It’s that time of year again! Leaves are changing color, temperatures are dropping, and OWAA’s Excellence in Craft Contest is opening! Mark your calendars for November 1st to enter your work for the 2024 Excellence in Craft cycle!

If it is your first time hearing about OWAA’s Excellence in Craft Awards, we invite you to take a look at last year’s winners. You can find their work here, or keep an eye out in our next edition of Outdoors Unlimited. 

The Outdoor Writers Association of America annually recognizes exceptional work in outdoor journalism through its Excellence In Craft Awards. The 2024 contest will open for entries on Nov. 1, 2023. 

Interested in how to submit? Check out the rules and guidelines below! Guidelines and category rules will also be posted on OWAA’s Submittable homepage under EIC Contest.

Entry Process

The EIC Contest is open to all OWAA individual members in good standing (i.e., your membership dues status is current).

All entries must be outdoors related and a professional work, meaning the member received direct payment or otherwise derived income through advertising or other sponsorship related to the entry, or the member donated work to a non-profit organization for a fundraiser.

First-, second-, and third-place winners will be selected in 11 platforms  – Blog, Book, Column, Graphic/Illustration, Magazine, Newspaper, Photography, Photo Essay, Radio/Podcast, and TV/Webcast/Video, and the new Open Contest.

The Blog, Magazine, Newspaper contests include seven topics: Conservation or Nature, Fishing, Gear/Technical, Humor, Hunting or Shooting Sports, Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education, or Outdoor Adventure.

The Radio/Podcast and TV/Webcast/Video contests have the same topics, minus Humor.

The Photography Contest has seven topics: Action, Fauna, Flora, People, Scenic, Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education, and Outdoor Adventure.

The Book Contest has two categories: General Audience and Youth Audience.

The Column, Graphic/Illustration, Photo Essay, and Open Categories do not have separate topics.

All entries must be published, broadcast, or sold during the contest period – Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2023, except the Book Contest (between Dec. 1, 2021 and Nov. 30, 2023).

Direct all questions about entries or the entry process to the Contest Coordinator at eic@owaa.org.

Submissions

All entries, except Books, must be submitted online through Submittable. (See below for mail-in instructions for the Book Contest.)

If you are new to OWAA or entering the EIC Contest for the first time, begin the entry process by creating a free account at Submittable (https://owaa.submittable.com). Submittable accounts created for previous EIC Contests are still valid with the username and password used to create the account.

Visit Submittable’s “How Do I Submit” page for help setting up an account.

Your Submittable account gives you access to EIC entry forms. Each contest (e.g., Blog, Photography, etc.) has a specific entry form. Entry fees are tied to that specific contest. For example, pay your Blog entry fees on the Blog form, Photography entry fees on the Photography form, and so on.

You may opt instead to pay by check for all entries at once, payable to “OWAA EIC Contest.” Check instructions will be provided.

Checks must be postmarked by the applicable entry deadline.

THE ENTRY DEADLINE IS MIDNIGHT EST, JANUARY 31, 2024, EXCEPT THE BOOK DEADLINE WHICH IS MIDNIGHT EST DECEMBER 1, 2023.

Entry Fees

The entry fee for all contests is $15 per entry.

Entries (other than Book Contest) submitted after midnight Jan. 15 but before midnight Jan. 31 will be charged an additional $10 late fee. 

Entry fee payment must be submitted through Submittable using a credit card or by mailing a check. PayPal payment will not be accepted.

All Submittable online payments are tied to the specific media category being entered, so you can only process blog entry fees in the blog form, column entry fees in the column form, and so on. In other words, while you can make one payment for multiple blog entries in different subjects, the system currently doesn’t allow bundling entries from multiple media categories into a single payment. We recognize this is an inconvenience and will try to update this process in the future. You may, however, submit a single check for all entries in all categories and subjects.

If paying by check, checks must arrive before the contest deadline.

*Members are required to pay their 2024 dues before submitting entries

General Rules

• Except for the Book Contest, all entries must be submitted online (instructions below). No mail-in entries allowed.
• Members may submit up to two entries each in Book, Column, Graphic/Illustration, Open, and Photo Essay. (NOTE: Entries in the Open Contest may not be submitted to any other contest.)
• Members may submit up to two entries per topic in Blog, Magazine, Newspaper, Photography, Radio/Podcast, and TV/Video/Webcast. For example, two entries in Magazine/Fishing or two entries in Photography/Scenic, etc.
• Members may submit one work in multiple categories if the category description applies. For example, a Photography/Action entry also may qualify for Photography/Fauna, or a story on fishing that includes information about the gear used may qualify for Magazine/Fishing and Magazine/Gear-Technical.
• Members are expected to enter their own work by creating a free account in Submittable (https://owaa.submittable.com). This eliminates the chance an entry is inadvertently submitted twice (once by the member and once by a co-worker, editor, or someone else). In such cases, the second submission will be disqualified.
• Entry fees for disqualified submissions are not refunded.
• Contests or topics receiving fewer than three entries will be canceled and entry fees reimbursed.
• Contests or topics receiving only three entries will award only first- and second-place prizes.
• Entries submitted during a previous contest year that have simply been re-published or re-broadcast are not eligible.
• A second or later edition of a book may be entered in the Book contest if 1) at least 20% of the content is new material, 2) it was republished within the contest dates, and 3) the original version was not entered in a previous OWAA EIC Contest.
• Book contest entries are not returned to the author but instead donated to the Book contest judges (per Board directive in 2000).
• Co-authored, co-photographed and co-produced creations may be entered only once in a category, regardless of how many people received bylines/credits. For co-authored, co-photographed and co-produced entries, all authors/photographers/producers must be OWAA members except in the Book Contest in which only one author must be an OWAA member. The prize will be split among the co-authors/photographers/producers and one certificate will be awarded with all co-authors/photographers/producers’ names on it.
• A letter of verification from the editor or publisher must accompany newspaper and magazine entries published under pen names.
• Family or friends may enter deceased OWAA members’ works published or broadcast during the contest year.
• Award certificates and checks are made out to individuals, not organizations, publications or broadcast stations.
• Entry constitutes a waiver of copyright restrictions on reprinting or reproducing entries by OWAA to promote the organization and the EIC Contest.

Blog

The entry must be published on a regularly updated website or web page.

Magazine

The entry must be published in a printed magazine or on a magazine website.

Newspaper

The entry must be published during the contest period in a printed newspaper or on a newspaper website.

Categories (for Blog, Magazine, and Newspaper): 

CONSERVATION OR NATURE — Emphasizes conservation successes or challenges; interesting new discoveries within nature; or a fascinating tale about a creature, plant, or ecosystem.

FAMILY PARTICIPATION/YOUTH OUTDOOR EDUCATION — Recognizes excellence in communicating the value and enjoyment of family participation or youth education in the outdoors.

FISHING — Includes freshwater and saltwater using any tackle. Emphasis should be on human interest or adventure.

GEAR/TECHNICAL — Includes informative or instructional stories about gear, e.g., how to use outdoor equipment, or other how-to topics related to the outdoors.

HUMOR — Better be funny or amusing.

HUNTING OR SHOOTING SPORTS — Includes hunting for both large and small game, or competitive or recreational shooting, using archery, firearms, or other methods. Emphasis should be on human interest or adventure.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE — Recognizes excellence in outdoor recreation stories from non-consumptive sports. This includes, but is not limited to, camping, backpacking, boating, hiking, wildlife watching, skiing, orienteering, mountain biking, travel, or other outdoor activities that are not fishing or hunting.

Radio/Podcast

Encompasses all forms of audio-specific production. Entries must be submitted as originally produced for air, podcast, or subscription.

Television/Video/Webcast

The entrant must select one or more of the following roles on the entry form: Producer/Director, On-Camera Talent, Videographer, and/or Editor. The entry shall be judged only for the designated role in the production.

Categories (for Radio/Podcast and Television/Video/Webcast):

CONSERVATION OR NATURE — Emphasizes conservation successes or challenges; interesting new discoveries within nature; or a fascinating tale about a creature, plant, or ecosystem.

FAMILY PARTICIPATION/YOUTH OUTDOOR EDUCATION — Recognizes excellence in communicating the value and enjoyment of family participation or youth education in the

outdoors.

FISHING — Includes freshwater and saltwater using any tackle. Emphasis should be on human interest or adventure.

GEAR/TECHNICAL — Includes informative or instructional stories about gear, e.g., how to use outdoor equipment, or other how-to topics related to the outdoors.

HUNTING OR SHOOTING SPORTS — Includes hunting for both large and small game, or competitive or recreational shooting, using archery, firearms, or other methods. Emphasis should be on human interest or adventure.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE — Recognizes excellence in outdoor recreation stories from non-consumptive sports. This includes, but is not limited to, camping, backpacking, boating, hiking, wildlife watching, skiing, orienteering, mountain biking, travel, or other outdoor activities that are not fishing or hunting.

BOOK/E-BOOK

A work of 30 pages or more on any outdoor subject. A book can be entered in only one Book category. Special deadline: The submission deadline for this contest is Dec. 1, 2023. No exceptions.

Categories:

GENERAL AUDIENCE — Must be a factual and informative book about an outdoor recreation or conservation topic.

YOUTH AUDIENCE — Must be a factual and informative book about an outdoor recreation or conservation topic and written for a youth audience.

COLUMN

The entry must be published in a newspaper, magazine, or blog. Three samples are required per entry so they can be judged as a body of work. Samples should express and display opinion, analysis or perspective featuring the writer’s voice; good storytelling across more than one topic also is welcome.

GRAPHIC/ILLUSTRATION

Open to any graphic/illustration, including infographics, data visualization, computer-generated graphics or videos, etc., that are based on outdoor recreation or nature. Must be published in a newspaper, magazine or online. Cartoon/cartoon strips accepted. (Excludes photographs.)

PHOTOGRAPHY ESSAY

A series of 3 to 20 photographs around a common theme or that tell a story through images related to the outdoors/nature. Black-and-white and/or color photos. The photographs must be published together simultaneously in a printed newspaper, news website, magazine, online magazine, blog; displayed as a cohesive collection as fine art in a gallery (e.g., exhibition

where at least one print sold); or otherwise created revenue for the photographer or a nonprofit organization as a donation by the photographer, during the contest year.

PHOTOGRAPHY

The entry must be published; sold as fine art in a gallery, on a website or other public display; or otherwise created revenue for the photographer or a nonprofit organization as a donation by the photographer, during the contest year. Black-and-white and/or color photos are eligible.

Categories:

ACTION — Captures action (movement, motion) in an outdoor subject.

FAMILY PARTICIPATION/YOUTH OUTDOOR EDUCATION — Recognizes excellence in communicating the value and enjoyment of family participation and youth education in the outdoors.

FAUNA — A wild animal, bird, fish, insect, or other live creature is the main subject in its natural setting. Human beings are excluded from the subject matter.

FLORA — Wild plant(s) is the main subject in its natural setting.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE — Recognizes excellence in non-consumptive sports. This includes, but is not limited to, camping, backpacking, boating, hiking, wildlife watching, skiing, orienteering, mountain biking, travel, or other outdoor activities that are not fishing or hunting.

PEOPLE — Primary subject is one or more people in an outdoor setting.

SCENIC — Portrayal of a landscape or other outdoor scene in which the general view, rather than a specific person, animal, or plant, is the theme of the image.

Open

Open to work that may not fit in other EIC Contest. This would include any mixed media, social media, print or broadcast series, or other media types that don’t fit in other print or digital contests. Any submissions in the Open Contest cannot be entered in another contest.

Prizes

Cash prizes and certificates are awarded to the top three entries in each platform/category, except where there are only three entries. In such a situation, only first and second place will be awarded. Judges have the discretion to award honorable mentions. If no prizes are awarded in a contest due to insufficient entries (two or less), entry fees will be reimbursed to participants.

Prize money for award winners is based on a combination of entry fees and sponsorship donations.

Prize money may be donated back to OWAA if the winner so chooses. Thank you and good luck on your entries!

The post 2024 Excellence in Craft Contest opens November 1st appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

This was the scene for OWAA’s 2023 Conference in Gulf Shores, AL. 

Like most conferences, picture action packed days with industry leaders delivering keynotes, intensive workshops, and breakout sessions. A myriad of networking opportunities with yummy meals sandwiched in between, including pie for breakfast… yeah… pie. This scene may spark both excitement and exhaustion, a liminal space felt during networking events. So what fueled attendees? 

Playtime! Although this may be a surprising answer for a professional development event, who better to turn to than children at recess to tap into unlimited, exploratory energy? And who better to remind us that leading with curiosity or creativity plants stronger roots than solely with one’s credentials? 

On Day 2, OWAA celebrated the Excellence in Craft award winners at Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ amusement and water park: OWA. As the night’s events concluded, a wave of voices began to say “C’mon! We have to get to the rides! Rides!!!”. Groups of attendees ran to rollercoasters and swing rides. Laughing-screams of people boomed as they looped in the air. “I haven’t been on a rollercoaster in 10 years… maybe longer,” one said. In all but a few hours, attendees seamlessly floated between the professional space of the conference to childlike silliness. And it was rejuvenating.

With large, out-of-breath grins and sweat dripping down dinner clothes, attendees parted ways. Some returned to the Lodge and some ventured to Flora-Bama for the famous (or infamous, depending on if you like a spiked Wendy’s frosty) Bushwacker.

On the final night, OWAA celebrated their Honorary Awards Banquet and a hospitality suite, hosted by Tourism Ireland. Many were dressed in formal wear, perhaps drinking whiskey or Guinness, reflecting on the richness of the last few days. 

Before saying goodbye, I decided to join a group headed down to the beach. Dipping my feet into late summer waters, feeling the ocean spray tickle my cheeks brought me back into that play space. I chatted with the group. The Lodge’s beach was dark enough that after 20 minutes, you were lucky enough to faintly see the milky way shine in the sky. One person among us was playing with the sand and suddenly, tiny blue-ish lights emerged. After some investigation, we realized these were bioluminescent dinoflagellates. Exclaiming to the others “Look, look! There are dinoflagellates in the sand that glow!” Curiosity rippled through pods of people on the beach until another shared that there were some in the water too, just beyond the waves. Three swimmers set forth to see them. Fully clothed in my banquet attire, I and a few others decided to join them, led by contagious awe.

Beyond the waves, as we kicked our feet and moved our hands, even more little blue lights shone, like stars in the water. Blanketed in the shimmering glow, I stared wide-eyed and giggling. We began to share stories while watching the water, laughing together both old friends and new.

From Poarch Band of Creek Indians OWA park, offering rides after our Excellence in Craft Awards Dinner to meeting with editors panels. From running in circles on squeaky sand to discussing biodiversity loss and pathways to restoration. From eating pie for breakfast in honor of an old friend to finding bioluminescent dinoflagellates in the sand. This was the scene for OWAA’s 2023 Conference.

Much like the silly sounds of footsteps in Alabama sands meeting the ancient song of ocean reaching shore, we balanced the inner child and the networking professional, creating something more beautiful than they could stand alone.

Did you miss the annual 2023 conference? Join us in El Paso, Texas in 2024!

The post OWAA’s 2023 conference: Striking balance between professionalism and play appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

It’s that time of year again! Leaves are changing color, temperatures are dropping, and OWAA’s Excellence in Craft Contest is opening! Mark your calendars for November 1st to enter your work for the 2023 Excellence in Craft cycle!

If it is your first time hearing about OWAA’s Excellence in Craft Awards, we invite you to take a look at last year’s winners. You can find their work here, or keep an eye out in our next edition of Outdoors Unlimited. 

The Outdoor Writers Association of America annually recognizes exceptional work in outdoor journalism through its Excellence In Craft Awards. The 2023 contest will open for entries on Nov. 1, 2022 with three rule changes approved by the OWAA Board of Directors:

1. Outdoor Fun and Adventure is now titled Outdoor Adventure and will include travel pieces.
2. There will be an Open Category for work that may not fit into other EIC Contests. This would include mixed media, social media, print or broadcast series, or other media types. Submissions in the Open Category cannot be submitted to another category. 
3. The Graphics/Illustration Contest is expanded to include any type of image, including infographics, data visualization, computer-generated graphics or computer-generated videos, etc.

Interested in how to submit? Check out the rules and guidelines below! Guidelines and category rules will also be posted on OWAA’s Submittable homepage under EIC Contest. And, as always, members can find the rules in our fall issue of Outdoors Unlimited. 

Entry Process

The EIC Contest is open to all OWAA individual members in good standing (i.e., your membership dues status is current).

All entries must be outdoors related and a professional work, meaning the member received direct payment or otherwise derived income through advertising or other sponsorship related to the entry, or the member donated work to a non-profit organization for a fundraiser.

First-, second-, and third-place winners will be selected in 11 platforms  – Blog, Book, Column, Graphic/Illustration, Magazine, Newspaper, Photography, Photo Essay, Radio/Podcast, and TV/Webcast/Video, and the new Open Contest.

The Blog, Magazine, Newspaper contests include seven topics: Conservation or Nature, Fishing, Gear/Technical, Humor, Hunting or Shooting Sports, Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education, or Outdoor Adventure.

The Radio/Podcast and TV/Webcast/Video contests have the same topics, minus Humor.

The Photography Contest has seven topics: Action, Fauna, Flora, People, Scenic, Family Participation/Youth Outdoor Education, and Outdoor Adventure.

The Book Contest has two categories: General Audience and Youth Audience.

The Column, Graphic/Illustration, Photo Essay, and Open Categories do not have separate topics.

All entries must be published, broadcast, or sold during the contest period – Jan. 1, 2022 through Dec. 31, 2022, except the Book Contest (between Dec. 1, 2020 and Nov. 30, 2022).

Direct all questions about entries or the entry process to the Contest Coordinator at eic@owaa.org.

Submissions

All entries, except Books, must be submitted online through Submittable. (See below for mail-in instructions for the Book Contest.)

If you are new to OWAA or entering the EIC Contest for the first time, begin the entry process by creating a free account at Submittable (https://owaa.submittable.com). Submittable accounts created for previous EIC Contests are still valid with the username and password used to create the account.

Visit https://submittable.help/en/articles/904856-how-do-i-submit for help setting up an account.

Your Submittable account gives you access to EIC entry forms. Each contest (e.g., Blog, Photography, etc.) has a specific entry form. Entry fees are tied to that specific contest. For example, pay your Blog entry fees on the Blog form, Photography entry fees on the Photography form, and so on.

You may opt instead to pay by check for all entries at once, payable to “OWAA EIC Contest.” Check instructions will be provided.

Checks must be postmarked by the applicable entry deadline.

THE ENTRY DEADLINE IS MIDNIGHT EST, JANUARY 31, 2023, EXCEPT THE BOOK DEADLINE WHICH IS MIDNIGHT EST DECEMBER 1, 2022.

Entry Fees

The entry fee for all contests is $15 per entry.

Entries (other than Book Contest) submitted after midnight Jan. 15 but before midnight Jan. 31 will be charged an additional $10 late fee.Entri

Entry fee payment must be submitted through Submittable using a credit card or by mailing a check. PayPal payment will not be accepted.

All Submittable online payments are tied to the specific media category being entered, so you can only process blog entry fees in the blog form, column entry fees in the column form, and so on. In other words, while you can make one payment for multiple blog entries in different subjects, the system currently doesn’t allow bundling entries from multiple media categories into a single payment. We recognize this is an inconvenience and will try to update this process in the future. You may, however, submit a single check for all entries in all categories and subjects.

If paying by check, checks must arrive before the contest deadline.

*Members are required to pay their 2023 dues before submitting entries

General Rules

•       Except for the Book Contest, all entries must be submitted online (instructions below). No mail-in entries allowed.

•       Members may submit up to two entries each in Book, Column, Graphic/Illustration, Open, and Photo Essay. (NOTE: Entries in the Open Contest may not be submitted to any other contest.)

•       Members may submit up to two entries per topic in Blog, Magazine, Newspaper, Photography, Radio/Podcast, and TV/Video/Webcast. For example, two entries in Magazine/Fishing or two entries in Photography/Scenic, etc.

•       Members may submit one work in multiple categories if the category description applies. For example, a Photography/Action entry also may qualify for Photography/Fauna, or a story on fishing that includes information about the gear used may qualify for Magazine/Fishing and Magazine/Gear-Technical.

•       Members are expected to enter their own work by creating a free account in Submittable (https://owaa.submittable.com). This eliminates the chance an entry is inadvertently submitted twice (once by the member and once by a co-worker, editor, or someone else). In such cases, the second submission will be disqualified.

•       Entry fees for disqualified submissions are not refunded.

•       Contests or topics receiving fewer than three entries will be canceled and entry fees reimbursed.

•       Contests or topics receiving only three entries will award only first- and second-place prizes.

•       Entries submitted during a previous contest year that have simply been re-published or re-broadcast are not eligible.

•       A second or later edition of a book may be entered in the Book contest if 1) at least 20% of the content is new material, 2) it was republished within the contest dates, and 3) the original version was not entered in a previous OWAA EIC Contest.

•       Book contest entries are not returned to the author but instead donated to the Book contest judges (per Board directive in 2000).

•       Co-authored, co-photographed and co-produced creations may be entered only once in a category, regardless of how many people received bylines/credits. For co-authored, co-photographed and co-produced entries, all authors/photographers/producers must be OWAA members except in the Book Contest in which only one author must be an OWAA member. The prize will be split among the co-authors/photographers/producers and one certificate will be awarded with all co-authors/photographers/producers’ names on it.

•       A letter of verification from the editor or publisher must accompany newspaper and magazine entries published under pen names.

•       Family or friends may enter deceased OWAA members’ works published or broadcast during the contest year.

•       Award certificates and checks are made out to individuals, not organizations, publications or broadcast stations.

•       Entry constitutes a waiver of copyright restrictions on reprinting or reproducing entries by OWAA to promote the organization and the EIC Contest.

Blog

The entry must be published on a regularly updated website or web page.

Magazine

The entry must be published in a printed magazine or on a magazine website.

Newspaper

The entry must be published during the contest period in a printed newspaper or on a newspaper website.

Categories (for Blog, Magazine, and Newspaper): 

CONSERVATION OR NATURE — Emphasizes conservation successes or challenges; interesting new discoveries within nature; or a fascinating tale about a creature, plant, or ecosystem.

FAMILY PARTICIPATION/YOUTH OUTDOOR EDUCATION — Recognizes excellence in communicating the value and enjoyment of family participation or youth education in the

outdoors.

FISHING — Includes freshwater and saltwater using any tackle. Emphasis should be on human interest or adventure.

GEAR/TECHNICAL — Includes informative or instructional stories about gear, e.g., how to use outdoor equipment, or other how-to topics related to the outdoors.

HUMOR — Better be funny or amusing.

HUNTING OR SHOOTING SPORTS — Includes hunting for both large and small game, or competitive or recreational shooting, using archery, firearms, or other methods. Emphasis should be on human interest or adventure.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE — Recognizes excellence in outdoor recreation stories from non-consumptive sports. This includes, but is not limited to, camping, backpacking, boating, hiking, wildlife watching, skiing, orienteering, mountain biking, travel, or other outdoor activities that are not fishing or hunting.

Radio/Podcast

Encompasses all forms of audio-specific production. Entries must be submitted as originally produced for air, podcast, or subscription.

Television/Video/Webcast

The entrant must select one or more of the following roles on the entry form: Producer/Director, On-Camera Talent, Videographer, and/or Editor. The entry shall be judged only for the designated role in the production.

Categories (for Radio/Podcast and Television/Video/Webcast):

CONSERVATION OR NATURE — Emphasizes conservation successes or challenges; interesting new discoveries within nature; or a fascinating tale about a creature, plant, or ecosystem.

FAMILY PARTICIPATION/YOUTH OUTDOOR EDUCATION — Recognizes excellence in communicating the value and enjoyment of family participation or youth education in the

outdoors.

FISHING — Includes freshwater and saltwater using any tackle. Emphasis should be on human interest or adventure.

GEAR/TECHNICAL — Includes informative or instructional stories about gear, e.g., how to use outdoor equipment, or other how-to topics related to the outdoors.

HUNTING OR SHOOTING SPORTS — Includes hunting for both large and small game, or competitive or recreational shooting, using archery, firearms, or other methods. Emphasis should be on human interest or adventure.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE — Recognizes excellence in outdoor recreation stories from non-consumptive sports. This includes, but is not limited to, camping, backpacking, boating, hiking, wildlife watching, skiing, orienteering, mountain biking, travel, or other outdoor activities that are not fishing or hunting.

BOOK/E-BOOK

A work of 30 pages or more on any outdoor subject. A book can be entered in only one Book category. Special deadline: The submission deadline for this contest is Dec. 1, 2022. No exceptions.

Categories:

GENERAL AUDIENCE — Must be a factual and informative book about an outdoor recreation or conservation topic.

YOUTH AUDIENCE — Must be a factual and informative book about an outdoor recreation or conservation topic and written for a youth audience.

COLUMN

The entry must be published in a newspaper, magazine, or blog. Three samples are required per entry so they can be judged as a body of work. Samples should express and display opinion, analysis or perspective featuring the writer’s voice; good storytelling across more than one topic also is welcome.

GRAPHIC/ILLUSTRATION

Open to any graphic/illustration, including infographics, data visualization, computer-generated graphics or videos, etc., that are based on outdoor recreation or nature. Must be published in a newspaper, magazine or online. Cartoon/cartoon strips accepted. (Excludes photographs.)

PHOTOGRAPHY ESSAY

A series of 3 to 20 photographs around a common theme or that tell a story through images related to the outdoors/nature. Black-and-white and/or color photos. The photographs must be published together simultaneously in a printed newspaper, news website, magazine, online magazine, blog; displayed as a cohesive collection as fine art in a gallery (e.g., exhibition

where at least one print sold); or otherwise created revenue for the photographer or a nonprofit organization as a donation by the photographer, during the contest year.

PHOTOGRAPHY

The entry must be published; sold as fine art in a gallery, on a website or other public display; or otherwise created revenue for the photographer or a nonprofit organization as a donation by the photographer, during the contest year. Black-and-white and/or color photos are eligible.

Categories:

ACTION — Captures action (movement, motion) in an outdoor subject.

FAMILY PARTICIPATION/YOUTH OUTDOOR EDUCATION — Recognizes excellence in communicating the value and enjoyment of family participation and youth education in the outdoors.

FAUNA — A wild animal, bird, fish, insect, or other live creature is the main subject in its natural setting. Human beings are excluded from the subject matter.

FLORA — Wild plant(s) is the main subject in its natural setting.

OUTDOOR ADVENTURE — Recognizes excellence in non-consumptive sports. This includes, but is not limited to, camping, backpacking, boating, hiking, wildlife watching, skiing, orienteering, mountain biking, travel, or other outdoor activities that are not fishing or hunting.

PEOPLE — Primary subject is one or more people in an outdoor setting.

SCENIC — Portrayal of a landscape or other outdoor scene in which the general view, rather than a specific person, animal, or plant, is the theme of the image.

Open

Open to work that may not fit in other EIC Contest. This would include any mixed media, social media, print or broadcast series, or other media types that don’t fit in other print or digital contests. Any submissions in the Open Contest cannot be entered in another contest.

Prizes

Cash prizes and certificates are awarded to the top three entries in each platform/category, except where there are only three entries. In such a situation, only first and second place will be awarded. Judges have the discretion to award honorable mentions. If no prizes are awarded in a contest due to insufficient entries (two or less), entry fees will be reimbursed to participants.

Prize money for award winners is based on a combination of entry fees and sponsorship donations.

Prize money may be donated back to OWAA if the winner so chooses. Thank you and good luck on your entries!

The post 2023 Excellence in Craft Contest: How to enter your work starting November 1, 2022 appeared first on Outdoor Writers Association of America.

Language is alive. All humans depend on ever-evolving languages and their ability to grow and change to better reflect our cultural contexts. Language, like our natural world, has been tended to and curated by people for millennia. Much like natural resources, there are sustainable and unsustainable practices. Knowing the histories of the words and terms we use is an essential step in writing and one that now may be easier through Taylor Feldman’s Inclusive Outdoor Language Guide.

Feldman first became interested in sustainability while in high school. Having grown up in Chicago, IL, Feldman immersed herself in city life and hadn’t engaged in the types of outdoor activities that would later define her career. 

Her interest in environmentalism led her away from the bustling, concrete city on a lake to Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. There, she made friends with a group of climbers, who taught Feldman how to rock climb and hike in ways that she had never been exposed to before. By her junior year, she went to Patagonia for six months through a NOLS program, and learned backpacking, mountaineering, rock climbing, sea kayaking as well as earning Wilderness First Responder and Leave No Trace Master Educator certifications.

Though she might not have known it then, these experiences in college forged the pathway for her  career, taking her across the world climbing different peaks. 

Feldman served as a Wilderness Instructor for ten years at the Oregon Episcopal School, an Environmental Educator at Audubon Society of Portland, and was a contributor to the book Beneficial Risks. She also was one of the four cast members of the documentary “Who’s On Top”, highlighting the journey of four queer athletes climbing Mount Hood. These are just a few of Feldman’s fascinating accomplishments. Currently, Feldman is an Associate Consultant with Experiential Consulting, an organization focused on informing the outdoor community on risk-aware adventuring.

Beyond environmental uncertainties

For Feldman, there was a big gap that people weren’t aware of in risk management. She found that there were shining DEI statements and risk management plans, but they weren’t talking to each other. Feldman noticed that risks are not limited to environmental uncertainties, but social ones too. 

What happens when outdoors people encounter psychologically or emotionally risky situations? For example, someone yelling racial slurs at a person of color while hiking a trail. What steps can be taken to deescalate the situation and how can the outdoor community be better prepared when these risks occur? This led her down a series of projects, including the Inclusive Outdoor Language Guide, which will now be a resource available on OWAA’s website. 

Feldman wanted a guide that reflected the dynamic world of language. Having the guide exist on a Google Sheet allows it to undergo edits and changes, leaving room for the outdoor community to share their own insight to problematic words or phrases and continue building this resource. In this form, it can be virtually tended to by the community and updated faster than a published guide could be. Upon opening the document, you might notice some terms are not strictly limited to the outdoors, but are nonetheless important words for outdoors people to know.

Currently, the guide is community generated, meaning anyone can contribute a word or phrase that is then filtered through Feldman. Feldman notes the project is still new and recognizes the flaw in one person filtering through the submissions. However, as the guide grows, the group of reviewers may also grow. At the same time, Feldman seeks to keep the guide as tailored to the outdoor community as possible. Ultimately, Feldman prioritizes the terms on this list to be things that have historical, problematic roots. Feldman explains, “…The people that have less power are the ones that I want to give more voice to.”

Perhaps the most important feature of this guide is its ability to help us educate ourselves on potentially lesser known histories of phrases or words that are regularly used outdoors. As writers, the last thing we want to do is unintentionally offend our subjects or readers. Feldman explains, “if you’re going to use [the guide], use it intentionally. Know that you’re making a choice in your language and you’re not just being passive.”

This guide may invoke some difficult conversations with ourselves and our peers. However, Feldman mentions, 

“If you enter any conversation and you’re humble about what you do and do not know, and you’re also curious about what the other person has to say, that can get you pretty far in terms of uncomfortable conversations or conflict.”

Why the Inclusive Outdoor Language Guide is helpful

So what does the Inclusive Outdoor Language Guide do and why is it important or helpful to outdoor media professionals? 

Steven Griffin offers some insight on his use of the guide. A long time OWAA member and member of OWAA’s DEAI Committee, “Griff” brings several decades of writing experience, as well as 10 years of teaching as an adjunct professor in Central Michigan University’s journalism department. 

Much like Feldman’s note on intentionality, Griff said “I want the words to do what I want them to do. Each has a very specific task, with origin, flavor and connotation all playing parts in meeting that task.” The Inclusive Outdoor Language Guide can help, providing a richer context of words and phrases for outdoor communicators. 

 “Also, looking at the guide helps me empathize with the people who might be offended by a term,” added Griff.

For Griff, this resource is not meant to be authoritative and makes a helpful addition to other style books he uses. 

“I’ve worked from the AP Stylebook, different publications’ stylebooks,  Chicago Manual of Style, and I have not followed them 100% ever,” Griff said, “But when I varied from them, it was on purpose.”

As environmentalists and outdoor communicators, we understand that our ecosystems are constantly changing and evolving, especially in the face of climate change. We also understand that humans are notoriously bad at long term planning, making sustainability a difficult feat. Nonetheless, this doesn’t stop us from working towards making wiser, intentional, well-informed choices for a more sustainable future. A necessary step towards sustainability is recognizing the intentional and unintentional malpractices of the past. The same goes for language. 

Feldman’s Inclusive Outdoor Language Guide offers a starting point for learning about the history of words with problematic roots. A salve for these troublesome terms is learning these histories so they no longer spread harm.

Here are a few examples of outdoor inclusive language you’ll find in Feldman’s guide.

OWAA’s Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion (DEAI) Resources

OWAA welcomes, respects, and supports all communicators, particularly those from underrepresented communities who are involved in or wish to become involved with sharing the outdoor experience.

OWAA strives to advance the professional goals of its members and potential members by encouraging dialogue and providing resources that reflect the values of justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and open-mindedness. It also aims to increase opportunities and encourage involvement in the outdoors by all.

CLICK HERE to view all of OWAA’s DEAI resources and learn even more about outdoor inclusive language.

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