Snap, share, win with Preserve the Moment photo contest
It’s back! Beginning Feb.1, the Forest Preserve is once again hosting its Preserve the Moment photo contest, so grab your camera and get ready to capture Will County’s wild side!
How it works
Each month, you can submit up to five original photos taken in a Will County forest preserve or on a District trail. Monthly winners receive prizes and advance to the final round for a shot at top honors. Winning photos may be featured on our website, in print publications, on social media or even in the 2027 Forest Preserve calendar. The contest is made possible through the support of The Nature Foundation of Will County.
Key dates
- Contest begins: February 1, 2026
- Submit photos monthly through: December 31, 2026
- Final judging and voting: January 2027
Prizes add up fast
- First place: $500 MasterCard gift card
- Second place: $250 MasterCard gift card
- Third place: $150 MasterCard gift card
- Monthly winners: $75 MasterCard gift card
- Bonus drawings: At the end of the contest, three random participants will each win a $75 MasterCard gift card!
How to enter
Make sure you read the full contest rules before participating.
- Submit photos as you take them – up to five per month.
- Upload photos monthly via the District’s contest upload page.
- File format must be .jpg, no larger than 10 MB.
- Each photo must include the specific preserve or trail location.
- Photos taken outside Will County forest preserves or District trails (including state parks, backyards or local park districts) will be automatically disqualified. Images with watermarks, dates or signatures will also be disqualified.
Judging and voting
From February through December, a panel of judges will select the top photo each month based on focus, lighting, composition, creativity, storytelling and overall impact, with special attention to native species. Each monthly winner advances to the final round, where all 11 monthly winners will go head-to-head in a public vote on the Forest Preserve’s Facebook page to determine first, second and third place overall.
Important: No AI-generated images or watermarked images allowed
All entries must be original photographs taken by the entrant. They should not include watermarks of any kind to ensure fair, anonymous judging and to prevent visual distraction. AI-generated or AI-enhanced images – including AI scene creation or replacement – are also not allowed. Minimal, non-AI photo editing is acceptable. While we work diligently to identify AI-generated submissions, evolving technology means some may go undetected. By entering the contest, participants acknowledge this possibility and accept that all disqualification decisions are final.
Ready to enter? First, make sure you read the rules. Then start snapping, start uploading and let your photos tell the story of Will County’s preserves!
