United Nations International Day of Forests Schools Competition

Forests are key to combating climate change, and to contributing to the prosperity and well-being of current and future generations. Forests also play a crucial role in poverty alleviation and in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet despite all of these priceless ecological, economic, social and health benefits, global deforestation continues at an alarming rate.

What is International Day of Forests?

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests in 2012 to celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests. Countries are encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns. 

Why is International Day of Forests important for schools? 

• This competition can serve as a fantastic prompt for discussions on sustainable forest management and the protection + revival of ecosystems around the world.
• It can teach children to be more mindful about the planet and how we dispose of waste.
• Encourage students to think about what kind of difference they can make at an individual level.

Enter to win a free school excursion for your entire class + a free family pass to Otway Fly Treetop Adventures!

Create your own mural or artwork, write a poem or story, write a letter to your local or state government member, organise (and document) a tree planting group at your school or in your community ... there is no limit to your creativity or eco-warrior drive! Just show us why it’s important that we protect our forests!

Use your creative or organisational skills to WIN a guided-school excursion for your entire class to Otway Fly Treetop Adventure + a free family pass too!

How to enter:

• The competition is open to any primary or secondary school in VIC.
• You can participate by filling out below form and attaching photos/files of your work via the form below.
• Please read the T&C's listed below. 

Entries close 5pm Sunday 13^th March 2022.

Winner will be announced 21st March 2022.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Information on how to enter forms part of the terms of entry. Entry into the competition is deemed acceptance of these terms and conditions. 

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Otway Fly’s ‘International Day of Forests’ school competition is a competition and the winner will be selected by the Merlin Entertainments Australia team, chance plays no part in determining the winners.
Entry is open to schools based in VIC, however travel or accommodation will not be provided for any successful entrants. Employees and immediate families of Merlin Entertainments, and their associated agencies and companies connected with this competition are not eligible to enter. 

HOW TO ENTER

1. Entries will close 5pm Sunday 13^th March 2022
2. Merlin Entertainments will select the winner. The winner will be notified by Merlin Entertainments by 21st March 2022.

1. To enter, participants must fill out the online contact form on this page and upload photos of their work they want to enter the competition with. Entrants must provide their name, location and contact details.
2. Entrants must have permission from a parent/guardian over the age of 18 to enter.
3. By submitting an entry, a user thereby accepts the terms and conditions laid out within this document.
4. Incomprehensible entries will be deemed invalid.
5. Entrants in the competition may only enter once.
6. The Prize must be redeemed by no later than 31.12.2022, on a date agreed by Merlin Entertainments and the winner.
7. The prize for the winner is a full class school excursion to Otway Fly Treetop Adventure for one class of up to 35 students (travel and accommodation are NOT included) + one family pass (5 passes max) to the winning student.
8. By winning this competition, the participant consents to having their prize photographed and videoed and shared through various channels including social media and media outlets.
9. The Promoter reserves the right to request winners to provide proof of identity; proof of identification, residency and entry considered suitable for verification is at the discretion of the Promoter. All participants need to be in line current VIC Government COVID regulations, and the Promoter reserves to right to verify vaccination passports as a condition of entry. In the event that a winner cannot provide suitable proof, the winner will forfeit the prize in whole and no substitute will be offered.
10. The Promoter reserves the right to verify the validity of entries and to disqualify any entry which, in the opinion of the Promoter, includes objectionable content, profanity, potentially insulting, inflammatory or defamatory statements, disqualify any entrant who tampers with the entry process, who submits an entry that is not in accordance with these terms and conditions of entry or who has, in the opinion of the Promoter, engaged in conduct in entering the promotion which is fraudulent, misleading, deceptive or generally damaging to the goodwill or reputation of the promotion and/or the Promoter. The Promoter reserves the right to disqualify a winner if the Promoter becomes aware that the winner and/or the winner’s entry is of a type described in this clause.
11. The Promoter accepts no responsibility for any late, lost or misdirected entries including delays in the posting of responses due to technical disruptions, network congestion or for any other reason.
12. The cost of entering the competition will be dependent on the entrant’s individual Internet Service Provider.
13. Prize consists only of the elements detailed above; all additional expenses are the sole responsibility of the winner.
14. In the event that for any reason whatsoever a winner does not take an element of the prize at the time stipulated by the Promoter then that element of the prize will be forfeited by the winner and cash will not be awarded in lieu of that element of the prize.
15. Each valid entrant will be judged by the Merlin Entertainments team. The judges will select the winning entry, based on the most creative and/or original, in the context of the competition.
16. Should an entrant’s contact details change during the promotional period, it is the entrant's responsibility to notify the Promoter. A request to access or modify any information provided in an entry should be directed to Promoter.
17. The promoter’s decision is final and the promoter will not enter into correspondence regarding the Competition result or winning entries.
18. It is a condition of accepting the prize that the winner must comply with all the conditions of use of the prize and the prize supplier’s requirements.
19. In the case of the intervention of any outside act, agent or event which prevents or significantly hinders the Promoter’s ability to proceed with the competition on the dates and in the manner described in these terms and conditions, including but not limited to vandalism, power failures, tempests, natural disasters, acts of God, civil unrest, strike, war, act of terrorism, the Promoter may in its absolute discretion cancel the competition and recommence it from the start on the same conditions, subject to any directions given under State Regulation.
20. The Promoter shall not be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever which is suffered (including but not limited to indirect or consequential loss) or for any personal injury suffered or sustained in connection with any prize/s except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law. The Promoter is not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, either caused by the phone user or for any of the equipment or programming associated with or utilised in this competition, or for any technical error, or any combination thereof that may occur in the course of the administration of this competition including any omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communications line or telephone, mobile or satellite network failure, theft or destruction or unauthorised access to or alteration of entries.
21. The Promoter reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who the Promoter has reason to believe has breached any of these conditions, or engaged in any unlawful or other improper misconduct calculated to jeopardise the fair and proper conduct of the promotion. The Promoter’s legal rights to recover damages or other compensation from such an offender are reserved.
22. The Promoter and their associated agencies and companies assume no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, and delay in operation or transmission; a communication line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorised access to, or alteration of entries, and reserve the right to take any action that may be available.
23. If for any reason this competition is not capable of running as planned, including due to infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorised intervention, fraud, technical failures or any causes beyond the control of the Promoter, which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or integrity or proper conduct of this promotion, the Promoter reserves the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, take any action that may be available, and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the competition, subject to any direction given under State Regulation.
24. All entries become the property of the Promoter. The Promoter collects personal information about you to enable you to participate in this promotion. Information supplied when logging your comment will be used by Merlin Entertainment to contact you in the event your video is selected as part of the shortlist or is the winning entry. No further use of this information will be made without prior consent.
25. The Promoter is Merlin Entertainments 1 - 5 Wheat Road, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia (ABN: 51147624557), which is the owner and operator of SEA LIFE Sunshine Coast Aquarium.

FURTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook or Instagram. Facebook or Instagram membership and the use of Facebook or Instagram generally are subject to the Instagram prevailing terms and conditions of use. Entrants understand that they are providing their information to the Promoter and not to Instagram. Entrants are solely responsible and liable for the content of their entries and any other information they transmit to other internet users via Instagram. To the extent permitted by law, each entrant agrees to indemnify, defend and forever hold harmless, Instagram and its associated agencies and companies, against any and all losses, actions, claims, costs, expenses and damages (of any nature) which may be incurred by an entrant in respect of the entrant’s participation in the promotion. Any questions, comments or complaints about this promotion must be directed to the Promoter and not to Facebook or Instagram.