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.

The list of Arctic Ambasador Center Zoos supporting Project Polar Bear keeps growing. When you register to participate, you will find a drop down list of all of the Arctic Ambassador Centers. If the Arctic Ambassador Center nearest you is not participating in Project Polar Bear, you will be entered in the At-Large category.

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.

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. If there are no semi-finalists in a given category, the judges will determine the top four teams regardless of project category.

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 2010 where they will be recognized in a ceremony at the Polar Bear Plunge exhibit at the San Diego Zoo. The Grand Prize and other prizes will be awarded at the ceremony.

Grand Prize: The Grand Prize team will participate in a VIP tour of the San Diego Zoo including a behind the scenes stop at Polar Bear Plunge; admission to Sea World San Diego and other special animal encounters at each park. The Grand Prize team will also be filmed in order to be featured in a PBI video short. The teen team members will also be given a monetary award of $500 (USD) each.

Second Prize: The Second Prize team will enjoy admission to and a Wild Arctic Interaction at Sea World San Diego, as well as a VIP tour of the San Diego Zoo, including a behind the scenes visit at Polar Bear Plunge.

Finalists: 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 and other special experiences while at each park. Each team will be awarded a prize package of PBI merchandise.

All prizes are awarded without warranty of any kind, express or implied (including, without limitation, any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose).

Prizes are not transferable. No substitutions or exchanges (including for cash) will be permitted except that PBI reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value for any prize.

If finalists are unavailable to attend the Awards event on the determined date, the trip will be forfeited and no substitute trip will be provided, with the following exception: If finalist team members are unable to attend the Awards event and that team is awarded the Second Prize (a Wild Arctic Interaction at Sea World San Diego) arrangements will be made for that team member or team to travel to San Diego on a date mutually agreed upon by PBI agents and the team members to participate in the Sea World San Diego Wild Arctic Interaction. This two-night, three-day trip will include, round trip airfare, travel to and from hotel and San Diego Zoo and Sea World San Diego, hotel stay for two nights (double occupancy) for the team members and adult advisor only. All dates and travel arrangements are at the final discretion of PBI. If any team or team member does not agree to the final terms of this consolation trip, the trip will be forfeited and no substitution nor cash prize will be awarded.

You may register your project with Polar Bears International beginning June 1, 2009 but no later than 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time July 31, 2009. The contest officially ends on December 31, 2009. All Project Polar Bear Success Reports and any associated materials are due by 11:59 PM Pacific Time on December 31, 2009.

Regional judging will begin on or after January 2, 2010. Regional winners, runners-up and at-large winner will be determined by February 2, 2010. Notification dates will vary in each regional contest but will be completed by February 15, 2010. Finalists will be determined by March 1, 2010. Finalists will be notified by email and telephone by March 8, 2010.