Osprey Packs, Kids Essay Contest

One of the greatest components to the Corporate Partnership program is finding unique ways in which bridges can be made between Leave No Trace, a brand, and a new community - ultimately affecting change and bettering the system as a whole through common vision.

Osprey Packs' "Sprint Series Kid's Reading and Writing Contest" is a great example of the success of this formula.

In 2008, Osprey Packs set out to bridge the gap between their products and kids who were recreating in the outdoors by establishing a more meaningful, creative connection: Leave No Trace. Each month, kids across the nation submit written essays which tell the tale of their "great adventure" - an outdoor experience that was memorable and unique. The twist: they must pick one of the Leave No Trace principles and tell how they applied it to their adventure.

If they are picked, the winning youth receive an Osprey backpack from a lineup of youth-specific packs. For some of the winners, such as Kimble Gray Horsak (7 years old), the backpack is the seed for future adventures: "And me and my dad are going to climb a volcano this summer. We are going to summit Itza... Itza is over 16,000 feet above sea level... I need a backpack because we can't find a good one that fits me. I am carrying my sleeping bag and all the food."

What is so beautifully apparent through this essay contest is the impacts that education programs and time spent outdoors can have on the youth of this world. May's Winner, Sophia Jannetty, was climbing Kilimanjaro with her family when she noted, "I couldn't help but realize the importance of preserving our wildlife. For the first time, I really realized the importance of the Leave No Trace principles. ... I will never forget the unbelievable sense of accomplishment I felt when I summited Kilimanjaro or the importance of preserving the beautiful wildlife with whom we share this planet."

Thank you on behalf of the Center for Outdoor Ethics to both Osprey Packs and the entrants to the contest. Keep up the great work - and never underestimate the ability of one person, one story, or one adventure to affect positive change for the future.

To learn more about the contest or to participate, visit Osprey Packs' Kids Essay Contest Page.

The winning essays can all be viewed at : http://www.ospreypacks.com/OspreyLifestyle/Winners/