Do you have a budding naturalist or developing journalist in your pod?
We’re looking for 8-12 year olds to report on their sea-watching experiences during the up-coming National Whale & Dolphin Watch (July 25th – August 2nd 2015).
In celebration of the National Whale and Dolphin Watch 2015 we are teaming up with the RSPB’s Bird Life magazine to offer the chance for one young Sea Watcher or RSPB member (aged 8-12 years) to have their article featured in print.
Taking part is easy! Arrange a family visit to the seaside to spot whales and dolphins during our flagship event (July 25th- August 2nd). There are pre-arranged watches that you can join in with or you can arrange your own. It’s super easy to take part, you need keen eyes, recording forms, a pencil and at least one pair of binoculars. Dressing sensibly for British summertime you could even make the most of your watch by having a family picnic!
Next, your budding journalist needs to write up their sea watching experience (in no more than 400 words) and share it with us. We’ll display entries on our website and also choose a winning entry that will appear in the RSPB’s Bird Life magazine.
Photos: A group of youngsters watch for bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoise and grey seals from Llandudno, a bottlenose dolphin and calf photographed in 2014’s National Whale and Dolphin Watch by North 58, and a family help with the National Whale and Dolphin Watch from Aberystwyth.
How to watch?
1) Find a suitable place to watch from. Ideally you’ll want to be high above sea level and with a good view in all directions. This isn’t always possible along our varied coastline so try to get the best all round view possible. Bear in mind that some locations are affected greatly by tides, so make sure that there will be water when you watch!
2) Download our forms here. Please record these environmental details every 15 minutes. This form will last you for a two hour watch. Watches should be 1-5 hours long. If and when you have a sighting, please record it on the lower part of the form. Please make yourselves familiar with the forms before you go out and if you have any questions, please ask us on outreach@seawatchfoundation.org.uk.
3) Tell us about your event. We want to know when and where you are watching so please tell us about your watch by emailing outreach@seawatchfoundation.org.uk.
4) You might like to join an organised watch instead, in which case the organiser will provide the forms. You can see a list of events here. but remember that these will be updated on a daily basis and so more may appear closer to the time.
5) After the event, please report your sightings online as soon as possible. Then return your data forms to us by post or email. Even if no sightings are made, your data sheets will be extremely valuable to us so please do remember to return them along with your child’s report of the event.
How to enter the competition?
Send your competition entries by email to kathy.james@seawatchfoundation.org.uk or by post to Sea Watch Foundation, Paragon House, Wellington Place, New Quay, Ceredigion, SA45 9NR. Entries must be received by Sea Watch on or before Sunday 16th August 2015 to be considered for print. Please refer to the competition terms and conditions below.
Good luck!
Competition Terms & Conditions
• Competition details form part of these terms and conditions.
• Entry is open to chldren aged 8 to 12 years and must have parent or legal guardian consent prior to entering.
• Entries will be judged by Sea Watch Foundation and the chosen winning article will be published in the RSPB’s Bird Life magazine in an issue at the discretion of the editor if the text is satisfactory.
• Runner(s)-up will be chosen and a small prize offered.
• No responsibility can be accepted for entries lost, damaged or delayed in the post, or due to computer error in transit.
• The winner(s) agree(s) to the use of their name, photograph and disclosure of county of residence and will co-operate with any other reasonable requests by the RSPB and Sea Watch Foundation relating to any post-winning publicity.
• Entries accepted by post and email only, and must be received by Sea Watch Foundation by Monday 17th August 2015.
• Entries will only be considered if less than 400 words.
• Reasonable efforts will be made to contact the winner(s). If the winner(s) cannot be contacted, or are unable to comply with these terms and conditions, the Promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to the runner(s)-up selected by the same judges.
• Confirmation of the prize will be made in writing to the winner(s).
• Failure to respond (by August 21st) and/or provide an email address for notification, or failure to meet the eligibility requirements may result in forfeiture of the prize.
• Where applicable, the decision of the judges is final based on the criteria set out in the promotion and no correspondence will be entered into over this decision.
• This competition is open to UK residents only.
• There is no cash alternative to the competition prizes.
• The Sea Watch Foundation reserve the right to remove any entries that it considers to be contrary to the spirit of the terms and conditions.
• Full copyright title remains with the author. The Sea Watch Foundation and RSPB reserves the right to use any entry at its own discretion. By submitting a qualifying entry, you agree to grant the Sea Watch Foundation and RSPB a perpetual, royalty free licence to use and reproduce the entry in whole or in part and exercise all publicity rights with respect to your contribution.
