The Bondar Challenge
EcoSchools Canada has partnered with The Roberta Bondar Foundation to deliver the Bondar Challenge, a school-based nature photography competition.
What is the Bondar Challenge?
The Bondar Challenge is an opportunity for students to learn about the art of photography and videography while discovering new perspectives on nature through a camera lens. The challenge is designed for students aged 6-18. Student entries will be judged in one of three age categories: 6-10; 11-14; or 15-18.
Goals of the Bondar Challenge
- To help students develop a lifelong affinity for both the joy of photography, videography, and the love of nature.
- To provide an environmental and artistic learning opportunity for students and teachers.
- To help students use the camera to ‘see’ the environment around them with a discerning eye and mind.
- To teach students how to use cameras as an effective means of capturing images and concepts.
- To help students articulate their feelings about what they see and express those feelings clearly.
- To help students understand the science of the natural environment within the photograph and video.
New for the 2024-25 school year!
We’re excited to announce the launch of this year’s Bondar Video Challenge! This is a fantastic opportunity for students to explore the art of videography while learning about natural habitats. For inspiration, visit the video challenge webpage on the Roberta Bondar Foundation’s website to see examples from the pilot program.
Be sure to check out our resources section and the Bondar Challenge action card in the ECA for helpful tools to guide your video creation process.
Who is Roberta Bondar?
Dr. Roberta Bondar is unique, not just for being the world’s first neurologist in space, the first Canadian woman in space, or for her pioneering space medicine research. Academically one of the most distinguished astronauts to have flown in space, Dr. Bondar is also the only astronaut to use fine art photography to explore and reveal Earth’s natural environment from the surface.
To learn more about Dr. Bondar and The Roberta Bondar Foundation visit therobertabondarfoundation.org
Did you
know?
If students at your school participate in The Bondar Challenge, your school can gain points towards EcoSchools certification! Log in or register on the EcoSchools Certification Application to add The Bondar Challenge to your EcoSchools action plan.
