Entries will be accepted from August 3rd  to August 31st. Entries submitted outside the published contest period will not be considered. 

Photos must be entered to the ARCD form.  Entries that are incomplete or fail to comply with these rules or submission requirements may be disqualified at the sole discretion of ARCD. Participants must provide the requested information. Multiple entries using different email addresses, identities, or devices to circumvent the rules are prohibited. If fraudulent methods or other attempts to manipulate the contest are detected, ARCD may remove the submission from eligibility.

• Adult 1st - $500 

• Adult 2nd - $250 

• Youth 1st - $100 

• Youth 2nd - $50

All prizes must be accepted as awarded. Prizes are non-transferable unless otherwise permitted by ARCD. Any federal, state, or local taxes or other expenses associated with acceptance of a prize are the sole responsibility of the winner. 

Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for ARCD to use the winner's name, likeness, and submitted entry for educational, outreach, promotional, and public information purposes without additional compensation unless prohibited by law.

Winners will be selected by a panel of judges and notified by ARCD. The top five selected photos, for each category, will be displayed at the Gold Country Wildlife and Habitat Fair for the public to vote on their top favorite for each category.  

ARCD shall not be responsible for a winner's failure to receive notifications due to spam filters, incorrect contact information, or other technical issues. If a selected winner cannot be contacted, is found to be ineligible, fails to claim the prize within thirty (30) days, or fails to complete any required documentation; ARCD may select an alternate winner. 

Receipt of any prize is conditioned upon compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws. 

Any violation of these Official Rules may result in immediate disqualification.

This contest is open to individuals who are if legal are eighteen (18) years of age or older or who have written permission from a parent or legal guardian. Parents must sign the online submission form, consenting, when their youth uploads their materials to enter the contest. 

Employees, directors, board members, contractors, and immediate family members of ARCD, Tuolumne RCD, and Calaveras RCD may be excluded from participation as specified in the contest announcement. 

By submitting photographs, videos, artwork, written materials, or other content, you grant ARCD and its representatives the right to publish, reproduce, display, distribute, and use your submission, name, likeness, image, voice, and statements for educational, conservation outreach, public information, and promotional purposes in any media now known or later developed without additional compensation, unless prohibited by law. 

You represent and warrant that your submission is your original work and does not infringe upon the rights of any third party. 

If a claim arises regarding ownership or infringement, you agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless ARCD from any resulting claims, liabilities, damages, or expenses. 

ARCD reserves the right to terminate photo entries if fraud, technical failures, unauthorized intervention, or any other factor beyond its reasonable control affects the administration, integrity, security, or proper operation of ARCD or the Amador Arts Council.  

ARCD may disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process or violates these Terms & Conditions. 

Any attempt to deliberately damage a website or interfere with the lawful operation of the Campaign may violate criminal and civil laws, and ARCD reserves the right to pursue all available legal remedies.

By entering, you agree to release and hold harmless ARCD and its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, contractors, partners, representatives, and agents from any liability, injury, loss, damage, claim, or expense arising directly or indirectly from: 

• Participation in the contest 

• Acceptance, possession, or use of any prize 

• Technical failures involving computers, networks, hardware, or software 

• Internet or telecommunications interruptions 

• Unauthorized human intervention 

• Administrative or processing errors. 

ARCD may collect personal information including but not limited to names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. Information collected will be used solely for contest administration, prize fulfillment, educational outreach, and related ARCD communications, and will be handled in accordance with applicable California and federal laws. 

By participating, entrants consent to these uses of their information. 

Participants must complete all information required by ARCD to establish eligibility and determine a winner. Photos created or modified by Artificial Intelligence, Photoshop or other photo editing programs will not be allowed.  

ARCD assumes no responsibility for failures of telecommunications systems, internet services, or computer equipment that may prevent participation. If an entry is incomplete, illegible, or fails to provide required information, it may be deemed invalid and another eligible entry may be selected. 

ARCD reserves the right to terminate, extend, modify, or amend these Terms & Conditions at any time and for any lawful reason.

Unless otherwise specified, employees, board members, contractors, consultants, agencies, suppliers, and immediate family members of ARCD and Amador Arts Council are not eligible to participate in this promotion.