UNLESS+project

= UNLESS project sponsored by the Philadelphia Zoo =

Reduce for Red Pandas
This year, the Contest focuses on the impact that our paper usage has on climate change and how that relates to the decline of Red Pandas. The goal of the Contest is to demonstrate a measurable decrease of the amount of paper used at home, at school, or in the community by changing our behaviors and committing to reduce the amount of junk mail we receive.

The contest is judged at four grade levels (K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12).

Submissions will be judged based on four criteria: The project should be student-centered, student-driven, and student-executed. Students should take the lead toward including their families, school, and the community to **Reduce for Red Pandas**.
 * Creativity—project creativity and presentation creativity judged equally
 * Originality—project originality and presentation originality judged equally
 * Scale (scope of influence)
 * Project Impact (measurable results)

ll projects MUST include a campaign to reduce junk mail. This campaign will direct participants to the Philadelphia Zoo’s website and instruct them to go through the following steps: 1) Participants visit the Philadelphia Zoo’s website at (URL) 2) Participants input their email address, the name of the school or teacher they are associated with, and a few other pieces of information 3) They will receive an email from the Philadelphia Zoo asking them to opt - in to receiving future messaging, as well as an email giving them instructions on how to reduce junk mail 4) Participants will reduce their junk mail by signing up with a registry that removes their name from junk mail lists (similar to the Do Not Call Registry)  Projects must include a positive advocacy campaign.  Projects must be student - driven and all or most of the campaign materials should be created by students.  There must be measureable results. The project should inspire others to become change agents in the community.

Required Elements: 1) establish a clear goal regarding reducing paper 2) design an engagement campaign to promote Reduce for Red Pandas 3) share the engagement campaign with others 4) campaign focuses on reducing paper to save animals

Contest Timeline

 * **October 1, 2015** || Applications open ||
 * **November 13, 2015** || Application deadline ||
 * **December 18, 2015** || Mid-term progress report deadline ||
 * **February 29, 2016** || Final applications due ||

**What is the UNLESS Contest?**
The Albert M. Greenfield UNLESS Contest creates awareness that inspires solutions and actions to impact the future of wildlife. Over the past four years the Zoo has engaged more than 10,000 schoolchildren from more than 200 schools in the Delaware Valley region as part of this initiative. Together with these students, the Zoo has worked to address two key conservation issues – habitat destruction related to palm oil production and climate change. During the open application process, participating classes provide the Zoo with an initial project proposal. Following the application process and over the course of their project, participating classes have the opportunity to visit the Zoo for a class and participate in a virtual class to learn about this conservation topic and how it impacts wildlife. Directly in line with common core standards, participating students will have the opportunity to think critically about a real-world issue that is impacting a number of wild animals. Final project reports are reviewed by a panel of independent judges who choose the awardees. The student-made advocacy campaigns from years prior have impacted between 2 to 4 million people each year. This year, the Contest focuses on the impact that our paper usage has on climate change and how that relates to the decline of Red Pandas. The goal of the Contest is to demonstrate a measurable decrease of the amount of paper used at home, at school, or in the community by changing our behaviors and committing to reduce the amount of junk mail we receive.