2012 Hands-On Explorer Challenge

The 2012 Hands-On Explorer Challenge is about to begin! If you’re a
legal resident of the United States or Canada (excluding residents of Quebec), and you will be
between the ages of 9 and 14 by July 1, 2011, you could win a trip to
Montana. The contest begins on September 20, 2011. Enter before January 7, 2012.

Read the contest rules and find out how to enter.

Looking for inspiration? Read excerpts from the 2010 Hands-On Explorer Challenge winning essays.

Comments

luckstomper
September 8, 2011, 7:12 pm

Hi Everyone!

Luckstomper here.

……….jalrahforakshfaoirehanflsdkjfnslkvcjsahfroiuwanhfawlekjfhlkjaskf;jsaf;lkjsad;kfj;lasjfahrewpoifnfva. Oh.My.God. It’s here,…already! I’m kind of confused though. It’s not international. But who cares! It’s still with the National Geographic Team! I’m wicked pumped now. This is awesome. I have to go check the age limi……I can’t enter. Now I’m really depressed. Well, I’ll still enter anyways hahaha, they can’t stop me. We’ll see how it goes!

~~~~JON~~~~
(luckstomper)
jindo2108
September 9, 2011, 12:28 am

What??!! It’s already time for the next one????!!
It seems like the 2011 just ended!!
Anyhow…I noticed this one actually isn’t out of the country, it’s in Montana.. (Don’t you live in Montana Cowgirlexplorer?)
I just started school two days ago…ugh, it feels like it should still be summer..
How’s everyone’s life??
Think that’s it for me..
-Jindo
jindo2108
September 10, 2011, 1:00 am

Luckstormper- Go for it, enter. What’s the worst that can happen?
-Jindo
pig
September 10, 2011, 8:37 pm

I Like Goats
waterlily
September 10, 2011, 10:06 pm

Hey everybody. How are you? I can’t believe The HOEC is already here. I agree Luckstomper it is weird that the contest isn’t international, but it’s still OK. Hey, anyone have advice for me about 7th grade?
Skimp27
September 13, 2011, 10:21 pm

I’m excited, my last year of eligibility! Montana has always been high on my visit list, along with Alaska, Arizona, and California. It isn’t as exotic as I would have expected with nat geo, but I’m sure they have a lot of surprises in store. A trip inside the U.S may surpass the wonders of somewhoer like Peru. you never know what wonders are in your own backyard. I also love the picture. Luckstomper, sorry about the age limit. There are contests in National Geographic as well as NG kids. Waterlily, 7th grade is a kind of in between year, I think. In 6th grade your eyes are as big as your head, and by 8th grade your somewhat of a veteran. I got kind of lazy in 7th grade so don’t let that happen to you.
Later everyone!
runnerexplore27
September 17, 2011, 7:10 pm

WOW!! I can’t believe that a whole year has come and gone since last year’s contest. Montana is such a beautiful place and I am sure that all of the winners will have the time of their life! I hope that everyone enters and tries their best. I never would have dreamed a year ago that I would spend a week of this past summer in the Cayman Islands with photographers, explorers and editors of National Geographic, but it was so superb and so much fun. I learned so much about photography, journaling, and exploration. You too can enjoy all this and more if you just put your heart into your essay. I wish everyone the best since I am now too old to enter. But I am wishing everyone the best of luck and I cannot wait to get to follow your journey online next year. Good Luck and have a fantastic fall.
shastasteph
September 20, 2011, 8:56 pm

Hey everyone!
Sorry it’s been so incredibly long since I last blogged. I’ve been really busy with school, sports, volunteering, and other stuff. I hope everyone is doing alright!
Wow I can’t believe the new HOEC contest has already started! Well, technically it officially starts today. Sadly, I’m too old to enter now. Oh well. Maybe I will just enter anyways like luckstomper. Haha!
It’s definitely surprising the contest trip is not international this year. I guess for the Canadian winners it will be considered international though. Montana still seems really fun since they have the Rocky Mountains there with exotic animals like the big horn sheep pictured above. Perhaps the struggling economy had something to do with the trip being quite ‘local’. Either way, I’m sure the winners will have a blast. Good luck to everyone entering!
JsHamsteak
September 24, 2011, 3:16 pm

Hi! I am going to sign up for the trip to Montana trip. Even though I live there! Haha!
ragini1966
September 26, 2011, 12:54 am

wow I like the scene it’s awsome
thirdgrade
September 26, 2011, 8:52 am

I would love to win a trip to Montana.
thirdgrade
September 28, 2011, 9:23 am

i think that’s really cool. but i cant do it because i am 8 not 9 . but i would like to go to Montana.
thirdgrade
September 28, 2011, 10:42 am

I loved the story
thirdgrade
September 29, 2011, 10:34 am

I loved that story so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thirdgrade
September 30, 2011, 1:40 pm

Hello,I think the challenge will be fun. I’m joining the challenge. Wait I am beteew 8 and 9. Well, I guess I can not do it. But I still think its fun. BYE BYE
cowgirlexplorer
September 30, 2011, 2:16 pm

WoW, Montana, Really? Not even Alaska, or Hawaii? Well im going to enter anyway, but i have seen the exact seen that they advertised this contest for (with the big horn sheep) and i have been to everywhere in Montana. I bet that i will win this year, just because it is in Montana. haha Well if i dont win, you guys who win should totally come visit me!

~Celeste~
Skimp27
October 1, 2011, 11:43 pm

cowgirlexplorer, it would be funny if you do win. Montana is on my to-travel-to list, so I’m definitley in. Maybe you could be a foreign exchange student or something to make up for it. A teacher of mine recommended me for a program. If I pay a few thousand dollars, I will be able to go to Australia next summer for a week, a month, or two months. My mom says that she’ll let me do it, but I need to do a lot of yards.
thirdgrade
October 3, 2011, 10:22 am

The trip is pritty awsome. montana i wish i colold go BUT IM BUSY i got 24 hors a day school-6 hors 18hors left-2hors football pratic-30 min.home work-9hors sleeping that leavs 7hors and 30 min left that prof it THAT IM BUSY;.O
JsHamsteak
October 3, 2011, 8:09 pm

I am definitely going for this. I already wrote my essay. All I have to do now is take a picture. I hope I win! If I don’t, I guess that’s ok……………but I really want to win!
Panthera leo
October 4, 2011, 1:51 pm

I would like to take part, but I was only 6 years old and I do not live in America.
cowgirlexplorer
October 4, 2011, 7:44 pm

Skimp27-thats really cool, australia is one of my, well my favorite place. Well i havent been there of course but i definitely want to go. my parents would never let me do a foreign exchange program, they are way too strict. But, like i said, whoever wins should totally come visit me….

!Celeste
thirdgrade
October 6, 2011, 10:32 am

how much does the trip coast $$$$$$$$few hunderd thousand ten tho hun tho millon? billon trolin or google pelex
Skipper
October 22, 2011, 7:47 am

This is my first time entring in this contest. Is it hard? I love explorg, love to write, love to take pictures…Great!
OLM7
November 3, 2011, 11:10 am

Yeah, this is my first time entering, too. I hope I win!!!!!!! I’ve literally got my whole family in on it. My LA teacher is gonna help me with my essay, and so is the rest of my family. Also, I scheduled some forest bike rides with my parents for inspiration. I’m definitely going all for it, and I’m SUPER determined to get on the winner’s list!!! I love the woods, and I like to think of myself as a Bass Pro Gal, if ya know what I mean.
ChocolateFrog
November 5, 2011, 2:54 pm

I am new to this too! do a lot of kids enter? I travel a lot so am really excited about my essay, and I do photo competitions so that should be okay! The idea about getting help from a teacher sounds good too maybe i will borrow that- tell me if you mind cuz i can always ask my family instead!
I will be back,
Chocofrog!
runnerexplore27
November 6, 2011, 1:33 pm

Skipper- Good luck, when you ask if it is hard, it is all in perspective. If you have a strong idea for your essay then it is usually pretty easy. Just try your best. Sometimes simpler is better.
Good luck to everyone else who is entering.This contest is one of the best experiences for any kid. It will change your life. just put your heart and love for exploration/photography out on the paper. Have fun Exploring!
Bri2000
November 8, 2011, 10:31 am

would love to win a trip to Montana.
OLM7
November 8, 2011, 6:39 pm

Chocofrog- By all means, go ahead! I’m not one of those people who are super stingy about sharing winning ideas. My teacher was really happy to hear that I was entering a writing contest, so that definitely got me some A points. And she had a totally different perspective that I hadn’t thought about, so my paper is really improved. Not to mention that it has perfect grammar. My advice is to get everyone to read your paper! Friends, family, teachers, ect. are good people to read through. The more comments and criticism you can get to improve your essay, the better.
cowgirlexplorer
November 10, 2011, 7:11 pm

Its so cool to see everyone really excited about entering. I wish i could enter again!

~Celeste
wenty34
November 18, 2011, 10:48 am

Awsome
awesomeIT
November 18, 2011, 10:48 am

i wannnnnna win!!!!!!!!!!!!
zoologister67
November 19, 2011, 1:08 am

I’m from Long Island, in New York, so on my opinion, an opportunity like this is almost the same thing as the chance to go from JFK airport to Africa on a V.I.P. tour in the jungle, then down the Nile River, then to the Okavango National Reserve, and, the best part……. all for FREE!!! In fact I typed it all up back in October. All I need to do is snap photos, print it out, and send it to Nat Geo Kids in Washington D.C. Or I could bring it on my Boy Scouts trip there in Febuary!
PopStarGirl
December 1, 2011, 3:04 pm

Cool!
Le916
December 2, 2011, 12:58 pm

hi
luckstomper
December 7, 2011, 7:45 pm

Hi Everyone!

Luckstomper here. As I scroll through the comments I remember the past three years that I have commented on this blog. I’m even honored enough, along with others like shastasteph and cowgirlexplorer to be a staple name on this blog. But it’s time now that a new generation comes along. However I’m not sure any group of kids could form as tight a niche as we did have. I don’t know it’s strange, a group of random kids from around the US became a group of friends. I hope that a new group of kids can do this too. Well, that’s all for now.

To think, it will be officially 3 years since my first comment in three days. Dec. 10 2008-2011

~~~~JON~~~~
(luckstomper)
1w36
December 14, 2011, 1:28 pm

Nice, I’m gonna try to win. When is the deadline?
Skimp27
December 15, 2011, 12:05 am

Luckstomper, you are right about forming a group of friends. I joined the blog last year, and after a few weeks I started thinking of you guys as friends. I felt kind of wierd about saying that since I dont know any of you personally, but the term friend is fitting. I think if any of us met in person we would be able to strike up a conversation like any group of old friends would. I really wanted to meet you guys in person on the trip to the Cayman Islands, but it wasn’t meant to be. Cowgirlexplorer, if I win this year, I’ll definitely visit you. This may be the last chance I ever get unless they extend the age limit next year.
The deadline creeped up on me. I’ve been so busy with school and loads of homework that I’ve been distracted. I’ve decided to write about a topic that I’m VERY passionate about, and hopefully it will win me the contest.
Also, all you vet bloggers, even though you may be too old to enter, please continue blogging. I enjoy hearing about you. All you new bloggers, welcome. You guys try to become friends as we have. even when you don’t when, you still “meet” people who share your passions and that’s a good consolation prize. Later everyone, Skimp27
Equine-Fan
December 18, 2011, 10:28 am

That sounds AWESOME…. what do you do?
cowgirlexplorer
December 26, 2011, 9:16 pm

Hello Everyone!
If for nothing else, try to win so that you all can come and visit me in Montana, and then you can have a tour guide that really knows what they are talking about…:) I too agree that we have created a nice little group of friends on this blog, and i would love to see you all in person. Thanks for all you interesting comments that everyone left on here, and i will continue to blog. Talk to you all later!

~Celeste~
p.s. (i get my license tommmorow! i am planning on restoring and old 1970 ford highboy truck for my car. It is going to be awesome!
cowgirlexplorer
December 30, 2011, 10:46 pm

I got my license! yay! being able to drive is awesome! You can get your license the day you turn 15 in montana, how old do you have to be in your guys’ states?

~Celeste~
OLM7
January 4, 2012, 8:28 am

Heart…pounding…*sigh of relief* I finally sent in my submission. I know, I’m cutting it kinda close, but I have until the 7th. I’m so worried, I wanna win so bad!!!!

cowgirlexplorer- in Illinois, you get a permit at 15 and a license at 16
aaronn_care4reycle12
January 4, 2012, 10:49 am

goats r weird ^____^
Skimp27
January 4, 2012, 3:34 pm

Hey everyone. A weird thing has happened. Yesterday it snowed for about 15 minutes but it was sunny out. I think clouds were just so high up that by the time they passed us the snow was just starting to hit the ground. Pretty cool huh? Cowgirlexplorer, in Maryland you have to be like 16 years and 9 months to get a license or something like that. The government put it back for as long as possible for “safety”… they are even trying to push that back to 18 years old. I guess it’s because we are more densely populated than in Montana. You know, more cars and a higher risk of an accident. I haven’t really started my essay. I’ve written my rough draft and took some pictures, but I am very loaded on homework so I barely have the time. Today was a two hour early dismissal so hopefully I’ll get it done. Later
jamiekid
January 4, 2012, 3:46 pm

I want to enter but I don’t have a camera what is the age limit?
jackiepony
January 5, 2012, 8:51 pm

I really want to win. I have diabetes type one, and I’ve never been on a trip like this. Thing is, I don’t know what to write about. Really, really want to go on this trip. Sounds sooooo cool. Wish me luck!

-Eva-
nglover
January 27, 2012, 8:04 pm

Hi everyone! I am a new guy around here. I have played Zippers treetop trouble 2 about a million trillion times! I have all of the levels too! I sent in my essay just in time. It is shipshape and ready to be a winner. My grandma checked it and she said it was good! She is a grammar teacher.
Anonymous
January 28, 2012, 7:58 pm

must…………win………..contest! The suspense is killing me!
Tinebrook
January 31, 2012, 1:48 am

*Trys not to jinks self* Good luck everyone! Hope to be honored enough to see some of you on the trip! (Never won ANY kind of contest before, so I’ll be really exited )
Anonymous
February 3, 2012, 8:07 pm

rats!!!!!!!!!!!! i thought we would have the winers by now!!!!
Ecochika
April 10, 2012, 5:02 pm

cowgirlexplorer: ur so lucky u have ur own horse!! i dont but i lease a pure black arabian gelding named aristocrat. lucky u
CUPCAKE0PS
May 5, 2012, 9:32 pm

I LUV TO EXPLORE BECAUSE THIS IS THE SCHOOL I GO TO C.S 57
Luv2takepix012
July 4, 2012, 1:19 pm

Such a beautiful pic
. Luv it