Chicago Botanic Garden

CHICAGO BOTANIC GARDEN

Special Events

Kids Dig It! Challenge Guidelines

Registration and submissions due by August 31, 2011

Entries displayed October 1 and 2, 2011
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

→ Download a Registration & Entry form

The Kids Dig It! Challenge is a skills contest sponsored by the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022 (“Sponsor”). The contest begins on May 1, 2011 and ends on August 31, 2011.

1. Description of the Challenge

Single Plant Project Guidelines: A single plant project consists of one type of plant, such as marigolds, tomatoes or daffodils. The plant can be grown indoors or outdoors. An essay describing how the plant was planted and in what kind of space needs to accompany the plant. The essay should also describe the kind of care the plant received and what kind of results were experienced. Essays should be typed and limited to two pages. Do not state your name on the front of or in the body of the essay, as anonymity must be maintained for judging purposes. The essay should be supported by a photograph (no larger than 8 ½ x 11) and a drawing (no larger than 11 x 17) of the plant. Essays, photographs, and drawings should have the name of the artist on the back.

Garden Project Guidelines: A garden project consists of three or more different types of plants grown in the same general area. The plants can be grown indoors or outdoors. An essay describing how the plants were planted and in what kind of space must accompany the entry. The space can be defined as one container, several containers grouped together, or one large planting area. The essay should also describe the kind of care the plants received and what kind of results were experienced. Essays should be typed and limited to two pages. Do not state your name on the front of or in the body of the essay as anonymity is maintained for judging purposes. The essay should be supported by a photograph (no larger than 8 ½ x 11) and/or a drawing (no larger than 11 x 17) of the garden. Essays, photographs and drawings should have the name of the artist on the back.

2. Eligibility

Participants must be between the ages of 4 and 13 as of August 31, 2011 and will be placed into the following age groups for competition purposes: ages 4 – 6, ages 7 – 10, and ages 11 – 13. Children and grandchildren of employees of the Chicago Botanic Garden are not eligible to participate.

All plant projects should be current in the year 2011, but may have been started in previous years. Participants should be responsible for the plant, maintenance and general care of the plants. Adult guidance is acceptable based on the age of the participant. Void where prohibited. All federal, state, and local laws apply. No Purchase Necessary.

3. Registration and submission

All registrations and submissions must be received by August, 31, 2011. One entry per child is allowed. Entries may be dropped off at the Garden’s Information or Membership Desks in the Visitor Center or mailed to:

Kids Dig It Challenge
Chicago Botanic Garden
1000 Lake Cook Rd.
Glencoe, IL 60022

Questions may be emailed to .
Entries submitted electronically will not be accepted.

Participant work: Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, illegible, misdirected, or damaged entries. Entries may be picked up from the Garden after October 30, 2011, from the Visitor Center Information Desk. Entries not claimed by November 30, 2011, will not be returned.

Judges: A panel of three Chicago Botanic Garden horticulture and museum education professionals will evaluate all entries. Anonymity is maintained during judging.

Scores: Each entry must meet the Guidelines outlined above. Any non-conforming entries may be disqualified.

Single Plant Projects: Scoring of all eligible entries for the Single Plant Projects
will be based on the following:

  • Independent Execution
  • Degree of Difficulty
  • Originality
  • Length of project
  • Creativity
  • Health, vigor and suitability of plants
  • Suitability of design to its site and usage (Garden project)

Garden Project: Scoring of all eligible entries for the Garden Project
will be based on the following:

  • Independent Execution
  • Degree of Difficulty
  • Originality
  • Length of project
  • Creativity
  • Health, vigor and suitability of plants
  • Suitability of design to its site and usage

For both the Single Plant Project Category and the Garden Project Category, each entry will be awarded a score of 0 (poor) to 20 (perfect) in each category. Sponsor will tally the scores for each entry and rank them according to cumulative score. Winners will be selected based on these rankings, and the top three (3) scores in each age group will be deemed the winners. Decisions of the judges are final. In the event of a tie, the entry with the highest score in the Degree of Difficulty category will be deemed the winner.

Awards: All entries will receive a ribbon and certificate of recognition. First, second and third place winners in each age group will receive the following:

Ages 4-6
1st place – Dramm™ 9 pattern Garden Hose Nozzle, Sensory Dome, bamboo garden gloves and Chicago Botanic Garden Hat. (Approximate retail value: $70)

2nd place – Dramm™ 9 pattern Garden Hose Nozzle, Little Labs experiment kit, and bamboo garden gloves. (Approximate retail value: $50)

3rd place – Dramm™ 9 pattern Garden Hose Nozzle, Bio pot with seeds and “Quick Draw Flowers and Plants” (Approximate retail value: $30)

Ages 7-10
1st place – Dramm™ 9 pattern Garden Hose Nozzle, Sensory Dome, bamboo garden gloves and Chicago Botanic Garden Hat. (Approximate retail value: $70)

2nd place – Dramm™ 9 pattern Garden Hose Nozzle, Little Labs Sensory Dome terrarium kit, and bamboo garden gloves. (Approximate retail value: $50)

3rd place – Dramm™ 9 pattern Garden Hose Nozzle, Bio pot with seeds and “Quick Draw Flowers and Plants” (Approximate retail value: $30)

Ages 11-13
1st place – Dramm™ 9 pattern Garden Hose Nozzle, Hydrofarms Germination Station, bamboo garden gloves, Chicago Botanic Garden hat. (Approximate retail value: $75)

2nd place – Dramm™ 9 pattern Garden Hose Nozzle, Little Labs Sensory Dome terrarium kit, bamboo garden gloves. (Approximate retail value: $50)

3rd place – Dramm™ 9 pattern Garden Hose Nozzle, Bio Pot with Seeds and Chicago Botanic Garden hat. (Approximate retail value: $40)

As this is a contest of skill, winning is dependent on the quality and number of entries received. All prizes will be awarded, unless there are fewer entries than prizes, in which case all remaining prizes will be donated to the Chicago Botanic Garden Youth and Family Programs. Winners will be selected on or before September 23, 2011 and will be notified by phone. Prizes are non-transferable and no prize substitutions will be allowed, except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor.

Conditions: All work must be original. By entering, each entrant agrees to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Sponsor, which shall be final. Moreover, by participating in the Contest, each entrant agrees to release and hold Sponsor and the employees, officers, directors, agents, and representatives of Sponsor harmless from any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind in connection with the Contest or resulting from acceptance, possession, or use of any prize.

Sponsor, its agents, and representatives are not responsible for and shall not be liable for any condition caused by events beyond the control of the Sponsor that may cause the Contest to be disrupted or corrupted; or any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to suspend or cancel the Contest at any time if unauthorized intervention, or other technical problem of any sort corrupts the administration, security, or proper play of the Contest. Sponsor reserves the right to cancel the Contest or change any element thereof, with or without notice, at any time, due to printing errors or other mistakes in the production of the Contest. Sponsor also reserves the right to disqualify, in its sole discretion, any person tampering with the entry process or who is otherwise in violation of the rules.

Consent: Except where prohibited by law, by entering, all entrants (and their parents/guardians) agree that the Sponsor has unrestricted use of the submissions, including essays, photos and artwork, without compensation. Names of the owners of the entries may be published, but personal contact information will not. Submission of an entry automatically constitutes the acceptance of all conditions set forth in these Official Rules.

List of Winners: To obtain a copy of the list of winners, send your request along with a self addressed, stamped envelope (VT residents may omit return postage) to: Kids Dig It Challenge List of Winners, Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL 60022. Requests must be received no later than September 30, 2011.

Display of Entries: Entries will be on display at the Chicago Botanic Garden, October 1 & 2, 2011.