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2024 Winners

The 2024 My Life Outdoors contest winners have been announced! We're excited to celebrate Grand Prize Winner Henry Baldiga and First Prize Winner Zoe Zufelt. Check out their winning submissions below and view additional essays here
 

Thank you to all our participants, judges, and supporters of the first (but certainly not the last) My Life Outdoors Teen Multimedia Contest. See you all in 2025!


GRAND PRIZE WINNER
VIDEO ESSAY

Henry Baldiga
Senior, Boise High School


A Jump into Lonesome Lake

The frigid water took my breath away as I dunked my entire body into the lake. I came up gasping and sputtering as my entire body reacted to the effects of the freezing water. I noticed ice floating on the other side of the lake as I scrambled out of the water and back onto shore. My dad gave me a high five as my two friends, sister, and I huddled together, trying to generate some heat after jumping in the lake. 

It had not been our original plan to swim in the freezing lake. Just the night before it had been pouring rain on our little tents in the White Cloud mountains, and I could still smell a hint of rain in the air as we stood at the top of the mountain. Our main goal of the day was to reach the highest lake in Idaho, Lonesome Lake. It was named Lonesome for a reason–we had had to scramble up a steep, rocky mountain to reach it. The only plants at this altitude were surrounding the small stream cascading down from Lonesome to a lake far below. 

As we crested the last few boulders and reached the lake, a sense of accomplishment overcame me. I was at the highest lake in Idaho! I did that! I thought to myself. I had not wanted to go on the hike but my dad told me I would always regret the adventures I didn’t take, so I had trudged up the mountain behind everyone else. Now, as I stood looking back down the mountain at the lakes, trees, mountains, and sky, I was grateful for the opportunity to experience this adventure in the outdoors. 

Just as we set our packs down and collapsed onto various rocks, the sky began to cloud. The warm sun was covered and a chilly wind started to blow. At this instant my dad proposed his crazy idea. 

“Who wants to jump in the highest lake in Idaho with me?” he questioned. 

There were groans all around. What else would you expect from teenage girls who had just climbed a mountain? But as I sat there, I realized I might never get this opportunity again. With persuasion and encouragement from each other, my sister, our two friends, and I decided to jump in with our fathers.

As the sky continued to darken we peeled off our hiking layers to our swimsuits. The first step almost sent me running in the other direction, but we all managed to stand ankle-deep. With a “one, two, three!” from one of the girls, we all jumped into the water. 

 I will never forget this experience and the mental and physical challenges I was able to overcome that day. Jumping into Lonesome Lake has become one of my favorite memories. It reminds me that I can do hard things and inspires me to say “yes” to an awesome life of adventure. 

WRITTEN ESSAY WINNER

Zoe Zufelt
Junior, Homeschool

A family smiling in front of a pond
Image courtesy Zoe Zufelt

Honorable mentions
 

  • Lucas Smith - written essay. 12th grade, Wood River High School, Hailey
  • Lucy Rodes - written essay. 12th grade, One Stone, Boise
  • Zosha Kocemba - written essay. 12th grade, Boise High School, Boise
  • Ethan Flicker - video essay. 11th grade, Grace Lutheran High School, Pocatello
  • Tucker Thomas - video essay. 9th grade, Madison Junior High, Rexburg
  • Claire Arpke - written essay. 8th grade, North Idaho STEM Charter Academy, Rathdrum
  • Akshara Natara - written essay. 8th grade, Riverglen Junior & Treasure Valley Math & Science Center, Boise

Nestled in the heart of nature, Idaho is a spectacular outdoor wonderland, offering endless opportunities for exploration, recreation, and intimate encounters with diverse wildlife and landscapes. Despite easy access to these treasures, we don't often hear about the adventures and experiences told from a younger point of view. 
 

My Life Outdoors invites Idaho teens to share their outdoor experiences (living, working, playing, or simply being outside) through words or videos that capture their profound connection to the natural environment. Teens may submit their Idaho experience as either a written essay with a photo or as a video essay (see guidelines below). In a world filled with the constant hum of distractions, hearing these stories can inspire others to step outside, explore, and create their own lasting memories. 
 

This is a STREAM contest, where STEM partners with the Language Arts to tell better stories about where we live and why it matters to our well-being because research has conclusively shown that time outdoors is essential to our overall mental health. Youth who live, work, and play outdoors intuitively understand the benefits and now they can tell the world. Good luck and start creating! 

Contest Details

OFFICIAL CONTEST RULES

  1. Eligibility
    • My Life Outdoors contest is open to Idaho students 13-18 years old. All entrants must fill out and include a release form with their submission.
       
  2. Agreement to Official Rules
    • Participation in the contest constitutes the entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of Idaho Public Television, LifeOutdoors, and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
    • Commercial usage: Idaho Public Television and its partners may post uploaded essay images and videos on Idaho Public Television's (and partners) social platforms and web pages
       
  3. Contest Period
    • The contest begins on February 8, 2024 and closes March 30, 2024
       
  4. Entry Method
  5. Submission Guidelines (see full guidelines below)
    • WRITTEN ESSAY
      • Maximum of 500 words (2 pages), double-spaced
      • One original photograph taken in Idaho (own content) with a short (15 word) caption
         
    • VIDEO ESSAY
      • Video clip filmed in Idaho (90 seconds - 3 minutes)
      • Video description (max 50 words)
         
  6. Winner Notifications
    • Winners will be notified by email on April 21, 2024 and publicly announced on April 22, 2024 
       
  7. $500 LifeOutdoors Grand Prize Rules (see full rules below)
    • The $500 Grand prize courtesy of LifeOutdoors will be distributed through an IDeal - Idaho College Savings account.
    • The winner or the winner's parents will need to have an IDeal account, or open one, naming the winner as the beneficiary. To open an IDeal account, you need to be 18 years or older.

 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

  1. Submit stories at this link between February 8, 2024 - March 30, 2024.
     
  2. Only submit stories, pictures, and videos around an adventure you yourself have taken in Idaho.
     
  3. Stories must be original and created in 2023-2024.
     
  4. Only ONE story may be entered per person during the contest period.
     
  5. Stories must not include any content that is inappropriate, indecent, offensive or show a lack of respect and civility to all who enjoy the outdoors. These stories will be automatically disqualified.
     
  6. Any photos submitted must be submitted in JPG, JPEG, or PNG format. Videos must be in mp4 format or submitted via an unlisted YouTube link. Please ensure submitted photos are 2MB or larger with high resolution (300 DPI) as the winning photos must work if printed. 
     
  7. By entering, entrants grant a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license to the Sponsors and Sponsors' authorized partners to edit, adapt, make derivative works from, broadcast, publish, and otherwise use any or all of the story content and/or photograph(s) submitted. 
     

Suggested Topics

Hiking, fishing, rock climbing, bird watching, backpacking, ultrarunning, hot springs soaking, photography, camping, drawing or painting, horseback riding, skiing, hunting, canoeing, water skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, building a treehouse, mountaineering, crafting with outdoor materials, swimming, star gazing, sandboarding, foraging, motorcycling, sledding, scavenger hunts, tree climbing, snow sculpting, nature weaving, outdoor research or restoration, and much more - the options are endless! 

All activities should be done responsibly with an ethical use of the land and respect for wildlife. Learn more at Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly.

JUDGING CRITERIA

Stories will be judged on the following criteria:

  1. The originality and creativity of the story
     
  2. The clarity and organization of the composition
     
  3. Written and verbal narrations must use proper grammar and spelling. Any acronyms used must first be spelled out.
     

View grading rubric

PRIZES

GRAND PRIZE

  • ONE (1) $500 student scholarship courtesy of LifeOutdoors disbursed via IDeal, Idaho's college savings program
  • Publication of their winning essay in online media and partner websites
  • A Stanley Adventure including:

*NOTE* The grand prize winner will be chosen between the winners of the written and video essay categories and will receive the prizes from their chosen medium as well. The winner and family are responsible for their own transportation and additional meals not included above.

WRITTEN ESSAY + PHOTO

  • ONE (1) Parks Excursion for family of 4 (in the park of your choice)
  • ONE (1) One-year Idaho Parks Pass
  • ONE (1) Cotopaxi Lagos 15L Hydration Pack
  • Publication of their winning essay in print media and partner websites
  • Outdoor Idaho swag bag
     

VIDEO ESSAY

  • ONE (1) Parks Excursion for family of 4 (in the park of your choice)
  • ONE (1) One-year Idaho Parks Pass
  • ONE (1) Cotopaxi Lagos 15L Hydration Pack
  • Publication of their winning video in online media and partner websites
  • Outdoor Idaho swag bag

The $500 Grand Prize, a contribution to an IDeal – Idaho College Savings Program (“IDeal”) account, will be awarded to one winner. Potential winner will be notified by LifeOutdoors on or about April 21 for winner verification. Prize is non-transferable and non-substitutable, and is not redeemable for cash. Allow 8-12 weeks following the date of the actual notification for confirmation of a Prize. IDeal contributions will be deposited directly into the winner's IDeal account. In the event the winner does not have an existing IDeal account, the winner will be required to complete documentation necessary to open an IDeal account, including an enrollment form with investment instructions, by a given deadline. (An IDeal account is required to be opened in order to deposit the Prize, but the selected winner is not required to deposit any additional monies into the account in order to receive the Prize.) The Contest does not take into account a winner's personal circumstances or other factors that may be important in making investment decisions. Investment returns are not guaranteed and the winner could lose money by investing in IDeal. Each winner should consult his or her own tax advisor about tax implications, if any, associated with contributions and/or withdrawals from the IDeal account. The Prize may be considered income, and any and all taxes associated with a Prize are the responsibility of the winner. The Contest is not a recommendation to invest in IDeal. For more information about IDeal, please visit www.idsaves.org.

Each entrant (and any minor entrant's parent or legal guardian) agrees that the Released Parties (A) shall not be responsible or liable for, and are hereby released from, any and all costs, injuries, losses or damages of any kind, including, without limitation, death and bodily injury, due in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, to participation in the Contest or any Contest-related activity, or from entrants' acceptance, receipt, possession and/or use or misuse of any prize, and (B) have not made any warranty, representation or guarantee express or implied, in fact or in law, with respect to any prize, including, without limitation, to such prize's quality or fitness for a particular purpose. The Released Parties assume no responsibility for any damage to an entrant's, or any other person's, computer system which is occasioned by accessing the Website or otherwise participating in the Contest, or for any computer system, phone line, hardware, software or program malfunctions, or other errors, failures, delayed computer transmissions or network connections that are human or technical in nature. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Released Parties are not responsible for incomplete, illegible, misdirected, misprinted, late, lost, damaged, stolen, or postage-due entries/Submissions or prize notifications; or for lost, interrupted, inaccessible or unavailable networks, servers, satellites, Internet service providers, websites, or other connections; or for miscommunications, failed, jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected computer, telephone or cable transmissions; or for any technical malfunctions, failures, difficulties or other errors of any kind or nature; or for the incorrect or inaccurate capture of information, or the failure to capture any information.

The Administrators reserve the right in its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who is found to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Contest or the Website, to be acting in violation of these Official Rules, or to be acting in an unsportsman-like or disruptive manner, or with the intent to disrupt or undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest, or to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other person, and the Administrators reserves the right to seek damages and other remedies from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. No mechanically reproduced, illegible, incomplete, forged, software-generated or other automated multiple entries will be accepted. If a dispute as to the identity of the individual who actually submitted an entry cannot be resolved to Administrator's satisfaction, the affected entry may be deemed ineligible. The Administrators reserve the right to modify, extend, suspend, or terminate the Contest if it determines, in its sole discretion, that the Contest is technically impaired or corrupted or that fraud or technical problems, failures or malfunctions or other causes beyond Administrator's control have destroyed or severely undermined or to any degree impaired the integrity, administration, security, proper play and/or feasibility of the Contest as contemplated herein. In the event an insufficient number of eligible entries are received and/or Administrators are prevented from awarding prizes or continuing with the Contest as contemplated herein by any event beyond its control, including but not limited to fire, flood, earthquake, windstorm, epidemic, pandemic, public health crisis, disease, virus, sickness or outbreak or other similar or dissimilar natural disaster; act of God or public enemy; riot or civil disturbance, act of any government or governmental authority, power failure, satellite or equipment failure, failure of telecommunications lines or failure or breakdown of plant, machinery or vehicles operated by a third party; labor dispute, strike, or lockout; actual or threat of war, armed conflict, terrorist attacks, war (declared, undeclared or threatened), explosion, nuclear, or chemical or biological contamination; or a government imposed travel ban, restriction on movement or gatherings, or other government imposed mandate of any kind, order of any court or jurisdiction, or other cause not reasonably within Administrator's control (each a “Force Majeure” event or occurrence), the Administrators reserve the right to modify, suspend, or terminate the Contest. If the Contest is terminated before the designated end date, Administrators may (if possible) select the winner from all eligible, non-suspect entries received as of the date of the event giving rise to the termination. Only the type and quantity of prizes described in these Official Rules will be awarded. These Official Rules cannot be modified or amended in any way except in a written document issued in accordance with law by a duly authorized representative of the Administrators. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. If any provision is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, these Official Rules shall otherwise remain in effect and shall be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein.

This My Life Outdoors Teen Multimedia Contest ("Contest") is open only to Idaho students between the ages of 13 - 18 years old.

The Contest is an amateur story writing contest, with stories based on actual experience(s) of the writer; professional writers are ineligible to enter and win any prizes. For the purposes of the Contest, a “professional writer” is defined as anyone who is or has been employed in a full or part-time capacity as a writer or literary author or in a similar capacity, where such person derives the majority of their income from such writing and/or authorship.

Entry in the Contest does not constitute entry into any other promotion, contest or sweepstakes. By participating in the Contest, each entrant unconditionally accepts and agrees to comply with and abide by these Official Rules and the decisions of Administrators. By submitting an entry to the Contest or accepting any prize awarded to you, you are affirmatively representing to the Administrators that you are not prohibited from accepting the prize offered to you by any laws, regulations, policies, or these Official Contest Rules applicable to you (“Applicable Rules”), including any rule or policy imposed upon you by any employer or by any government entity with which you or a family member are affiliated. The Administrators reserves the right to require you to demonstrate, to its satisfaction, that no Applicable Rules prohibit you from accepting any prize and to withhold any prize offered under this competition if you cannot reasonably demonstrate your eligibility in a timely fashion. This Contest may only be entered from and in eligible jurisdictions. This Contest is void where prohibited by law.


The submission or attempted submission of an entry for this Contest constitutes the entrant's full and unconditional agreement to these Official Contest Rules and to any decisions made by the Administrators; all decisions of which pertaining to this Contest shall be final and binding without any right of appeal. Winning a prize is contingent upon entrant fulfilling all the requirements of and all terms and conditions provided in these Official Contest Rules. Failure to comply with these Official Contest Rules may result in disqualification from this Contest.

All entries, including story(s) and photograph(s) submitted, and any Request for Information and Waiver or Affidavit document provided to the Administrators become the property of the Administrators and will not be returned.


Submission of the Entry Form constitutes permission from the participant’s parent/legal guardian for Idaho Public Television, LifeOutdoors, Idaho Press and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation to use the participant’s name, likeness, biographical information and materials contained in the Entry Form, photographs, videos, and any statements or remarks made about the Contest in advertising and promotion without further compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law. All entries, and any copyrights therein, become the sole property of Idaho Public Television, LifeOutdoors, Idaho Press and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation. By entering, entrants’ parent/legal guardians agree to abide by the above stated rules, and warrant that their child’s/ward’s entry is their original work and does not infringe upon or violate rights of any third party, and grant to Idaho Public Television, LifeOutdoors, Idaho Press and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation the right to edit, publish, promote, and otherwise use their entry materials without permission, notice or compensation. No royalties will be paid at this or any time. By submitting an entry and Entry Form, each participant’s parent/legal guardian, on behalf of the participant, agrees to assign all right, title, and interest in and to the entry and Entry Form to Idaho Public Television and partners and warrants that the participant’s parent/legal guardian has the authority to assign such right, title, and interest. In the event that any applicable law requires certain formalities to be fulfilled to effectuate such grant of rights, each participant (and parent or guardian) agrees to cooperate with Idaho Public Television to achieve fulfillment of such formalities. By submitting an Entry Form, each participant’s parent/legal guardian, on behalf of participant, agrees to be bound by these Contest Rules. Each participant’s parent/legal guardian, on behalf of the participant, agrees to release and hold Idaho Public Television, LifeOutdoors, Idaho Press and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation and its employees, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, representatives, subsidiaries, parent companies, or other affiliated companies harmless from any and all damages, losses, claims and liabilities arising out of participation in the Contest or resulting from acceptance or claiming of any prize hereunder. Idaho Public Television, LifeOutdoors, and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate, suspend or otherwise cancel the Contest at any time. Income and all other taxes are the responsibility of the prize recipient. Idaho Public Television, LifeOutdoors, Idaho Press and the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation are not responsible for any expenses incurred in connection with participation in the Contest.


Unless otherwise specified, any and all information connected with this Contest will be used by Administrators solely for the purpose of administering the Contest and awarding prizes. No information will be sold to any other parties for any reason.

Administrators: Idaho Public Television, LifeOutdoors, Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation.


 

Teenagers sitting around a campfire in the dark
Campfire Stories
Photo credit: Mike Erskine
A downhill hike
A Downhill Hike
Photo credit: Brad Pearson

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many winners are there? 

There will be TWO (2) winners total, one for each category. The grand prize winner will be chosen from either category
 
How long do I have to redeem my excursion?

Excursions need to be redeemed by September 1, 2024. Due to the seasonality of the rafting trip, trip will need to be redeemed by the end of Summer 2024.

If I win, how do I collect my prize? 

Winners will be notified by email on how to collect their prizes by May 8, 2024

Who chooses the winners? 

A team of Idaho teachers and professionals in STREAM (arts and sciences)

Will I be notified if I don't win? 

Yes, contestants will be notified by email on April 22, 2024

Does my outdoor experience have to be IN Idaho? 

Yes, only Idaho outdoor experiences will be accepted for this contest

Can I enter multiple stories or one in each category? 

No, only one story submission per student is allowed, regardless of category. 

What is IDeal? 

IDeal – Idaho’s 529 is a savings program for education that provides Idaho taxpayers benefits for saving. The plan can be used nationwide at eligible colleges, universities and vocational schools as well as for registered apprenticeships and limited student loan repayment. It can also be used for K-12 tuition (up to $10,000/year). Find out more about the advantages of saving for education with IDeal and obtain a disclosure statement at idsaves.org.

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