“Earth Rangers Backyard Biologist Photo Contest” OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES AND REGULATIONS (“Rules”)

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

This contest is sponsored by Earth Rangers (the “Sponsor”).

SECTION 1: ELIGIBILITY

The “Earth Rangers Clubs Mission Contest” (the “Contest”) is open to all legal residents of Canada who are of the age of majority in their province or territory of residence at the time of entry into the Contest, provided that consent is obtained from your parent or legal guardian to enter the Contest and to be eligible to win. Further, your parent or legal guardian must agree to be bound by these Rules on your behalf. If the Sponsor discovers that parental consent was not obtained, the entry will be void. Because entrants are under the age of majority in their province or territory of residence, prizes won by entrants will be awarded to the parent or legal guardian on behalf of the entrant. This Contest is not open to employees, representatives, and agents of the Sponsor, their parent, related and affiliated companies, advertising and promotional agencies, and the members of the households of such employees, representatives, and agents.

SECTION 2: CONTEST PERIOD:

The Contest starts at 10:00 am EDT on Monday, September 16, 2024, and closes at 11:59 pm EDT on Friday, January 31st, 2025 (the “Contest Period”). Any entries received after that time will be void. One (1) entry per person in each of the three photo categories (“Backyard Safari”, “Critter Closeups”, and “Water Worlds”/”Winter Worlds”) during the Contest Period, for a total of three (3) entries per person, is permitted.

SECTION 3: HOW TO PARTICIPATE

In order to enter the Contest, the entrant must, with their parent’s or guardian’s knowledge and permission, take a picture that fits into one of three categories: Backyard Safari photo, Critter Closeups photo, and Water Worlds/Winter Worlds photo. The picture must be taken without help from a parent, guardian, sibling, relative, or friend. The entrant must also include a brief explanation in 50 characters or more describing the photo. To do this, each entrant must confirm in the Contest entry form that they have read and agree with the Official Contest Rules and Regulations (the “Rules”), and confirm that the entrant is under the age of majority in the entrant’s province or territory of residence. In the Contest entry form, the entrant’s parent or legal guardian must also give permission for the entrant to enter the contest, agree to the Rules, and agree that all the information provided in the entry form was filled out by a parent or legal guardian by choosing “Confirmed” in the drop down menu on the Backyard Biologist Contest entry form.

Access to the Backyard Biologist Contest Entry Form may occur via one of two means:

  • 1. Backyard Biologist Photo Contest Photo Entry
    To enter the Contest, visit the Backyard Biologist Photo Contest page at www.earthrangers.com/backyardbiocontest and follow the submission instructions. The form can be submitted at https://www.earthrangers.com/EN/CA/backyardbiocontest/.
  • 2. Backyard Biologist Mission Entry
    To enter the Contest, sign in to your Earth Rangers membership account in Earth Rangers (the “Earth Rangers App”). If you do not already have an Earth Rangers membership account, you will be prompted to sign up for one when you download the Earth Rangers App. As a part of this process, you will need to provide your first name, parent’s e-mail address, and birthdate. If you are under the age of majority in your province or territory of residence, you must have the consent of your parent/legal guardian to create an Earth Rangers membership account. Earth Rangers will then send your parent/legal guardian an email confirming that you have signed up on Earth Rangers and will ask them to provide their name, your address, and telephone number. Earth Rangers memberships are free.

    Once logged in to your Earth Rangers membership account, you will be able to access the Earth Rangers Backyard Biologist Mission page by visiting the Missions page in the App, whereby you can accept the Backyard Biologist Mission. Once you have accepted the Mission, you’ll be able to enter the contest in two ways:
    • Visit the contest page by tapping on the “View Items” in the Mission Items section. Scroll through the items until you get to “Contest” item. You will be taken to the Contest page. Follow the submission instructions to enter.
    • Complete the Backyard Biologist Mission by clicking on the “Complete” button on the Mission Page. Fill out the submission form on the next page and it will be submitted once you have tapped the “Submit” button.

Once you have accepted the Mission, you’ll be able to visit the contest page by tapping on the “View Items” in the Mission Items section. Scroll through the items until you get to “Contest” item. You will be taken to the Contest page. Follow the submission instructions to enter.

After satisfying the above eligibility requirements, the entrant will be entered into the Contest during the Contest Period. One entry per entrant per category will be permitted.

By entering the Contest, entrants’ parents or legal guardians agree to abide by these Rules, which shall be final and binding on all entrants in all matters relating to this Contest.

Where permitted by applicable law, the sponsor is not responsible for lost, incomplete, or misdirected entries, or entries that are processed late or incorrectly or are lost due to computer or electronic malfunction or other error.

SECTION 4: PRIZE

Prize: There are three (3) prizes (each, a “Prize”) available to be won.

  • 1st Prize in each photo category
  • 1x Canon EOS Rebel R 100 (Black) camera, or equivalent – MSRP: $799.99.

The chances of winning a Prize depend upon the weighted criteria of the Judging panel and the total number of eligible entries received in the Contest Period. The Prize may not be exchanged for cash, is non-transferable, non-refundable, non-salable, and must be accepted as awarded.

The Sponsor is not responsible for the forfeiture of the Prize due to changes in mailing addresses, or any other circumstances resulting in an invalid, erroneous, or incomplete mailing address or e-mail address.

SECTION 5: SPONSOR JUDGING TO DETERMINE WINNERS

Winners in each category will be determined solely by the decisions of a panel of judges appointed by the Sponsor (the “Judging Panel”) on the basis of the following weighted criteria: (a) compelling representation of the photo category (50%); (b) photographic quality (25%); and (c) description of the photo (25%). Eligible entries will be reviewed by a first Judging Panel, to select thirty finalists (ten in each category). A second Judging Panel will then rank the finalist photographs based on the same weighted criteria to select the Grand Prize winner in each category. If two or more finalist photographs have the same highest ranking score, a random draw will be held between these two or more finalist photographs to select the Grand Prize winner in each category.

SECTION 6: PRIZE CLAIM CONDITIONS

The Sponsor will contact the selected winners within seventy-two (72) hours of the conclusion of the Judging Panel’s final selection by email at the email address provided in the contest entry or Earth Rangers Membership account and the selected winner must respond to the notification within five (5) business days of the first attempt by Sponsor. Failure to respond by such time may result in the forfeiture of the Prize in the absolute discretion of the Sponsor.

To be confirmed as the winner of the Contest, the selected winner must be in full compliance with these rules; and, the selected winner’s parent or legal guardian must sign and return a release of liability and consent to publicity form (the “Release Form”) and any other documentation as may reasonably be required by the Sponsor in their absolute discretion. If two or more finalist photographs receive the same highest ranking score by the second Judging Panel and a random draw is held between these two or more finalist photographs to select the Grand Prize winner within a photo category, the selected Grand Prize winner must correctly answer, without the assistance of any kind, whether mechanical or otherwise, a time-limited, mathematical skill-testing question to be confirmed as the Grand Prize winner of the contest photo category.

Decisions and rulings of the Sponsor are final and binding without appeal in all matters related to this Contest and the awarding of a prize.

A selected winner and their parent and legal guardian may be required to provide proof of identification to the Sponsor when claiming the Prize or otherwise in connection with this Contest to facilitate the Sponsors’ accurate identification of a Contest winner.

If the selected entrant has met the eligibility requirements set out in these Rules, the selected entrant will be confirmed as the Prize winner.

If a selected winner does not fulfill the conditions set out in these Rules, or declines or forfeits the Prize, the Sponsor reserves the right, in their absolute discretion, to cancel the Prize or to select another entrant. Any alternate winner(s) will be selected by the same judging and ranking process from the remaining eligible entries in the same manner as described above.

Entrants who have not complied with these Rules will be disqualified.

SECTION 7: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

By submitting your contest entry form and any related material, you waive all moral rights and grant (or warrant that the owner of such materials expressly grants) to the Sponsor, its parent, related and affiliated companies, and subsidiaries, a worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free, irrevocable, sub-licensable, and non-exclusive license and right to (i) use, copy, adapt, transmit, communicate, publicly display, perform, and/or distribute such submitted materials; and (ii) create compilations and/or derivative works from such submitted materials.

SECTION 8: GENERAL CONDITIONS

All Contest entries will become the property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned.

The selected entrant will be disqualified and required to forfeit any claim to a Prize if the terms set forth in these Rules are not adhered to.

Where permitted by local law by participating in this Contest, entrants’ parents or legal guardians acknowledge compliance with, and agree to be bound by, these Rules, including the eligibility requirements. Further, entrants’ parents or legal guardians release and hold harmless the Sponsor, its parent, related and affiliated companies, subsidiaries, advertising and promotional agencies and each of their respective directors, successors, sponsors, partners, licensees, officers, subsidiaries, agents, employees, advisors, assignees, prize suppliers, and all others associated with the development and execution of the Contest (collectively, the “Releasees”), from and against any and all manner of action, causes of action, suits, debts, covenants, contracts, claims and demands, including legal fees and expenses, whatsoever, including but not limited to, claims based on negligence, breach of contract and fundamental breach and liability for physical injury, death, or property damage which the entrant or his/her administrators, heirs, successors or assigns might have or could have, by reason of or arising out of the entrant’s participation in the Contest and/or in connection with the acceptance and/or use by the entrant of the Prize. Without limiting the foregoing, the Releasees shall not be responsible for: (a) any incomplete or inaccurate information; (b) the theft, destruction, loss or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries; (c) printing, distribution, programming or production errors, and any other errors of any kind, whether human, mechanical, electronic or otherwise; or (d) technical, pictorial, typographical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein or in other materials related to the Contest. No responsibility will be taken by the Sponsor for the entrant’s inability to connect to the Internet, website or Earth Rangers App during the Contest Period, lost, delayed, mutilated or misdirected entries, computer system failure, failure of the website or Earth Rangers App during the Contest Period or for any problems or technical malfunction of a telephone network or lines, computer on-line systems, servers, access providers, computer equipment, software, failure of any e-mail, online, or Internet entry to be received by the Sponsor on account of technical problems or traffic congestion on the Internet or at any website, or any combination thereof including any injury or damage to an entrant’s or any other person’s computer or property related to or resulting from participating in, or downloading any material relating to, the Contest. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion to cancel or suspend this Contest without notice should a virus, bug or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of the Sponsor corrupt the security or proper administration of the Contest and to award the Prizes from among all eligible entries received prior to cancellation of the Contest. If, as a result of an error relating to the entry process, judging, drawing or any other aspect of this Contest there are more potential winners of Prizes than contemplated in these Rules, there will be a random draw among all eligible potential winners at the end of the Contest Period to award the correct number of Prizes. The Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any persons found attempting to deliberately damage any website or application or undermining the legitimate operation of this Contest and seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law, including criminal prosecution. Entries are subject to verification by the Sponsor and will be declared invalid if they are forged, falsified, altered or tampered with in any way. The Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or suspend this Contest or to amend these Rules without notice for any reason whatsoever.

Where permitted by local law the sponsor reserves the right to terminate, suspend or modify this Contest, in whole or in part, at any time and without notice or obligation if, in the Sponsor’s sole opinion, any factor interferes with its proper conduct as contemplated by these Rules. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, if the Contest, or any part thereof, is not capable of running as planned for any reason which, in the sole opinion of the Sponsor, corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Contest, the Sponsor may terminate, modify or suspend the Contest, or any portion thereof in its sole discretion. The Sponsor further reserves the right, in its sole discretion to cancel or suspend this Contest without notice should a virus, bug or any other cause beyond the reasonable control of the Sponsor corrupt the security or proper administration of the Contest and to award the Prizes from among all eligible entries received prior to cancellation of the Contest. If, as a result of an error relating to the entry process, judging, drawing or any other aspect of this Contest there are more potential winners of the Prizes than contemplated in these Rules, there will be a random draw among all eligible potential winners at the end of the Contest Period to award the Prizes. The Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any persons found attempting to deliberately damage any website or application or undermining the legitimate operation of this Contest and seek remedies and damages to the fullest extent permitted by law, including criminal prosecution. Entries are subject to verification by the Sponsor and will be declared invalid if they are forged, falsified, altered or tampered with in any way. The Sponsor reserves the right to cancel or suspend this Contest or to amend these Rules without notice for any reason whatsoever.

SECTION 9: PRIVACY AND PERSONAL INFORMATION

By entering the Contest, each entrant’s parent or legal guardian, on behalf of themself and the entrant, consents to the following:

  • Entrant personal information: The Sponsor will collect, use, and disclose the entrants’ personal information, including the entrant’s first name, submission or other work product, province or territory of residence, and, additionally their recorded or photographed image.
  • Purposes: The Sponsor will collect, use and disclose this information for the purposes of administering the Contest and related promotional and fundraising activities, and as otherwise described in the Sponsor’s Privacy Policy, available at https://www.earthrangers.com/EN/CA/privacy-policy/  This Privacy Policy is updated from time to time, with the latest version available at the URL above. 
  • Prize winners: The personal information of the Prize winners of the Contest identified above (including images or recordings of them and their submission or work product) may be publicized in various media and Sponsor communications. All such collection, use, and disclosure of personal information will be without any further compensation to any entrant or their parent or legal guardian.
  • Contact information: In addition, the Sponsor will use the contact information provided during the submission process to communicate with the entrant regarding the Contest and related promotional and fundraising activities.
  • Transfers of personal information: The personal information identified above can be transferred to the Sponsor’s third party service providers for the purpose of administering the Contest, and may be stored on servers located outside of the entrant’s province or Canada. The laws in these jurisdictions may differ from the legislation of the entrant’s province or Canada with respect to privacy and the disclosure of personal information to government authorities.

For further information about the Sponsor’s privacy practices, including individuals’ privacy rights and choices, please see Sponsor’s Privacy Policy using the link provided above.

For further information about the Sponsor’s privacy practices, please see Sponsor’s Privacy Policy at: https://www.earthrangers.com/EN/CA/privacy-policy/  

SECTION 10: APPLICABLE LAWS

Not applicable to entrants who are residents of Québec: This Contest is subject to the laws of the Province of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Void where prohibited by law. Any disputes will be adjudicated by the courts sitting in the Province of Ontario.

Entrants who are Québec residents only: This Contest is subject to the laws of the Province of Québec and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Void where prohibited by law. Any disputes will be adjudicated by the courts sitting in the Province of Québec.  You acknowledge that you were provided with the French version of these Rules and that, after first having had the opportunity to examine the French version, you have expressly requested to be bound only by the English version of these Rules and that all documents related to these Rules be drawn up in English only. Vous reconnaissez qu’une version française des présentes règles vous a été remise et qu’après avoir eu la possibilité de prendre connaissance de la version française, vous avez expressément demandé d’être lié uniquement par la version anglaise des présentes règles et que tous les documents s’y rattachant soient rédigés exclusivement en anglais.

The Rules are available at https://www.earthrangers.com/EN/CA/backyardbiorules/  for the duration of the Contest Period. A complete set of these Rules can be requested by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope to: “Official Contest Rules and Regulations for Earth Rangers Backyard Biologist Photo Contest”, 9520 Pine Valley Drive, Woodbridge, ON L4L 1A6.