If you've always dreamed of visiting a national park, and wanted to take your family along, here's your opportunity. Three grand-prize winners of the Traveler's first Take Your Family to the National Parks essay contest will win lodging for four members of their family in one of the country's national parks, and some gear to help to help them enjoy the trip.

Today's younger generations will become tomorrow's park stewards. With that in mind, we want to hear from youngsters in elementary, middle, and high school on how they view the national parks.

Entries are being accepted through March 1 from students in three age brackets: 8-11, 12-15, and 16-18. Essays, which must be solely the work of the participant, must be submitted to [email protected] . Word limits are 300-500 for the first two age brackets, and up to 700 words for 16-18 year-olds.

Elementary students in the 8-11 age bracket should address this question: "Why are national parks good for kids?"

Middle school students in the 12-15 age bracket should address this question: "If you were to write President Obama telling him why the National Parks should be saved, what would you say and why?"

High school students in the 16-18 age bracket should address this question: "What are the greatest threats to our national parks, and how can they be countered?"

For contest rules and submission guidelines, visit this page.

Grand-prize winners, one from each age bracket, will receive:

* The choice of a three-night stay for four members of their family from a range of lodgings in Badlands National Park, Big Bend National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Death Valley National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Isle Royale National Park, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Mammoth Cave National Park, Olympic National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Shenandoah National Park, and Zion National Park.

Participating lodgings include:

* Signal Mountain Lodge in [url=www.nps.gov/grte]Grand Teton National Park
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* Kalaloch, Lake Crescent lodges or the Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort in Olympic National Park

* Mammoth Cave Hotel in Mammoth Cave National Park

* The Skyland Resort or Big Meadows Lodge in Shenandoah National Park

* The Rock Harbor Lodge at Isle Royale National Park, the Rocky Mountain Park Inn at Rocky Mountain National Park

* Zion Lodge in Zion National Park

* The Lodge at Bryce Canyon National Park

* The Furnace Creek Ranch at Death Valley National Park

* The lodges on both North and South rims of Grand Canyon National Park

* And Chisos Mountains Lodge at Big Bend National Park.

Dates are subject to blackout, and transportation to destinations is not provided in this contest but is the responsibility of the students' parents/legal guardians.

* A daypack courtesy of Osprey Packs

* Hiking shoes courtesy of KEEN Footwear

* Socks from Teko socks.

* Water bottles courtesy of Cascade Designs

* Annual Park pass courtesy of National Parks Conservation Association

Runners-up in each age bracket will receive:

* DVD of Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan's The National Parks: America's Best Idea courtesy of National Parks Conservation Association

* Autographed copy of photographer Ian Shive's book, The National Park's, Our American Landscape

* Collection of national park maps from National Geographic Maps