UNLESS Contest Participant Portal

Changes For The Year 2026?

Exciting updates include earlier September 1st registration for more (optional) project time, the inclusion of Pre-K Classes, and teen-led groups! Please note that we are piloting these additions and cannot guarantee them each year. We are also working on some surPRIZE teacher incentives for winners. You will have to compete to find out!

Last year, we decided to update some of our Inspiration Animals! While we still want to support our Rodrigues Fruit Bats and Golden Lion Tamarins, we wanted to also highlight our Bald Eagles, Amur Tigers, and Western Santa Cruz Galápagos Tortoises! What’s special about this particular group of animals is that all five have impressive conservation stories in which zoos around the world (especially Philadelphia!) played a role in saving them from extinction.

Last year we also amplified the message “Think Globally, Act Locally” and reminded groups to also choose a local, native species that connects to your Inspiration Animal in some way, thus choosing TWO Focus Animals for your project. We challenge our teams to dig deeper in your own communities. Now is the time to rethink our relationships with so many things – our planet, our neighbors, our lifestyles, our health – and how they are all interconnected. Although we get inspired by species from different parts of the world, their stories match those to wildlife that live right in our backyards. While considering these global challenges, we encourage you to find connections to make a positive impact for your local wildlife and community. Who are the wildlife that live there? How are they experiencing similar challenges? What are things that you can do to support them while supporting our Inspiration Species too?

Lastly, we would love to grow and expand UNLESS with your help! Please tell your Educator friends around the world to join us!