From digital artists to animal activists, we feature kid-friendly competitions that we think Boston families should know about.
1. Doodle For Google (January - March)
Doodle for Google is an art contest for young people. Participants (also known as doodlers) get to create a temporary logo for Google's home page. The tech giant hosts the annual contest at the beginning of the year and submissions can be entered online.
2. Will McDonough Writing Contest (February - April)
Since 2005, the Sports Museum at TD Garden has hosted an annual writing contest in honor of Will McDonough (a sportswriter for the Boston Globe). Students in grades 4 to 12 can submit an original essay on a sports topic of their choice. All participants get a certificate and commemorative prize. Past first place winners got tickets to a Celtics game.
3. Endangered Species Art Contest (May)
The Endangered Species Art Contest is hosted by the Roger William's Zoo. It asks young people to draw an endangered animal and write about why they're endangered. This annual contest typically happens in the spring and is also entered online.
4. Read Your Way To Fenway (June - July)
Read Your Way to Fenway asks young people to read and write about their favorite book. The prize is Red Sox tickets to an end-of-summer game. The 3-week contest typically happens in mid-summer and can be entered online.
5. Hat Trick Reading Challenge (June - Sep)
Bruins Academy was created for kids who love hockey. In the summer they host a reading challenge to give young fans a chance to win cool prizes (such as signed hockey pucks from players). Reading logs can be downloaded and submitted online.
6. MakeCode Game Jam (July)
MakeCode is a Microsoft company that asks young developers to submit their best games. Their summer competition also happens online.
7. Mass Audubon's Statewide Photo Contest (July - September)
Mass Audubon's photo contest is a massive event that asks the entire state to capture beautiful images of nature. Past winners have captured stunning close-ups and live action shots of a whale, a wasp, a porcupine, a seal, a woodpecker, and more. The contest starts in the summer and can be entered online.
8. Mayor's Garden Contest (July)
The Mayor's Garden Contest aims to celebrate city gardens. Residents are encouraged to submit photos of their container gardens, storefront gardens, community gardens, and more. If you have a little one interested in horticulture, this may be the perfect activity to do together. The prize is pretty cool - roundtrip tickets from Jet Blue!
9. Patriots Read Between The Lines (July - February)
Read Between The Lines is a collaboration between the Patriots Hall of Fame and the Patriots Foundation Education Program. Participants complete challenges and submit reading logs for a chance to win prizes. This event is the longest competition on our list running from the summer to the winter.
10. Boston Triathlon Kids Race (August)
The Boston Triathlon is a contest of endurance. It proudly introduces children as young as one to a multisport event on Carson beach.
11. Waterfront Ice Sculpture Stroll Selfie Contest (December)
Boston Harbor Now places ice sculptures in Roxbury, Revere, and along the Boston waterfront. Their annual contest happens on New Year's Eve. It encourages families to share their selfies from the stroll on social media.
How Are Contests Helpful?
Contests serve the participants who enter them and the entities running them. For the organization or company, contests can build brand awareness, strengthen brand loyalty, help them discover talent, and even give them ideas on how to improve their work.
For participants, contests can be extremely fun to join. They also give participants a deadline to accomplish a goal, encourage them to do their very best work, and help them meet others with shared interests.
Is your little one into contests? Which one are they most likely to enter?
Until next time...
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