Category: contests

Review — I’m All In

Don’t know where I’ve been, but when I was given an opportunity to review a brand new CD from Robert Pierre, I thought, “Who?”

No, he’s not homeschooled, but I am always looking for great music to listen to while I read my great books, so . . .

Then I started looking at his bio. Oh, he’s only 18. That’s why I haven’t heard of him. Just some brand new, trying-to-make-it kid, right? Heh. Well, I looked a little further.

His first album was released almost 5 years ago. No newcomer here. He leads worship at the church his parents helped start in Florida. He knows how to lead a crowd, knows how to perform, but most importantly he knows how to worship on a grand scale.

When most young people are just trying focusing on narrowing down college choices he is penning lyrics that show the depth of his faith, that he’s all in.

While I think the songs will appeal to young people, I personally enjoyed just about every single one of them. I would love to hear these added to our Sunday morning line up.

These are great songs to have in the background as you surf the net, in the car while you are running errands, or crank them up when you or your kids need a dance break (what? you don’t take those now and then?) All of my kids enjoyed these tunes. So, I guess they are suitable from 1 year old on up.

Take a little look for yourself (9 minute video about the album and Robert Pierre himself):

The CD is just now coming out. July 26th. You can pick it up online or at your local Christian book store.

Check out more at these links:

But that’s not all. One reader will get a free copy of the CD to enjoy in their home, car, backyard, etc. Yep, giveaway time! Here’s what you have to do:
– Leave a comment to enter yourself in the drawing.
More entries? I’d be happy to . . . You can get additional entries for each of the following:
– Share about this giveaway somewhere else (email, twitter, facebook, etc.) and leave another comment here saying you did so.
– Follow this site on our facebook fan page or google friend connect (both in the right sidebar) or RSS/email and leave another comment.
The contest is only open to US residents and will close on Thursday at 5:00 central time and I will choose a random winner at that time from the comments on this post. Can’t wait to get this CD into your hands!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Find the golden egg!

Received via email:



Are your Kids off school on Friday April 22?  Come to SciTech for the Easter Egg Hunt, stay for the FUN!
The Golden Eggs are Hidden!  Find one and Win a PRIZE!

SciTech Museum is the place for Fun on the Friday before Easter.
Regular admission is all you need to enjoy:
  • Activity Tables with “Egg-Tastic” Hands on Experiments! 10:30- 4pm
  • See the Easter Bunny and have your photo taken with him. ($5.00 ea.) 12-4 pm
  • Participate in the Easter Egg Hunt and Find the Golden Egg for a Prize! 10:30 am – 12 pm
  • Two age groups for the Hunt: 5 and under and 6-12 yrs.
  • Over 200 exciting interactive Science exhibits!
For more information just call 630-859-3434 Ext. 218
SciTech Museum 18 W. Benton, Aurora, Il. 60506
Don't Miss out! There's no end to the fun this Friday at SciTech!
And someone in your family may find the Golden Egg!

Essay contest for mission trips

From College Plus:

Global Encounters Essay Contest

Global Encounters Logo With exciting destinations this year like Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Romania, and South Africa, there has never been a better time to go on a mission trip with Global Encounters!

Grand Prize: $1,200 Second prize: $500 Third prize: $300

Five honorable mentions: a Global Encounters hoodie and a $75 certificate!

Here’s how to enter:

Write an original essay in 500-750 words that answers the question “What is missions and how can you be involved?” Send your essay to contest@globalencounter.net by March 31st. Be sure to include your name, age, address, and phone number.

Winners will be announced April 12th.

Read the complete details here and join the fun!

Bridge building contest

Learned about this fun looking contest over at Kathy Wentz’s blog.

The link to the full contest information is here. Developed by West Point and sponsored by the American Society of Civil Engineers, this contest is open to all kids age 13 through Grade 12. They can do this on their own or in pairs and it looks like it can all be done from the comfort of your own computer. It has a download for both Macs and Windows, so hopefully all interested students can enter.

Looks like a great science and math supplement or motivator. Scholarship money is available to the winners, too, if that motivates any students. 🙂

HOW TO ENTER
Download and install the West Point Bridge Designer 2011 software.
Use the software to design and test a virtual bridge.
Register your team.
Log in and submit as many designs as you like.
It’s absolutely FREE!
Who: U.S. students age 13 through grade 12 are eligible for prizes. Anyone else may enter our Open Competition. More about eligibility…
When: The 2011 contest began on January 10, 2011, and the Qualifying Round will end on February 25. More about the contest schedule…
Prizes: Each member of the first-place team earns a $10,000 scholarship. Each finalist wins a notebook computer. More about prizes…

Giveaway!

I recently received a copy of a sweet little story. This video gives you a clear glimpse:

Little Star by Anthony DeStefano draws the child’s attention to the real meaning of Christmas can be an effective springboard to meaningful conversation. My little guy loved it and I’m sure it will be a favorite in your house as well.

This book is for sale at your local book store and online, and one person will win a free copy from this post as well.

How to enter:

– Leave a comment on this post.

– You can also receive a second entry by sharing about this book and contest with others either via email, facebook, twitter, or your favorite social media. To receive the second entry, just come back and leave a second comment letting me know where you shared it.

The contest will close on December 10th in the evening. I will post the winner at that time.

Video contest

HSLDA holds numerous contests especially for homeschoolers. This one involves making your own video: (follow links for more details and to submit your own!)

HSLDA Video Contest

2010 Commercial Video Guidelines

Submission Dates: August 16, 2010 to November 15, 2010

Entries received before August 16 or postmarked after November 15 will not be accepted.

What

  1. Each entrant will submit a video commercial that illustrates the value of HSLDA membership to a family. Videos will be a minimum of 60 seconds and may not exceed 90 seconds.
  2. Up to two entries per person or team will be allowed.

Who

This contest is open to anyone.

Crew Guidelines

  1. Your project is to be completed by a team which may include, but is not limited to, a director, producer, writer, camera crew, actors, technical crew (lighting, etc.), and post-production crew. While there may be more than one person involved in the project, we ask that the individual taking the role of director fit into the specifications above. The director will send us the finished product, will take responsibility for the project, and will be the individual awarded at the end of the contest. A single cash prize (see prizes below) will be awarded to each winning entry regardless of the number of individuals who participated in the entry/project.
  2. Your work needs to be completely original.

Submission Format

  1. Please email your YouTube clip link to the following email address: contests@hslda.org. Be sure to include your name, address, and phone number.
  2. We require that you also mail us a hard copy DVD in QuickTime format.

Fee

  1. $20 for HSLDA members
  2. $40 for non-HSLDA members

Final Checklist

  1. Entries must include a completed and signed entry form and permission form.
  2. Entries must include an entry fee (payable by check or money order only).
  3. Entries must include a YouTube link of the video along with a hard copy DVD in QuickTime format.

Mailing

HSLDA
Attn: Commercial Contest
One Patrick Henry Circle
Purcellville, VA 20132-3197

Judging

  • Video submissions will undergo two rounds of judging:
    • Round 1: By a panel of critics selected by HSLDA.
    • Round 2: The People’s Choice. The critics selected by HSLDA will make their top choices. Those choices will be put online, and made available for the people’s vote.
  • The HSLDA panel of critics will judge the videos on originality of thought, style, adherence the requirements, and production quality. The panel may be composed of both professional and amateur filmmakers.
  • Results of the contest will be released by the spring of 2011.

Prize Information

  • One “Critics’ Choice Award” in the amount of $1,000.
  • One “People’s Choice Award” in the amount of $1,000.

Other Information

By submitting a video you:

  • Grant Home School Legal Defense Association the right to publish all or part of your submission, (see permission form for more information.)
  • Agree to all rules and the decisions of the judges and sponsors.
  • Agree to not use copyrighted music or other media without explicit permission by the owner.
  • Do not hold Home School Legal Defense Association responsible for any lost, damaged, misdirected, delayed, mutilated, incomplete, illegible, or postage-due entries or mail.
  • Realize that all profits from this contest will go to the Home School Foundation’s Special Needs Children Fund.

Please contact Contest Coordinator at contests@hslda.org with any questions.

Wikki Stix guessing contest

Enter a contest that could boost your art supplies! Guess how many Wikki Stix are in the photo and you could win them.

While you wait to see if you won, check out some of their great craft and educational ideas. If you already own Wikki Stix, I would guess you aren’t utelizing them as much as possible. Have you thought of using the for maps, diagrams, models, prewriting activities, and phonics games?

Their website offers ideas that touch many different academic subjects. Your child will be glad you took a look.

Bible Bee

Some kids need a little competition to motivate them. Others need some goals to help them strive harder. And, others just want some recognition for the hard work they have already put out.

What better topic to encourage kids to dig into and recognize achievement in than Scripture memorization?

Today a new friend of mine introduced me to the Bible Bee 2010. This organization and competition gives families a framework to memorize Scripture, along with some lofty goals. The competition is open to kids 7-18 and they must memorize between 250 and 800 verses (increasing amounts by age categories).

If you are interested in attending, you can register starting May 1. At this time they are looking for host registrations, so if you would like to organize a local bee, now is the time to jump online and sign up. Individuals register starting May 1, and packets will go out in June.

Individual registration is $25 per child (limit of $125 per family), and includes all materials for parents and children to participate in the bee. If they apply themselves and advance to the final round they have the opportunity to compete for prizes ranging from $5,000 to $100,000.

Whether you decide to participate officially or not, you might enjoy attending the Bible Bee finals to be held in November of this year in Schaumburg. It might be a great motivator for next year (although next year, the finals might not be so close to us in the Chicagoland area).

Check out the Bible Bee 2010 website for all the details, information, and answers to any questions you might have. And, if you do arrange a local bee, feel free to leave a comment hear letting others know and so we can spread the enthusiasm.