Sons of the American Revolution
Redlands Chapter, California Society
These Youth Awards Programs 1) promote character, 2) Increase confidence, 3) Foster civic responsibility, and 4) Develop critical thinking skills.
The Redlands Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution has 6 different contests/scholarships.
Americanism Elementary School Poster Contest
Middle School Brochure Contest
Knight Essay Contest
Historical Oration Contest
Eagle Scout Scholarship
Valley Forge Teacher Recognition Contest
The annual American History Poster Contest is a fun and educational program created to stimulate interest in the founding of our nation. This FREE program is offered as a public service to Teachers and Students.
This contest is open to grade school students studying the American Revolution. In California public schools, the American Revolution is normally taught in the 5th grade, but private and charter school may teach it in grades 4 through 6. Entries should be submitted to local SAR chapters through school classrooms or directly by cub scouts and CAR members.
Posters are judged on the following criteria:
Does the poster express the annual theme, show originality and evidence of research. Does the poster show artistic merit and creativity and is it neat and visually pleasing? And, does the poster accurately reflect the yearly topic?
TIP: Check for spelling and historical accuracy!
How the contest works:
Each local school winner will compete at the Chapter level.
- Each Chapter winner will compete at the State level.
- Once the State Society has selected a winner, that poster will compete at the National level.
- Posters must be on a standard 22×28 inch poster board.
- Posters should not be framed or enhanced in any way by the submitting Chapter.
- No “3D” posters will be accepted.
- The posters must conform to the yearly theme and show evidence of research.
- Each Chapter may submit one poster for judging at the California SAR Spring Meeting.
- Please try to have your poster at the Spring Meeting by 7:00PM Friday.
- We will be voting by ballot on Saturday morning. The winner will be announced at the Saturday Luncheon.
- Individual Chapters are free to establish their own awards. State awards for 2024 are as follows:
First Place: $400, Second Place: $300, Third Place: $200, Fourth Place: $100, Honorable Mention(s): $75
The deadline for entries to the California SAR is March 1st.
Awards from the California SAR are $400, $300 and $200. Awards from the National SAR are $500, $300 and $200
The SAR Brochure Contest is a contest for 8th graders in California. The contest is to create a tri-fold brochure out of an 8 ½” x 11″ piece of paper while following the prescribed guidelines.
The Instructions are contained in the two page Rules-at-a-Glance. The Brochure Contest started in California in the school year 2010-11 and became a National program in the school year 2013-14. As a National program it is named: The Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure Contest.
In California Brochure Contest is open to 8th grade children attending: public school, private school, home schooled and when a child’s school is not participating in the contest, the contest is open to them as members of the: C.A.R. (Children of the American Revolution), and/or when involved in scouting.
The permanent Middle School Brochure Contest theme is “The Foundational Documents of the United States“. These documents include:
- Articles of Confederation
- Declaration of Independence
- Constitution
- Federalist Papers
- Bill of Rights
- Articles of Association
The theme for the Brochure Contest is structured to match up with the Government curricula that is found in the majority of states during the middle school years. The students will be encouraged to pick a particular founding document and produce a brochure within the established criteria. Having a permanent theme will eliminate the need to revisit the theme on an annual basis while providing a significant amount of flexibility to adapt to the established curricula.
This model will make it easier for Chapter Youth Contest Chairmen to find classroom teachers who can blend our contest into their history lesson plans. Chapter Brochure winners will receive recognition at the Chapter level. Chapter winners then compete at the State level; and the California State winner will compete in the National Competition for even more prizes.
SAR Brochure Contest Rules at a Glance
SAR Brochure Contest Flyer
The Redlands Chapter deadline is December 31st and the deadline for the California SAR is January 31st.
Awards from the California SAR is $1000. Awards from the National SAR are $6000, $3000, $2000, $500 and $500.
The George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest is a scholarship money competition designed to give freshman, sophomore, junior and senior high school students an opportunity to explore events that shaped American history.
Conducted at the Chapter, State Society and National Society levels. To participate, students must submit an original 800- to 1,200-word essay based on an event, person, philosophy or ideal associated with the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution. Each student’s essay will be judged based upon its historical accuracy, clarity, organization, grammar and spelling, and documentation.
We invite all high school students (9th through 12th grades) interested in the American Revolution to participate in the George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest. The contest is open to all US Citizen and Legal Resident students attending home schools, public, parochial, or private high schools in that same grade range.
The contest is conducted in three phases: the local chapter, state-level society, and national phases. The contest must be entered through an SAR chapter near the student’s residence.
The Redlands Chapter deadline is November 1st and the deadline for the California SAR is December 1st.
Award from the California SAR is $1000. Awards from the National SAR are $10000, $6000 and $4000.
The Arthur M. and Berdena King Eagle Scout Contest is open to all Eagle Scouts who are currently registered in an active unit and have not reached their 19th birthday during the application year.
Download the California SAR Eagle Scout Flyer and the Eagle Scout Application.
If you would like to have your Eagle Scout recognized with a certificate of the California SAR for his achievement at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor, please contact us.
The Redlands Chapter deadline is February 1st and the deadline for the California SAR is March 1st.
Award from the California SAR is $1000. Award from the National SAR is $4000.
The SAR Oration Contest, originally named for Joseph S. Rumbaugh, is a national competition sponsored since 1947 by the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution. The contest is designed to explore the influence of the Revolutionary War on present day America. The Contest’s purposes are:
The Redlands Chapter applications open December 1st and the applications for the California SAR close January 15th.
Award from the California SAR is valued up to $2750.
This award is open to all 4th or 5th Grade Elementary School Teachers, 8th Grade and High School American History Teachers, who teach the American Revolution. The selected teachers (up to two each year) will receive a trip to one of the Summer Graduate Teacher Workshops related to the American Revolution presented by the Founding Forward, at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. The Award, valued up to $2,750, includes tuition, room and board*, and transportation expenses (up to $750.00).