Plant Your Future, the Registered Charity that works with subsistence farmers to restore the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, has launched a competition to help keep children entertained and inspired during the COVID-19-enforced lockdown. The ‘Rainforest in a Box’ competition will encourage children aged 6-14 to get crafty, all while learning more about the rainforest.

Plant Your Future is encouraging children to create a mini rainforest using an old shoebox and other materials they can find around the house. The organisation has developed a suite of materials to help inspire children and educate them about what to include in their box, including a selection of video demonstrations.

Plant Your Future’s goal is to help children learn more about the rainforest’s structure and ecosystem, asking them to use recycled and upcycled materials that they can access at home during the COVID-19 enforced lockdown.

Jenny Henman, Chairman and Founder of Plant Your Future, explained the objective of the competition “With families across the world facing difficult times under lockdown, Plant Your Future wanted to provide children with an opportunity for learning and creativity. We're sharing our love for the rainforest through this fun activity that children and their families can do indoors using recycled materials. For me personally, it is so important the younger generation learn about the rainforest. Only through inspiring an interest and understanding in the rainforest will they become future stewards for its protection.”

The competition will be judged in two age categories, one for children aged 6-9 years old and one for children aged 10-14. Each box will be judged based on creativity, presentation, accuracy and originality, by Professor Luis Campos Baca, a Biologist at the National University of the Peruvian Amazon, Grace Clegg, a Trustee of Plant Your Future and Jane Taylor, a Geography teacher at Magdalen College School in Oxford, and long-term supporter of Plant Your Future.

Luis Campos Baca speaking about the competition and why he was delighted to be asked to be a judge:

“I’m very pleased Plant your Future has launched this competition to share the wonder of the rainforest with children around the world. I know the “jungle” can feel like a very far off place for many kids – but as a biologist from the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, I’m happy that they are being given the chance to learn about the amazing plants and wildlife that is found here. I look forward to seeing their competition entries very much.”

In each category, there will be a first prize of £50 and a runner up prize of £25. The deadline of the competition is Friday 15th May 2020, 4pm BST. Winning entries will be announced on Friday 22nd May 2020.