Lowepro Sponsors Grand Prize Trip to the Polar Bear Capital of the World for Teen Winners.

2009 Grand Prize Winners: Canuck Nanooks from Winnipeg, Assiniboine Park Photo 2010 © Matt Robles

2009 Grand Prize Winners: There for Tomorrow, Louisville Zoo & Aquarium Photo 2010 © Matt Robles

(Sebastopol, CA, April 28, 2010) — Lowepro, the leading brand of protective gear for photography equipment and portable electronics, participated in the 2009 Project Polar Bear awards ceremony hosted by Polar Bears International (PBI) at the San Diego Zoo on Friday, April 23. Thirteen teen teams from Canada and the U.S. competed to reduce carbon emissions, develop educational programs and bring about change within their communities. The Grand Prize, sponsored by Lowepro, is a trip to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada — the Polar Bear Capital of the World — to observe polar bears in their natural habitat. All four finalist teams were treated to behind-the-scenes tours at the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld during two days of activities.

Due to their incredible efforts, the four finalist teams decreased carbon dioxide by 100 million pounds and both first and second place resulted in a tie.

Tying grand prize winners

Tying grand prize winners are the Canuck Nanooks from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada: Vickery sisters Miranda, Rachael and Madison; and There for Tomorrow from the Louisville Zoo & Aquarium in Louisville, Kentucky: Emily Goldstein, Sam Leist and Kaitlin O'Bryan. The two teams and their advisors will travel to Churchill, on the Western Hudson Bay, this fall.

Tying second place winners are Green Tree of Tulsa from the Tulsa Zoo & Living Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma: Connor Cass, Mike Barton and Caroline Adelson; and Polar Bear Parktection from the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: Molly Loy Corder and Kaley Rose Zahren. These two teams were rewarded with an interaction with beluga whales at SeaWorld San Diego on Saturday, April 24th.

The four finalist teams collectively reduced carbon emissions in their communities by more than 100 million pounds, exceeding last year's numbers by more than 80 million pounds.

“As the platinum sponsor of the 2009 grand prize trip, we are pleased to see two deserving teams tying for a once-in-a-lifetime experience with polar bears in Churchill, Canada,” said Treg Tyler, director of marketing, Lowepro Worldwide. “And we're pleased to team up with Frontiers North Adventures to give them the thrill of taking part in a Tundra Buggy® Adventure as they observe these amazing creatures,” he added. Lowepro was founded in 1967 by photographers and photo professionals who are passionate about nature and the preservation of the natural world, and has been a proud supporter of PBI since 2006.

Upcoming Project Polar Bear Contest for 2010

PBI is a non-profit organization dedicated to the worldwide preservation of the polar bear and its habitat through research and education. Visit their web site to learn more about their mission and the upcoming Project Polar Bear Contest for 2010 at www.polarbearsinternational.org. Frontiers North Adventures (FNA) provides authentic adventures in Canada's north. Since 1986, FNA has created programs geared to accommodate small groups of travelers with specific interests in experiential travel, photography, culture and adventure. Visit their web site at www.frontiersnorth.com.