�Good Times on the Appalachian Trail� Photo Contest

The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) is looking for great photos of people enjoying the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) in 2011! The ATC is looking for images that illustrate your idea of a perfect day on the A.T.

Creative and unique shots are encouraged. Send the ATC photos of you and your loved ones hiking your favorite section, enjoying an overlook, staying overnight at a shelter, swimming in a lake, or just enjoying being out on the Trail. Whatever it may be, the ATC wants to know how you enjoyed your time out on the Trail this year.

Rules:

� Photos must be taken on the A.T. during the year 2011.
� Photos must contain an image of at least one person.
� You must be the owner of the photo.
� Participants can only submit one photo.
� Any photos conflicting with the ATC�s Leave No Trace� (LNT) principles will be disqualified. For more information about LNT principles visit www.appalachiantrail.org/LNT.
� No photos can include nudity, inappropriate or illegal activities.
� Photos must be in .jpg format at 300 DPI as an email attachment.

Submission:

Submissions should be sent to chobbs@appalachiantrail.org as email attachments between October 18th and November 10th. Then, the ATC�s panel of judges will select the top 20 photos.

Timeline:

� Photo Submission: October 18, 2011 - November 10, 2011
� Voting Period: November 11, 2011 � December 11, 2011
� Photos showcased in the ATC�s Visitor Center in Harpers Ferry, WV: November 12, 2011 through November 19, 2011 from 9am-5pm each day.
� Winner Announced: Week of December 12th, 2011

Prizes:

Prizes will be awarded to the Top 3 contestants.

The Grand Prize winner will have their photo featured in A.T. Journeys (ATJ) as well as receive a set of LekiSummitAS Antishock Trekking Poles valued at $100, generously donated by Leki. The poles features a RoundTop COR-TEC Grip, Classic Expander Lock System,Triple Spring Antishock System, a performance basket, a universal carbide tip, with an ultra sonic finish.

Second and third place winners will also have their photos featured in ATJ and will receive a small recognition prize from the ATC.

For more information or questions regarding the Photo Contest, contact Claire Hobbs, Information Services Assistant, at chobbs@appalachiantrail.org or (304)535-6331 ext. 134.


Jeff
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National Natural Landmarks Photo Contest Winners Announced

One hundred and fifty-two images representing 92 different National Natural Landmarks sites across 31 states were submitted to the 8th Annual NNL Photo Contest. A National Park Service-wide vote took place in mid-August and the winners were announced today. Top honors went to Debra Miller of Highlands Ranch, Colorado for her photograph of Hanging Lake, east of Glenwood Springs, Colorado.

The three winning photos and the 10 Honorable Mentions will be featured in the 2012 NNL calendar, specially designed to commemorate the NNL Program�s 50th Anniversary. �These stunning photographs not only highlight the beauty of these spectacular places, but the longevity of the National Park Service�s relationship with partners for resource conservation,� said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis.

There are 591 national natural landmarks across the United States, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. NNLs are designated by the Secretary of the Interior following rigorous scientific study, and include features on private, state, municipal, and federal lands. Participation in the program is voluntary.

To view the 13 winning photographs from this year�s contest, please click here.


Jeff
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Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and RaysWeather.Com Partner on 2012 Calendar

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation and RaysWeather.Com announced yesterday a partnership to produce the 2012 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Calendar.

RaysWeather.Com has sponsored a photo contest and calendar featuring photography from northwest North Carolina for the past nine years. For the 2012 calendar, the photo contest will solicit entries spanning the entire length of the Blue Ridge Parkway, from Waynesboro, Virginia, to Cherokee, North Carolina.

Depending on the number of calendars sold, 44% to 70% of net calendar proceeds will be donated to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.

The 2012 Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation Calendar photo contest is open for online entries through June 15, 2011. According to Dr. Ray Russell, President of RaysWeather.com, "We're looking for the best, most unique photos capturing the beauty, activities, and essence of the Blue Ridge Parkway in all seasons of the year."

Twenty-five photos from each of the four seasons will be selected as finalists and will be voted on by RaysWeather.Com readers. "We are so happy to be partnering with RaysWeather.Com to offer what is sure to be a must-have calendar for 2012. The photos that are already pouring in are so wonderful, we can't wait to see the winners," said Carolyn Ward, CEO of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. For more details and to submit an entry, visit raysweather.com/Photo+Contest.

The Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, under a cooperative agreement with the National Park Service and the U.S. Department of the Interior, is the primary private fundraising organization for the Blue Ridge Parkway.

RaysWeather.Com is one of the most widely read media outlets in northwest North Carolina, and provides forecasts for the North Carolina Mountains. RaysWeather.Com (with over 20 webcams and over 50 weather stations) is in its eleventh year of operation providing custom weather forecasts, weather conditions, climate data, and other information from the Southern Appalachians.


Jeff
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