CONTESTS AND AWARDS

OWAA is proud to recognize our talented and dedicated outdoor communicators of all ages through annual contests and awards. Here you’ll find more information about the contests and awards we sponsor as well as links to additional information about eligibility and how to enter.

Excellence in Craft Contest

Since 1965*, OWAA’s annual Excellence in Craft (EIC) Contest has allowed the association’s members to enter their best works from the previous year. There are multiple categories for various media and subject matter and each category is judged by an independent and expert panel. Winners are announced during the annual conference, where certificates and cash prizes are awarded.

The entry process for the EIC Contest opens November 1 and is managed by OWAA Supporting Group, Submittable.com. The book deadline is December 1. For all other entries, the early bird deadline is midnight (Eastern Time) Jan. 15th and the fee per entry is $15 through that date. The fee increases after that to $25 per entry and the final deadline is midnight (Eastern Time) on Jan. 31 Click here for complete guidelines and to apply.

Thanks to Friesens for their support of the Book Category and The PEW Charitable Trusts for their support of the Conservation/Nature category! The support of brands like these is critical to help keep this program running year after year and provides additional prizing for category winners.

*The first known mention of such an OWAA contest was in 1965 when the DuPont Corporation and Sports Fishing Industry, “Collaborated in setting up an OWAA writing awards program.” Rules of the program were drafted by OWAA to ensure that the subject matter was “idealistic in nature, without obvious commercial overtones.”

Two winners of the OWAA Excellence in Craft award pose with plaques
Photo by Lisa Densmore Ballard

Norm Strung Student Writing Contest & OWAA Student Photo Contest

Through the Norm Strung Student Writing Contest and the OWAA Student Photo Contest, OWAA rewards budding North American writers and photographers who capture the outdoors. Cash prizes are awarded to first-, second-, and third-place winners in both categories, split over two age groups (high school seniors and juniors and college students). Entries must have been created during 2024. All entries must be the original work of the student; writing and images generated by or with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) including large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT are prohibited. Entries are judged by outdoor media professionals and winners are announced in May. Prizes for all categories are awarded as such: 

  • 1st – $200
  • 2nd – $100
  • 3rd – $50

Each winner will receive a yearlong OWAA Student Membership ($30 value), have their name included in a nationally distributed press release and have their story/photo included in OWAA’s magazine Outdoors Unlimited.

To learn more about the Norm Strung Student Writing Contest, click here. To learn how to apply for the OWAA Student Photo Contest, click here.

Entries may be submitted between December 1, 2024 and January 31, 2025 via OWAA Supporting Group Submittable.com. On December 1st submissions will open and you can enter here (be sure to scroll to the bottom of the page).

Norm Strung Student Writing Contest Rules

OWAA Student Photo Contest Rules

CONTEST SPONSORSHIPS

Excellence in Craft Contests

Show your support and associate your company’s brand with excellence in outdoor communications. EIC awards are given in several media and subject categories and represent OWAA members’ very best work. Your benefits can include:

  • Podium time at the annual conference’s EIC Award Party (for full sponsors)
  • Company representative invited to attend, be acknowledged and present awards to contest winners at OWAA’s annual conference
  • Photo opportunities with contest winners at ceremony
  • Sponsor recognition in OWAA’s bimonthly magazine
  • Sponsor logo featured on the EIC page of the OWAA website
  • Sponsor inclusion in press releases announcing contest winners

Full sponsorship costs $4,400 while a multiple-brand co-sponsorship is $2,200.

For details and specific benefit levels, please review the OWAA Sponsorship Deck (EIC information is on the last page). Contact OWAA headquarters at info@owaa.org for current availability.

Two rows of winners of the OWAA Excellence in Craft award pose with plaques
A young girl fishes from an inflatable raft
Photo by Lisa Densmore Ballard

Norm Strung Student Writing Contest

To encourage young writers in communicating the outdoor experience, annual cash awards are offered as part of the OWAA Norm Strung Student Writing Contest. Sample benefits include:

  • Sponsor recognition in OWAA’s bimonthly magazine
  • Sponsor logo featured on the youth writing awards page of the OWAA website
  • Sponsor inclusion in press releases announcing contest winners

Full sponsorship costs $2,200 while a multiple-brand co-sponsorship is $1,100.

For details and specific benefit levels, please review the OWAA Contest Sponsorship Information. Contact OWAA headquarters at info@owaa.org for current availability.

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