California Father Wins $45,000 Antarctic Cruise for Daughter

Quark Expeditions and SeaWorld announce the Winner of Adventure with Julie

News provided by

Sep 10, 2010, 04:00 ET

WATERBURY, Vt., Sept. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Quark Expeditions and SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment announced that California writer and photographer Chris Epting was awarded the grand prize in the Adventure with Julie competition that closed August 31, 2010. Chris was chosen by a panel of judges from five finalists, identified by popular vote.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100910/NE62314 )

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100910/NE62314 )

Chris entered the competition for his daughter who was ineligible to compete. Claire Epting is an eighth grade student who attends St. Bonaventure School in Huntington Beach, California. Claire is a nationally-recognized student-journalist who has reported for the magazine "Time for Kids". Claire is a volunteer at Children's Hospital of Orange County and the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center in Huntington Beach.

In his entry, Chris described his daily walk through wetlands with his daughter, then continued, "The birds and the environment that cradles them inspires much of my work as a journalist and photographer – and it's an honor to help call attention to these threatened subjects." Chris is the author of numerous books and is actively involved in both natural and historic preservation.

The effort that Chris is making to educate his daughter and his readers about the need to heal and protect the land and the creatures that inhabit it was cited by the judges as the most compelling reason for selecting the father and daughter to travel with SeaWorld's Animal Ambassador Julie Scardina to Antarctica, October 13 to 26, 2010.

Quark Expeditions and SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment congratulate Chris and Claire Epting and applaud their dedication to protecting wildlife and our natural environment.

The Antarctic Travel Prize

In addition to return airfare for two from the nearest international gateway to Ushuaia, Argentina, the prize includes a twin cabin aboard the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov on the October 13 to 26, 2010 departure of the Emperor Penguins: Snow Hill Island Safari. Guests will spend 3 days at the most northerly Emperor Penguin rookery in the world, near Snow Hill Island in Antarctica's Weddell Sea.

SOURCE Quark Expeditions