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Annual Contest · Grab a Camera!

The Safari Nature Contest

Every spring, our explorers head outside to capture the wild world around them. This page is updated each year — this year’s contest is below.

📷 2026/27 Edition · Coming in March

Backyard Photo Safari: Become a Wildlife Explorer

The challenge

Go on a Photo Safari

Real explorers are great observers. This spring, grab a camera (or a parent’s phone) and go on your own safari — through a backyard, a park, or a windowsill garden. Photograph something in the natural world that catches your eye, then tell us what it is. It’s science, art, and fresh air rolled into one, and every young explorer can do it.

🔭

Explore with Wonder Explorer

Not sure where to start? Use our free Wonder Explorer outdoor missions to find nature worth photographing — then learn about what you spotted and add it to your photo caption. It’s the perfect companion for your safari!

Open Wonder Explorer →
Pick your subject

Photo Categories

  • Creatures — bugs, birds, pets, pond life, anything that moves
  • Plants & Trees — flowers, leaves, moss, mushrooms, seeds
  • Sky & Water — clouds, sunsets, rain, rivers, puddles
Who can enter

Age Groups

Little Explorers
Ages 4–7

Take a photo with a grown-up’s help and tell us what you found.

Trailblazers
Ages 8–12

Capture your shot and add a sentence about what it is.

Rangers
Ages 13+

Frame a thoughtful photo and identify the species or subject.

The details

The Rules

  • Photos must be taken by the student (a grown-up can help the youngest explorers).
  • Any camera works — phone, tablet, or camera.
  • Light cropping is fine, but keep it real — no heavy filters or AI edits.
  • Add a one-line caption telling us what your photo shows (and where you took it).
  • One entry per student per category (up to 3 total).

How Entries Are Judged

  • Wonder — how interesting or surprising the subject is
  • Composition — framing, light, and focus
  • Curiosity — a thoughtful caption or identification
  • Originality — a fresh eye on the natural world
Prizes

Prizes in Each Age Group

🥈
2nd Place
$15
gift card + certificate
🥉
3rd Place
$10
gift card + certificate
🌟 Every participant receives a Certificate of Participation, and winning photos star in the Winners Gallery — a beautiful way to close the year!
Mark your calendar

Important Dates

Mar 16, 2027 — Contest opens
Apr 24, 2027 · 5 PM MST — Submission deadline
Early May Community Call — Winners announced
Ready?

How to Enter

1

Sign Up

Register with our quick sign-up form — free for the Homeschool Safari community, or a donation of any size for everyone else.

Enroll in the Contest →
2

Snap Your Photo

Go exploring and photograph something in nature that amazes you. Pick your best shot and write a one-line caption naming what it is (use Wonder Explorer to help!).

3

Log In & Submit

Upload your photo to this season’s contest area in the free Homeschool Safari community before the deadline, with your child’s first name, age group, and category. New here? Create a free account first — it only takes a minute!

Log In & Submit →
🌟 Past Editions & Winners
This is our very first Nature Contest — winning photos will appear here after this spring. Check back to see what our explorers discover! 🦋

New here? Come join the adventure 🦁

Join our free Homeschool Safari community to enter contests, meet other families, and explore all our classes and tools.

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