorable experiences. It was great making new friends with the other winning kids and their parents, the awesome Nat Geo team, and new friends in Australia that we keep in continued communication with. Thank you Australia … we will be back!
    Happy Holidays to all …. Susan & Adam, Sedona, Arizona

  3. harleycat
    December 11, 2008, 3:30 pm

    I am so excited to find out the winners of the Peru expidtion! (Even though it is over 4 months away!) I’m entering and am hoping for the best, but if I don’t win =( …then I hope whoever does has a wonderful trip of a lifetime!

  4. luckstomper
    December 14, 2008, 9:21 am

    I’m working so so so hard for the trip to Peru! I hope for the best for everybody who enters. I want this trip more than anything this isn’t just one of those contest where you put in a raffle ticket and hope you win, you got to want this trip. I’m trying super hard! But if I don’t win I wish everybody who does win have the trip of a lifetime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  5. harleycat
    December 19, 2008, 9:03 pm

    i was reviewing my past entries to the contests and I realized that I had exaggerated a little on some things. This year, everything is the complete truth, and it is amazing how much better it is turning out! I advise everyone to really be truthful and if you are, i think peoples true passions come out, and you may just discover something new about yourself too! ~ Happy Holidays to all!

  6. harleycat
    December 20, 2008, 7:51 pm

    I completely agree with you “luckstomper”! As much as I encourage everyone to enter, I think the people who do should really love exploring. I too, want this trip more than anything! I have probably put more than 60 hours into this essay…(it wasn’t all at once!) This is my last year I will be able to enter so I am putting all of my effort into it! Wouldn’t it be something if you and I both won this?? I know chances are slim but hey – it could happen! good luck to everyone!

    ~J.C.

  7. shastasteph
    December 23, 2008, 8:25 pm

    ‘harleycat’ and ‘luckstomper’,
    It’s so awesome to hear from people who are trying to win the contest too. As you might have guessed, I’m trying to win too! Don’t you two love hearing about the Australia trip? It sounds so fun and exciting! ‘harleycat’, I’m so happy that you found out your mistake in your previous entries, and thanks for the advice. This is my first year entering and I REALLY want to go to Peru. I’ve been working really hard too. I’ve been using all my extra time to modify, rewrite, and remodify my essay. I wish both of you and anyone else the best of luck in the contest. Happy Holidays everyone!

    ~Steph

  8. harleycat
    December 24, 2008, 11:14 am

    I am so glad to hear from another person who’s entering! It’s really cool to see the amount of people that love exploring! You sound really enthusiastic and I hope you end up as one of the finalists! Good Luck to all!

    ~J.C.

  9. mnsax
    December 24, 2008, 2:03 pm

    I too am trying to win the trip to Peru. It has been a dream of mine to go to Machu Picchu, and I really want this. My essay sounds a bit cheesy, but it is totally true! I love to explore, but I don’t have a very awesome place to do it!

  10. luckstomper
    December 24, 2008, 3:41 pm

    I worked on my essay for about 1 and a half weeks and I carefully examined mine at least a million times. Also for me to win this trip would be out of this world and it would a great honor because to have a panel of judges who are professionals at writing and choose mine that would show a lot because thousands of kids enter this contest. Although if i don’t win this year I have two more years to enter. Maybe I could be the second person to win this contest from New England that would be totally awesome. Well thats all for now, PEACE OUT!

    ~~~Luckstomper

  11. canyonlover878
    December 25, 2008, 11:06 pm

    Peru is such an awesome country! Good luck to everyone who enters and merry christmas!!

  12. canyonlover878
    December 26, 2008, 8:02 pm

    I finally finished my essay which took forever and about 10 rewrites. good luck everyone!!!!! [[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[:

  13. luckstomper
    December 31, 2008, 5:55 pm

    This is Luckstomper reporting in. Did u know only one……two…..three oh wait! Only 96 more days until the phone calls get sent out to the lucky 15 grand prize winners of the trip to Peru! How exciting, don’t you think?! And “Shastasteph” I do love hearing about the trip to Australia I can’t get enough of it, I seriously have probably read each blog and watched all the movie clips over at least 50 times. Well I guess you could call me crazy but now would that be nice. That’s it for now…………PEACE!!

    ———-Luckstompa I mean “er”

    P.S. Hope to hear from you guys soon!

  14. Abbie&MaryAnn
    January 2, 2009, 9:34 pm

    Hi it’s Abbie! I went to Australia with Nat Geo and it was FABULOSO! I’m definitely gonna try for Peru. Even though our Nat Geo friends said we probably wouldn’t get picked, I’m still going to cross my fingers.
    Good Luck

    Abbie

    P.S. I’ll be back Australia; and I’m bringing my whole family!

  15. luckstomper
    January 5, 2009, 3:44 pm

    I can’t believe I finally finished my essay and sent it in! It took forever and got a lot of hard work put into it. It’s so nice to hear from you Abbie! What was you’re absolute fave part of you’re trip to Australia? I really hope to get to go to Peru and see Machu Picchu. Because it’s one of the seven wonders of the world. Well good luck to everyone who enters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PEACE OUT

    ~~~~Luckstomper~~~~

  16. Anonymous
    January 5, 2009, 6:01 pm

    Hi all!

    I have finally finished my essay and found a good picture to go with it! now all thats left to do is cross my fingers!

    Hi Abbie, it was so nice to hear about your trip! I loved reading the blogs!

    As for having a place to explore, I thought i didn’t have an awesome place at first, but then I really opened my mind, and realized all the cool things like the bugs, and birds and even simple things like tree sap! Keep exploring!

    GOOD LUCK TO ALLLLLLLL!

    ~”Harleycat” – J.C.

  17. luckstomper
    January 5, 2009, 7:31 pm

    Snow, Snow, SNOW!!!!! I can’t stand it, up here in New England it snows A LOT (lucky ducks down south). That’s all for now. And good luck to everyone.

    ~~~~JON~~~~
    (Luckstomper)

  18. shastasteph
    January 6, 2009, 12:14 am

    It took me so long to think of a topic, and I’m still modifying mine. I still have to take a picture too. Oh well. I’ll take all the time I need (as long as it doesn’t go past the deadline. LOL). Good luck and good wishes to all entering!

  19. luckstomper
    January 7, 2009, 6:57 am

    I sure wish it was end of March or beginning of April. it seems like FOREVER until they announce the winners.

    Any place is a good place you just have to find out why. Could it be a stream, a tree house, the animals there, scenery, and so on.

    The deadline’s just around the corner. But good luck!!!!

    PEACE OUT!!!!

    ~~~~JON~~~~
    (Luckstomper)

    P.S. Good luck everyone who enters!!!!

  20. canyonlover878
    January 7, 2009, 8:12 pm

    everybody sounds like theyre trying hard. Keep on going ppl….. who knows whats gonna happen next! ADIOS AMIGOS AND AMIGAS!!!!!! :]]

  21. Wisconsinchica
    January 15, 2009, 3:11 pm

    I am entering the Peru exploring contest too. I just finished my essay and snapped my pic in the cold, snowy weather of Wisconsin. I can’t wait until they announce the winners. This is my first year of entering and I’m nervous. I hope I win, but since I’m only 8 (soon to be 9)I am up against a lot of competition. My mom is just as excited since she is a Spanish teacher. She wants to go too! Good luck to everyone. Enjoying our day off from school (too cold to go)!!!!!!!!!!! Freezing in Wisconsin.

  22. Anonymous
    January 16, 2009, 9:35 pm

    wow this is so cool that so many new people are posting! I sent in my letter last week! I can’t wait until the winner’s are announced either!!!
    Wow it must be really cold there if you had a snow day! Today the highest it got here was 11 F and the coldest was about -21 F but we had school! I can’t imagine how cold it must be there!

    I wish everyone the best of luck!

    I hope everyone stays warm!

    ~ Harleycat (J.C.)

  23. luckstomper
    January 17, 2009, 10:34 am

    I can’t stand it! I can’t wait any longer! Well I hope to hear from someone soon. If I win this contest that would be wicked awesome! But if i don’t I can just enter the next two HOEC contests because I’m 12 turning 13 this fall. Also if I don’t win good luck to everyone who enters. And have fun on the trip if you win. PEACE!!!!

    ~~~~JON~~~~
    (luckstomper)
    p.s. Good luck to ev’rybody

  24. Anonymous
    January 21, 2009, 8:22 pm

    Hi everyone! my name’s not showing up for some reason, but this is HarleyCat posting! I just got back from D.C. and on the 13 hour bus ride down there I couldn’t help but think that I sent my letter to D.C. and I ended up there with it! Right in the same town!! I thought that was pretty cool!!!

    I can’t wait until they announce the winners! (Lol, it’s a long time away) I really hope I win, this is my last year!

    GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE WHO IS ENTERING! :) :D

    ~HarleyCat (J.C.)

  25. shastasteph
    January 26, 2009, 1:21 am

    OMG! I’m finally almost done with my essay. I just printed a few options for the photograph and I can’t believe how well the pics came out. My dad always said I was a good photographer, but I didn’t know I could take some really good pics. I’m sure everyone else’s pictures are great too because I’m sure everyone is trying/tried really hard to put all there best work into this contest. I’m sending my application in soon. Good luck to everyone! Happy Chinese New Year! Year of the Ox! Cool!

  26. Anonymous
    January 27, 2009, 6:43 am

    (this is harleycat)
    OMG MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS YESTERDAY WAS AUSTRAILIA DAY!!!!!!!! I just had to share that with all of you. =D

    ~Harleycat (J.C.)

  27. Ibaneze Icy
    January 28, 2009, 11:23 am

    This trip would be truly amazing! The days are numbered, but I am still revising my essay! I may even have to go back for a better picture!

    *happy thoughts*

  28. greeny
    January 28, 2009, 5:39 pm

    I can’t wait to find out who wins the trip to go to Peru!

  29. Ibaneze Icy
    January 28, 2009, 11:37 pm

    me Again! I just can’t stay away from this site! I truly believe I will win a spot in this trip, (hope you don’t think I am bragging, cause I am definitely not doing that) because I need it so much! Good luck to the other submitters!

    *the secret*

  30. luckstomper
    January 29, 2009, 3:13 pm

    I know how you feel when I found this blog I just couldn’t get away from it I probably watched all the videos and blog entries over 50 times! So whenever I go on my laptop I immediatly go to this blog!!! Well good luck to you and everyone who enters!!!

    ~~~~JON~~~~
    (luckstomper)

  31. Ibaneze Icy
    January 30, 2009, 2:19 am

    Sending in my essay and photo today or tomorrow, (fingers crossed, this trip would truly be amazing!), and for the thousands sending in yours, good luck! I just hope it reaches D.C in time, it scares me to know that they don’t tell you if they have received it! And I keep having nightmares of it being lost in the mail! ha ha

  32. juju
    January 31, 2009, 1:50 am

    I have the same problem… I’m sending it in tomorrow, and hope it gets there in time! I hope that I make it, the trip would truly be so life-changing. good luck to all other aplicants :]

  33. shastasteph
    January 31, 2009, 9:15 pm

    I’m still working on my application and I haven’t sent it in yet! The deadline is creeping up on me and any others fast! I can’t decide on all these things! Oh great. Well, I hope everyone does well. I have a big feeling that all or most of us bloggers will be one of the top 25 or the winners!. Good luck to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  34. juju
    February 3, 2009, 12:21 am

    Ya, well I know we all worked hard on it, and are all really passionate about our essay topic. only a few more days until the deadline comes, and i hope that all our essays arrive safely. it would be a shame if they got lost in the mail!

  35. tigergirl13
    February 3, 2009, 10:05 pm

    AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!
    My essay is almost done! I BETER WIN ‘CAUSE INSTEAD OF DOING MY HOME WORK I WROAT THE ESSAY! (Going to have ANOTHER sleepless night!) How am I going to explain this to mom?

  36. Ibanez Icy
    February 5, 2009, 1:48 am

    Well everyone, the due date is upon us, and there is only about 3 more months of waiting until the winners are announced! Sadly, I’m a tad bit nervous about my essay, (the 300 word rule made it difficult for me!) but I am confident I will have a fighting *chance*.

  37. Wisconsinchica
    February 5, 2009, 10:21 am

    Ibanez Icy…I think there is only 2 months of waiting, instead of 3. Good news, no? Best of luck to all!

  38. wycombestar
    February 6, 2009, 6:05 pm

    I hope everyone got them in in time!!!!!! I did, last week… but barely. It would be horrible if someone put so much work into it and than it… DIDN’T GET THERE….!!!!!!!!!!

  39. wycombestar
    February 6, 2009, 6:06 pm

    You guys, I think the judges know what they are doing and whoever wins really deserves it. We all know how talented we are….!!!!

  40. Anonymous
    February 7, 2009, 6:18 pm

    I am a frequent National Geographic Kids reader and when I read about this I really badly wanted to do this! I would like to congratulate everybody who won last year!!!! YOU GUYS ROCK!!

  41. jazzbirdexplorer
    February 9, 2009, 3:31 pm

    ok, i changed my user name so that it shows up now! I was previously known as Harleycat, but it stopped showing up! I AM SOOOOO EXCITED to find out who won! wait by the phone! Thank you to all the judges! I think we all should really appreciate all of them! It’s probably really hard work reading a thousand essays!

    ~J.C.

  42. pj96
    February 17, 2009, 7:33 am

    This is my first year EVER doing this contest, and im twelve so even if i dont win there’s still two more years. Congrats to all the winners of the australia one. my sister is really psyched and upset about me entering this because she is 17 so she cant do it. she has gone to peru for a missions trip with our church and said it was AMAZING!!! That would b soooooooo amazing if i go!!!! But even if i dont, i hope who ever does has the trip of a lifetime.

  43. juju
    February 18, 2009, 1:37 am

    Ya, this is also my first time entering, but unlike you I only have one year left to enter the contest… But I’m staying optimistic and hoping that I won’t need the second chance :]

  44. luckstomper
    February 20, 2009, 11:32 am

    PJ96 this is also my first year entering and I also have two more years too!!!!! LOL!!! Imagine if we were both picked for the contest!

    ~~~~JON~~~~
    (luckstomper)

  45. Nebraskaboy
    February 22, 2009, 5:49 pm

    PJ96, that was really nice of your sister to do a church misson! I wish I could do that! But this is also a chance to go to Peru!

  46. shastasteph
    February 23, 2009, 1:15 am

    same here! this is my first year too and i still have pretty much 2 years more to enter too! i really hope we all win! but if we don’t, I hope whoever does has a great time! i want us to win this trip! please let us win this trip or at least be finalists! PLEASE!

  47. shastasteph
    February 26, 2009, 9:41 pm

    keep hoping for the judges to call peoples! If they do, just be calm, and let the words flow out of your mouth as natural as if you were talking to your best friends. Make sure you speak clearly, and think before you speak! Hope this little tip helps!

  48. shastasteph
    February 26, 2009, 9:54 pm

    Hey everyone and Abbie!
    Just FYI, but Grace blogged on February 25! Check her original blog for her latest post. It has some info about when the judges will probably call. Hope this helps, and keep hoping you’ll get a call and win!

  49. girl fromboston!!!
    March 1, 2009, 5:13 pm

    I feel so lucky that I got a chance to enter. I can’t even describe how much I want to go on this once in a lifetime trip. I really hope I get to go, and once again good luck to everyone else who entered to! I’m so nervous… I can’t wait to find out if I get to go. The wait is killing me. Only about 2 more months!!!!

  50. luckstomper
    March 2, 2009, 11:39 am

    Oh ya,

    girl fromboston!!! it’s only one month away not to be mean or anything.

    ~~~~JON~~~~
    (luckstomper)

  51. tigergirl13
    March 2, 2009, 4:16 pm

    Tigerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgirl13 in,

    Thanks for telling us about what Grace wrote… big help.

  52. shastasteph
    March 3, 2009, 12:08 am

    no problem tigergirl13. I don’t want people to die from waiting (sarcastically). I’m glad I could help! Oh, and girl fromboston!!!, I know what you mean. If I win this trip it would be sooooo unbelievable. Winning is indescribable and without words. I wouldn’t be able to explain my happiness and joy that would overwhelm me because of all the hard work I sent in and to be picked out of millions? It would just be incredible! I really hope I and many of you win this HOEC trip to Peru with me (if I win. LOL)! Good luck! Keep hoping and believing! I hope I will win! I believe I will win! I think these things everyday. Try it out! I hope I win! I believe I will win! I will win! LOL!

  53. luckstomper
    March 3, 2009, 7:50 pm

    Hi luckstomper here,

    Girl fromboston!!! I’m from the same area. I’m not going to say which town exactly, but I live in Massachusetts too!

    ~~~~JON~~~~
    (luckstomper)

  54. shastasteph
    March 3, 2009, 10:19 pm

    Keep at it people! Keep up the faith and want and passion! I hope I will win. I believe I will win. I will win. I HOPE I will win! I BELIEVE I will win! I WILL win! I HOPE I WILL WIN!!!!! I BELIEVE I WILL WIN!!!!! I WILL WIN!!!!!

  55. girl fromboston!!!
    March 5, 2009, 8:04 pm

    Thanks for the encouragement, shastasteph :) Good luck to everyone!!!!!! i’ll be really happy for whoever gets to go, even if it isn’t me.

  56. wycombestar
    March 6, 2009, 11:11 am

    hey its wycombestar here (Emma!), and I am just here to say… hi.
    Just because I dont normally blog on this one.
    YAY PERU!!!!!!

  57. national
    March 9, 2009, 4:03 pm

    I just read ALL the commets! i wish everyone the best of luck. It is a chance of a lifetime and I really want to go, but If i don’t congratulations to who ever won! Rember ACT CALMLY.

  58. shastasteph
    March 9, 2009, 10:02 pm

    OMG! On this original post by the NG team I just noticed the Aussie winners’ essay exerts today! Gee, I’m slow! It was up there for sooooooo long and I didn’t know. Oh well. Better late then never!

  59. wycombestar
    March 10, 2009, 11:04 am

    Yes. Well those excerpts have been there… but better late than never! I think Mara’s (or what you could read of it) was really good!

  60. shastasteph
    March 12, 2009, 11:21 pm

    Yeah! It was really good! It had some sort of unique, complexity. She also chose her words really well. I liked Maya’s ending too. But they were all really good. No wonder why they won! Let’s hope we win the trip to Peru and we get to meet each other and exchange ideas. Good luck! I REALLY WANT TO WIN THE 2009 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HANDS-ON EXPLORER CHALLENGE CONTEST AND GO TO PERU WITH 14 OTHER GRAND PRIZE WINNERS, 2 TEACHERS, AND NAT GEO PROFESSIONALS!!!!!

  61. juju
    March 17, 2009, 10:48 pm

    Ya, the exerts were all really good. I thought the pictures were amazing, too. Wow, now that the the contest is coming to an end, i realize how much it would mean to me if i was one of the lucky winners! GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!

  62. Lukebot
    April 4, 2009, 10:43 pm

    I think this is a great opportunity to just be a part of this explorer challenge to Peru. I would also like to thank my mom’s encouragement that brought me into this, and I didn’t think I would get this far in the contest. Thanks and wish everybody luck!!!

    Lukebot

  63. shastasteph
    May 5, 2009, 7:01 pm

    Lukebot did you win? If you did….. a big CONGRATS to you! If you didn’t…… there’s always next year!

  64. pielover
    December 29, 2012, 3:34 pm

    I doubt that IS am going to win but its worth a try.

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