Terms & Conditions

You will be asked to agree to the following Terms and Conditions when entering our contests:

RULES, TERMS & CONDITIONS

  1. Eligibility: The Invent the Summer Weekly Engineering Challenge (the “Challenge”) is open to children who are twelve (12) years of age or younger as of August 31, 2026. All entries must be completed by a parent, legal guardian, or designated adult representative with express permission from the parent or legal guardian (the “Parent”) on behalf of the minor child (the “Entrant”). In the event that the Challenge is completed at a school, camp, library, or other child-centered organization, the designated adult representative of the organization must get written approval from the parent or legal guardian prior to entering the Entrant into the Challenge. The Challenge is subject to all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations. Void where prohibited.
  2. Sponsor: Invent the Summer, Inc, 1789 New Britain Ave, Farmington, CT 06032. 
  3. Agreement to Official Rules: Only a parent, legal guardian or designated adult representative with express permission from the parent or legal guardian (the “Parent”) may enter a video into the Challenge on behalf of the minor child aged twelve (12) years or younger. Participation in the Challenge constitutes the Parent’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding. Winning any Challenge prize is contingent upon being compliant with these Official Rules and fulfilling all other requirements set forth herein.
  4. Challenge Period: The Summer Challenge Period begins on June 24, 2026 at 6:00am EST and ends on August 31, 2026 at 9:00pm EST (the “Challenge Period”). All entries must be received by the deadline listed on the specific challenge – typically 9:00pm EDT on Sunday of the Challenge week. 
  5. How to Enter: The Challenge must be entered by submitting an entry using the online form provided at www.InventTheSummer.org. The entry must fulfill all Challenge requirements, as specified, to be eligible to win a Challenge prize. Entries that are incomplete, that do not adhere to the Rules or specifications or that contain illegal, objectionable, defamatory, obscene or offensive content based on the opinion of the Sponsor may be disqualified at the sole discretion of the Sponsor. All entries must primarily represent the Entrant’s own creativity, effort, and work. Entries may be inspired by existing ideas, designs, or educational resources, provided the submitted project is not a direct copy of another person’s work.
  6. Prizes: Invent the Summer awards prizes in several categories throughout the Challenge Period.
    Weekly Challenge Prizes: Each week, the Sponsor will select winners in the following categories: (1) Audience Choice Award, selected by public vote; (2) Board Choice Awards, selected by the Sponsor’s Junior Board for creativity, problem-solving, perseverance, and growth mindset; (3) Wildcard Winner of the Week, selected by the Sponsor for outstanding originality; and (4) Epic Fail Award, recognizing exceptional effort, perseverance, and a growth mindset. Weekly winners will receive their choice of an Invent the Summer t-shirt, notebook, water bottle, or drawstring bag (approximate retail value $15–$25 USD each). Note: preference may be given to participants who have not yet won a challenge during the summer.
    End-of-Summer Prizes: At the close of the Challenge Period, the Sponsor will award prizes in the following categories:
    (1) Junior Inventor of the Summer (ages 9 and under) and Senior Inventor of the Summer (ages 10–12): Awarded to the participants the Sponsor believes best exemplified the qualities of a true engineer and inventor throughout the summer, including creativity, problem-solving, perseverance, and a growth mindset. Participants must have submitted a minimum of five (5) Challenge entries during the Challenge Period to be eligible. Winners will receive their choice of a 3D Printer, 3D Pen, MakeDo Kit, a 1-year subscription to Tinker Crate, or another prize of similar value as determined by the Sponsor (approximate retail value up to $300 USD).
    (2) Highest Points Earner: The participant with the highest total points at the close of the Challenge Period will receive a STEM prize as determined by the Sponsor (approximate retail value up to $100 USD). In the event of a tie, the Sponsor will determine the winner at its sole discretion.
    (3) End-of-Summer Sweepstakes Drawing: The Sponsor will conduct a random prize drawing among all eligible participants. The Grand Prize winner will receive their choice of a 3D Printer, 3D Pen, MakeDo Kit, a 1-year subscription to Tinker Crate, or another prize of similar value as determined by the Sponsor (approximate retail value up to $300 USD). Several additional smaller prizes will also be awarded, as determined by the Sponsor. Odds of winning depend on the total number of sweepstakes tickets earned by all participants.
    No cash or other prize substitution shall be permitted except at the Sponsor’s discretion. Prizes are nontransferable. Acceptance of a prize constitutes permission for the Sponsor to use the Winner’s name, likeness, and entry for purposes of advertising Invent the Summer without further compensation, unless prohibited by law. The Sponsor shall have no liability for a Winner’s failure to receive notices due to spam, junk e-mail, or other security settings, or for a Winner’s provision of incorrect or otherwise non-functioning contact information. If a Winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, or fails to claim the prize within 30 days of award notification, the prize may be forfeited.
  7. Points & Sweepstakes Tickets: Participants earn points through qualifying Challenge submissions and other activities as described on the Invent the Summer portal. Each point earned equals one (1) ticket in the End-of-Summer Sweepstakes Drawing. Points also determine eligibility for the Highest Points Earner prize. The following rules apply to all points:
    *A maximum of two (2) points may be earned per participant per week through Challenge submissions, regardless of the number of locations or classrooms in which a participant is enrolled.
    *Bonus points may be earned for activities including but not limited to: completing 3 challenges in a row, completing 5 total challenges, completing all 8 challenges, and referring a friend. Participants must submit at least one (1) qualifying Challenge entry during the Challenge Period to be eligible to receive bonus points.
    *Points and sweepstakes tickets have no cash value and are non-transferable.
    *The Sponsor reserves the right to correct, adjust, or void points in cases of error, fraud, or violation of these Official Rules.
  8. The Sponsor shall have no liability for Winner’s failure to receive notices due to spam, junk e-mail, or other security settings or for Winner’s provision of incorrect or otherwise non-functioning contact information. If Winner cannot be contacted, is ineligible, fails to claim the Prize within 30 days from the time award notification was sent, the Prize may be forfeited. Receipt by Winner of any Prize offered in this Campaign is conditioned upon compliance with any and all federal, state, and local laws and regulations. ANY VIOLATION OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES BY WINNER (AT SPONSOR‘S SOLE DISCRETION) WILL RESULT IN WINNER’S DISQUALIFICATION AS WINNER OF THE CAMPAIGN, AND ALL PRIVILEGES AS WINNER WILL BE IMMEDIATELY TERMINATED.
  9. Rights Granted by Parent: By submitting content (including, but not limited to, photographs, videos, text, project descriptions, and other materials), Parent grants Invent the Summer, Inc. a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual license to use, reproduce, display, publish, distribute, and otherwise utilize the submitted content in connection with its educational, charitable, promotional, publicity, and fundraising activities. Parent further understands and agrees that Invent the Summer, Inc., its representatives, successors, assigns, and those acting with its permission may use the Participant’s first name, likeness, image, voice, statements, biographical information, and submitted content in any media now known or later developed, without further compensation, notice, review, or consent, except where prohibited by law. By submitting content, Parent represents and warrants that: (a) Parent has the authority to submit the content and grant the rights described herein; (b) the content is the original work of the Participant or Parent, or Parent otherwise has permission to submit and share the content; and (c) to the best of Parent’s knowledge, the content does not infringe upon the intellectual property, privacy, publicity, or other rights of any third party. Invent the Summer, Inc. reserves the right to remove, reject, or disqualify any submission that it reasonably believes violates these Terms and Conditions or the rights of any third party. Parent agrees to be responsible for claims arising from materials submitted by Parent or Participant that infringe upon the rights of another party and agrees to cooperate in good faith with Invent the Summer, Inc. in resolving any such claims.
  10. Terms & Conditions: The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Challenge should virus, bug, non-authorized human intervention, fraud, or other cause beyond the Sponsor’s control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, or proper conduct of the Challenge. In such case, the Sponsor may select the Winner from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by the Sponsor. The Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers or attempts to tamper with the entry process or the operation of the Challenge or website or violates these Terms & Conditions. The Sponsor has the right, in its sole discretion, to maintain the integrity of the Challenge, to void votes for any reason, including, but not limited to: multiple entries from the same computer in excess of that allowed by Challenge rules; or the use of bots, macros, scripts, or other technical means for entering. Any attempt by an entrant to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Challenge may be a violation of criminal and civil laws. Should any such attempt be made, Invent the Summer, Inc reserves all rights and remedies available under applicable law.
  11. Safety and Supervision: Parent is solely responsible for supervising the Entrant and determining whether any activity, tool, material, or project associated with the Challenge is appropriate for the Entrant’s age, skill level, and abilities. Invent the Summer, Inc. does not supervise participants and is not responsible for the design, construction, testing, use, or operation of any project created in connection with the Challenge. Parent assumes all responsibility for ensuring that activities are conducted safely and in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and manufacturer instructions.
  12. Limitation of Liability: By entering the Challenge, Parent agrees to release and hold harmless Invent the Summer, Inc., its affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers, and directors from any claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs, or expenses arising out of or relating to: (i) participation in the Challenge; (ii) the acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of any prize; (iii) the design, construction, testing, use, or operation of any project created in connection with the Challenge; (iv) technical failures of any kind, including but not limited to malfunctions of computers, networks, hardware, software, or Internet services; (v) unauthorized intervention in any part of the entry process or administration of the Challenge; or (vi) errors in the administration of the Challenge or the processing of entries. Nothing in these Official Rules shall exclude or limit liability to the extent such exclusion or limitation is prohibited by applicable law.
  13. Disputes: Except where prohibited, each entrant agrees that any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of, or connected with, the Challenge or any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate court located in the State of Connecticut. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of this Official Rules, entrants rights and obligations, or the rights and obligations of the Sponsor in connection with the Challenge, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of Connecticut, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules, which would cause the application of the laws in any jurisdiction other than Connecticut.
  14. Privacy Policy: Information submitted with an entry is subject to the sponsor’s Privacy Policy which can be found at www.InventTheSummer.org.
  15. The Challenge hosted by Invent the Summer, Inc. is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, or Launchpad6.
  16. By entering this Challenge, Parent, as the parent or legal guardian of the Entrant, has affirmatively reviewed, accepted, and agreed to all of the Official Rules.

    Last Updated June 18, 2026