Celebrate Earth Day and Canada’s outdoors

Outdoor photo contest seeks best in Canada

Chances are if you love spending time in the great Canadian outdoors, you’ve likely captured a gorgeous photo or many in your travels.

If you think you might have a winner, enter it into Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) Capture the Canadian Wild Canada 150 Photo contest. There are seven categories to choose from: Canada 150, Wild Faces, Wild Places, Wild Skies, Nature Up Close, Outdoor Adventures, Selfies in Nature. To enter, go to cpawsphotocontest.com. Deadline for entries is April 28. The grand prize is a new Panasonic Camera as well as other prizes, such as MEC and The Camera Store gift cards and a one-year subscription to Outdoor Photography Canada. Winning photos will also be published in a couple of online publications.

Go green and win two nights at an eco-resort

If you have Costa Rica or Nicaragua on your holiday radar, this Earth Day contest might appeal to you.

You could win two free nights at one of the Cayuga Collection’s six eco-resorts, scattered around these two wonderful and warm Central American destinations. The Cayuga Collection has been lauded by National Geographic as an “earth changer” because of its handson authentic environmental and sustainable initiatives at all its properties. They focus on using solar powered energy and reusing water as well as employing people living in local communities.

Here’s how the contest works: To be eligible you must prove that you have pledged or are committed to help fight climate change and protect the environment in honour of Earth Day, April 22. Here are a couple of greenfriendly ideas. You could sign on for something as simple as pledging to use cloth bags and reusable water bottles instead of plastic, sign a climate change action petition, or make a donation to an environmental charity of your choice.

Then share your commitment on social media using #cayugaearthday and tag the Cayuga Collection. You’ll be entered to win two free nights at one of Cayuga’s resorts when you book a minimum two-night stay.

This tranquil and vibrantly coloured photograph of a canola field, taken by Murray Robertson, took a prize in a previous Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society photo contest.

A sloth lazily hangs out in a tree on the property of Arenas Del Mar, one the Cayuga Collection eco-resorts in Costa Rica. An Earth Day contest could win you two nights there.