Youth Competition is open to students grade 9-12
The South Carolina Outdoor Press Association (SCOPE) is partnering with the Hampton Wildlife Fund and SC Wildlife Magazine to sponsor the second annual SC Youth Outdoor Writing Competition.
The competition is open to High School students in grades 9-12 statewide. The target audience will be entries from SC, but entries from any state will be eligible for the competition.
The 2026 Youth Writing Contest is SCOPE’s initiative to raise awareness about natural resources and career and part-time opportunities in this field.
The contest stories can focus on a wide range of outdoor adventures and activities, presented in a positive light. Outdoor subjects may include traditional outdoor sports such as boating, fishing, hunting, shooting, hiking, birding, camping, and paddling. Stories on gardening, golf, tennis, and similar activities will not be considered.
One entry per student
Entries will be 300- to 500-word essays or stories. Poetry will not be considered and please do not include photos with your entry. No generative artificial intelligence software such as ChatGPT may be used in any way for this entry. Please use Microsoft Word for all submissions.
Only one entry is allowed per student. Entry Form is attached here:
Entries may be submitted by email to sc.outdoorpress@gmail.com or mailed via the US Postal Service to SCOPE, 550 Summer Lakes Drive, Aiken, SC 29805.
The competition winner will receive a $500 cash prize, and the winning entry will be published in the prestigious South Carolina Wildlife Magazine. The second-place winner will receive $300, and the third-place winner will receive $200.
The three winners will be invited to the SCOPE’s annual conference to receive the awards. The students will also receive free SCOPE student memberships for one year, and the entries will be published on the SCOPE website.
Many high school students are beginning to plan their college fields of study. This competition provides a platform for them to test/develop their communication skills and learn about outdoor communication careers, possibly earning a monetary prize. These rewards recognize their talent and provide a platform to showcase their work and network with professionals in the field.
Competition entries will be accepted beginning April 1 and continue through June 16, 2026.
Questions may be emailed to Jim Mize at jimmize1@cs.com.
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