Lights. Camera. Change. — Tell Your Sustainability Story!
SEEDS of NEPA proudly presents the Sustainable Storytelling Video Challenge, inviting young people across Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Lackawanna Counties to share their vision for a sustainable future through the power of video.
Eligibility:
- Youth Track: Ages 14–18
- Young Adult Track: Ages 19–24
- Teams of 1–3 participants
- Must reside or attend school in Wayne, Pike, Monroe, or Lackawanna County
Cash prizes will be awarded in each age group:
1st Place — $1,000 2nd Place — $500 3rd Place — $250
Winning videos will be showcased at a SEEDS of NEPA recognition event and featured on our website and social media channels. Every participant gains hands-on experience in media production and a platform to make their voice heard. Deadline for submissions is January 10, 2027.
By submitting a video, participants grant SEEDS of NEPA permission to feature their video on its website and social media channels.
In participating in this challenge, you agree to the following terms and conditions:
- By submitting a video, participants grant SEEDS of NEPA permission to feature their video on its website and social media channels.
- All video entries must be created entirely by human artists. The use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools—including but not limited to OpenAI Sora, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, or ChatGPT—to generate video footage, images, background art, voice tracks, music, or scripts is strictly prohibited. Traditional digital editing tools, such as basic color grading, standard noise reduction, and automated audio leveling, are permitted.
- By entering, contestants certify that all content is original and human made. Entrants must retain all raw footage, unedited clips, and native project files (e.g., Premiere, Final Cut, DaVinci timelines). The judges reserve the right to request these files, metadata, or a video screen recording of the project timeline for verification before awarding any prizes. Failure to provide proof of human creation within 48 hours of a request will result in immediate disqualification.
- SEEDS reserves the right to exclude videos from our postings/promotion that do not fit within our mission, and the following policy statement SEEDS has adopted on climate change; “SEEDS will use science, evidence-based information and positive action to educate the public about global climate change and will advocate for action to help our local community deal with the wide range of impacts of climate change.”
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Below are some examples of websites that participants are encouraged to explore for guidance, data, and inspiration on sustainable living and environmental issues:
- Carbon Footprint Calculator (CarbonCare): https://www.carboncare.org/en/co2-emissions-calculator
- Global Water Risk Atlas (World Resources Institute): https://www.wri.org/aqueduct
- Climate Change Reports (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change): https://www.ipcc.ch/reports/
- Images of Change (NASA Earth Science): https://science.nasa.gov/earth/multimedia/interactives/images-of-change/
- Sustainable Earth: https://sustainable-earth.org/
- UN Sustainable Development Goals: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
- Climate.us — Trusted Climate Information: https://www.climate.us/news-features/feed/climateus-launches-independent-website-trusted-climate-information
- The En-ROADS Climate Solutions Simulator:
https://en-roads.climateinteractive.org/scenario.html?v=26.6.0
Scoring Rubric
- Clarity of Message: 30 points – including logical narrative, depth
- Creativity and Originality: 15 points- unique perspective, emotional impact
- Understanding of Sustainability: 30 points
- Video Quality: 25 points – clen cuts, sound mix, pacing editing
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