The categories for the Project Polar Bear contest were chosen because the outcomes of these projects will result in reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the leading greenhouse gas which has already caused marked climate change in the Arctic region. Over the past 30 years, the rise in the global temperature has resulted in a reduction in Arctic ice floes by 90 percent. This means that polar bears, which need the ice floes to reach their primary food source (ring seals) have had less and less time each year to "fill up" before the ice floes break up and the polar bears have to come onto land for the summer. Less food for the female bears means they give birth to fewer cubs or, if they do have two cubs, they may not have enough stored fat to make enough milk to feed two babies.

Following is the list of participating zoos and their communities:

Buffalo Zoo Cincinnati Zoo Columbus Zoo Indianapolis Zoo

Louisville Zoo Memphis Zoo Oregon Zoo (Portland)

Pittsburgh Zoo San Diego Zoo Tulsa Zoo

For the purposes of this contest, the community surrounding a zoo is defined as the area within a 50-mile radius. If your home is in an area that is overlapped by two zoos' regions, please enter your project with one zoo only. Each zoo will have its own local launch for the contest. Be sure to visit the website of the zoo nearest you.

If you live outside of the area of a participating zoo, you may enter in the At-Large category.

Each participating zoo will choose one winning project from their community. That team will advance to the semi-finals where their project will be in the running to become a finalist and go to San Diego, CA for the Awards Ceremony.

Runners-up and other local awards will be recognized and prizes at the local level will vary from zoo to zoo.

The runner up in the At-Large category will win a year's membership to Polar Bears International for each team member; $50 per team member; and a prize package with polar bear merchandise from Polar Bears International.

Finalists
The winning team from each zoo will be entered into the semi-finals.

A winner from each Project Polar Bear Category will be determined by the Polar Bears International judging panel. The chosen team from each category will become the Finalists.

Finalists' projects will be featured on the Polar Bears International Web site. Your work will inspire others to do the same kind of things in their communities!

The Finalist teams will be flown to San Diego, CA in Spring 2009 where they will be recognized in a ceremony at the Polar Bear Plunge exhibit at the San Diego Zoo. The Best Overall prize will be awarded at the ceremony.

Best Overall Winner Prize: The Best Overall team will participate in tour of the San Diego including a behind the scenes stop at Polar Bear Plunge. They will also be awarded $300 (USD) per participant and a trip to Churchill, Manitoba Canada, the polar bear capital of the world, to see polar bears in the wild. The Churchill trip will occur in October 2009 and travel arrangements will be made by agents of PBI for a trip with Frontiers North/ Tundra Buggies Lodge Company.

The Second Prize team will enjoy a Wild Arctic Encounter at Sea World San Diego as well as a tour of the San Diego Zoo, including a behind the scenes visit at Polar Bear Plunge. Each team member will also receive a $200 (USD) monetary award.

The other two teams of finalists will enjoy a VIP tour of the San Diego Zoo, including a behind the scenes stop at Polar Bear Plunge. They will also receive admission to Sea World San Diego. Each team member will receive $100, and a membership and prize package of PBI merchandise.

You may register your project with Polar Bears International beginning February 15, 2008 but no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time June 1, 2008. The contest officially ends on December 31, 2008. All Project Polar Bear Success Reports and any associated materials are due by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on December 31, 2008.

Local judging will begin on January 2, 2009. Local winners, runners-up and at-large winner will be determined by February 2, 2009. Notification dates will vary in each local contest but will be completed by February 15, 2009. Finalists will be determined by February 28, 2009. Finalists will be notified by email and telephone by March 5, 2009.