Design2Fly Challenge Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE AN ENTRANT'S SCORE OR CHANCES OF WINNING.

Access to a Design2Fly Builder Kit is required to create a qualifying model, but the kit may be purchased, borrowed, received as a gift, or otherwise lawfully obtained.

The Design2Fly Challenge Contest is sponsored by Estes Industries, LLC, 1295 H Street, Penrose, Colorado 81240.

1. Contest Overview

The Design2Fly Challenge Contest, referred to in these Official Rules as the "Contest," is a skill-based competition in which eligible entrants are invited to submit an original model created using the Design2Fly Builder Kit.

Eligible submissions will be evaluated according to the judging criteria described in these Official Rules. One grand prize winner will receive a $100 Estes Rockets gift card.

Estes Rockets may also select eligible submissions to feature on its social media accounts, websites, emails, or other marketing channels. Selection for a feature is separate from the grand prize judging process and is not guaranteed.

2. Eligibility

The Contest is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry.

An eligible adult may submit a model created by their child. In that situation, the adult submitting the entry will be considered the official entrant and must be the child's parent or legal guardian. The adult entrant will be responsible for the entry, any required permissions, and acceptance of any prize.

Children may not submit entries or personal information directly to Sponsor.

Employees, officers, directors, representatives, and agents of Estes Industries, LLC, along with members of their immediate families and individuals living in the same household, are not eligible to enter or win. Immediate family includes spouses, parents, legal guardians, children, siblings, and their respective spouses.

The Contest is void outside the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and wherever prohibited or restricted by law.

3. Contest Period

The Contest begins at 12:00 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time on August 1, 2026 and ends at 11:59 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on August 31, 2026, referred to as the "Contest Period."

Sponsor's computer system is the official timekeeping device for the Contest. Entries received before or after the Contest Period will not be eligible.

4. How to Enter

During the Contest Period, create an original model using components from the Design2Fly Builder Kit and submit a photograph or video of the completed model using one of the entry methods described below.

The post or comment must include #Design2FlyContest. Place the hashtag where it is clear and easy to see, rather than hiding it among numerous other hashtags or below additional content.

Instagram Entry

Publish an original photograph or video of the completed model as a public Instagram feed post or Reel. The post must:

  • Tag @estesrockets
  • Include #Design2FlyContest
  • Remain publicly viewable through completion of winner verification

Instagram Stories are not eligible because they may expire before Sponsor can review or verify the entry.

Facebook Entry

Locate the designated Design2Fly Challenge Contest post on the official Estes Rockets Facebook page. Add an original photograph or video of the completed model in a comment on that post and include #Design2FlyContest in the comment.

Sharing the Contest post to a personal timeline, sharing it to another person's timeline, or tagging friends is not required and will not provide any additional benefit.

X Entry

Publish an original photograph or video of the completed model as a public post on X. The post must:

  • Mention @EstesRockets
  • Include #Design2FlyContest
  • Remain publicly viewable through completion of winner verification

Entries must be visible and searchable by Sponsor. Sponsor is not responsible for privacy settings, platform filters, technical limitations, incorrect account tags, misspelled hashtags, deleted posts, suspended accounts, or other circumstances that prevent an entry from being located or verified.

5. Entry Limit

Limit one entry per eligible adult entrant during the entire Contest Period, regardless of the social media platform used.

An adult may submit either their own model or a model created by their child, but not both. An adult may not submit separate entries on behalf of multiple children.

Entries submitted through multiple platforms by the same entrant will be treated as duplicate entries and may be disqualified.

The use of multiple social media accounts, false identities, automated systems, bots, scripts, or other methods intended to obtain additional entries is prohibited.

Repeatedly publishing the same or substantially similar entry is prohibited and may result in disqualification.

6. Model Requirements

The submitted model must:

  • Be an original model created using components from the Design2Fly Builder Kit
  • Reflect the entrant's or participating child's own design choices and creative work
  • Be assembled in a manner consistent with accepted model rocketry safety practices
  • Be capable of being photographed or recorded clearly enough for the judges to evaluate the design
  • Comply with these Official Rules and all applicable laws

Additional adhesives, finishing materials, paint, decals, and common modeling supplies may be used. Sponsor may disqualify a model that does not meaningfully use components from the Design2Fly Builder Kit.

7. Submission Requirements

Each photograph, video, caption, comment, and other material included with an entry is collectively referred to as the "Submission."

Each Submission must:

  • Be created by the entrant or submitted with permission from the person who created it
  • Accurately represent the model being entered
  • Not infringe any copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other right belonging to another person or organization
  • Not include unlawful, dangerous, threatening, defamatory, hateful, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate material
  • Not depict unsafe or unlawful construction, handling, launching, or use of model rockets or rocket engines
  • Comply with the terms, rules, and policies of the social media platform used

If a Submission contains an identifiable person other than the entrant, the entrant must have that person's permission to include their image, voice, name, or likeness.

If a Submission contains or was created by a minor, the adult entrant represents that they are the minor's parent or legal guardian and have authority to submit the content and grant the permissions described in these Official Rules.

Submissions should not display a child's full name, home address, school name, telephone number, email address, precise location, or other sensitive personal information.

Sponsor may disqualify any Submission that Sponsor determines, in its reasonable discretion, does not comply with these Official Rules or could negatively affect Sponsor, the Contest, another person, or the public.

8. Judging

All eligible entries will be evaluated by a panel of judges selected by Sponsor. Judges may include Estes employees, designers, model rocketry professionals, or other qualified representatives.

Entries will be scored according to the following criteria:

  • Creativity and originality: 40%
    How distinctive, imaginative, and original the overall model design appears.
  • Inventive use of Design2Fly components: 30%
    How creatively and effectively the entrant used, combined, or adapted parts from the Design2Fly Builder Kit.
  • Overall design and visual presentation: 20%
    The model's proportions, visual balance, color choices, finishing, and overall appearance.
  • Craftsmanship and attention to detail: 10%
    The apparent care, execution, and thoughtful details demonstrated in the completed model.

The eligible entry receiving the highest combined score will be selected as the potential grand prize winner.

If two or more entries receive the same combined score, the entry receiving the higher score for creativity and originality will be ranked higher.

If a tie remains, the entry receiving the higher score for inventive use of Design2Fly components will be ranked higher. If a tie still remains, the judges will compare the tied entries and select the entry they determine best represents the overall goals of the Design2Fly Challenge.

All judging decisions are final and binding.

9. Social Media Features

Sponsor may select any number of eligible Submissions to feature on Estes Rockets social media accounts, websites, emails, advertisements, or other marketing channels.

Social media feature selections will be made at Sponsor's editorial discretion and may consider visual quality, variety, storytelling, suitability for a particular channel, or other editorial factors.

Being featured does not mean that an entry received the highest judging score, and an entry does not need to be featured to be eligible for the grand prize.

Sponsor is not required to feature any particular Submission or any minimum number of Submissions.

10. Grand Prize

One grand prize winner will receive one Estes Rockets gift card with an approximate retail value of $100.

The gift card is subject to all terms, conditions, limitations, and restrictions applicable to Estes Rockets gift cards.

The prize is nontransferable and may not be substituted or redeemed for cash, except where required by law.

Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if the advertised prize becomes unavailable for reasons beyond Sponsor's reasonable control.

The winner is responsible for any federal, state, or local taxes and any other expenses associated with accepting or using the prize that are not expressly included in these Official Rules.

11. Winner Notification and Verification

The potential grand prize winner is expected to be selected within 10 business days after the Contest Period ends.

A potential winner may be contacted through a direct message, a reply to the winning post or comment, or another reasonable method available through the social media platform used to enter.

Sponsor will not request sensitive personal information in a public comment. A potential winner may be directed to communicate privately with Sponsor through an official Estes Rockets account or email address.

The potential winner must respond within five business days after the first notification attempt.

Sponsor may require the potential winner to provide proof of eligibility and complete an affidavit of eligibility, liability release, publicity release, prize acceptance form, parental or legal guardian confirmation, or other reasonable documentation.

If a potential winner cannot be contacted, does not respond by the deadline, is found to be ineligible, does not complete required documentation, declines the prize, or does not comply with these Official Rules, the potential winner will be disqualified.

If a potential winner is disqualified, Sponsor may select the next highest-scoring eligible entry as an alternate potential winner.

The winner is not confirmed until Sponsor has completed all required verification.

The prize is expected to be delivered electronically within approximately 30 days after winner verification is complete.

12. Permission to Use Submissions

Entrants retain ownership of their Submissions.

By entering, each entrant grants Sponsor and its affiliates a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to reproduce, display, publish, repost, crop, resize, edit for length or formatting, and otherwise use the Submission in connection with:

  • Administering and promoting the Contest
  • Announcing or recognizing participants and the winner
  • Promoting the Design2Fly Builder Kit
  • Marketing Estes Rockets, its products, programs, and model rocketry community

This permission includes use on Sponsor's websites, social media accounts, emails, digital advertising, printed materials, retail materials, presentations, and other promotional channels without additional notice or compensation, unless prohibited by law.

Sponsor may identify the entrant or builder using a first name, last initial, social media username, city, state, or other information approved by the entrant.

When a Submission was created by or contains a minor, the adult entrant confirms that they have authority to grant this permission on the minor's behalf.

Sponsor is not obligated to publish, repost, or otherwise use any Submission.

13. Entrant Representations

By entering, each entrant represents and warrants that:

  • The entrant meets all eligibility requirements
  • The Submission complies with these Official Rules
  • The entrant has all rights and permissions needed to submit the Submission
  • The Submission does not violate the rights of any other person or organization
  • Any statements made in connection with the Submission are truthful and not misleading
  • If a minor created or appears in the Submission, the entrant is the minor's parent or legal guardian and has authority to act on the minor's behalf

14. General Conditions

Sponsor reserves the right to cancel, suspend, extend, or modify the Contest if fraud, technical failure, platform changes, unauthorized intervention, natural disaster, legal restriction, or another cause beyond Sponsor's reasonable control affects the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper operation of the Contest.

Sponsor may disqualify any person who:

  • Tampers with the entry or judging process
  • Interferes with the Contest
  • Violates these Official Rules
  • Provides false or misleading information
  • Uses multiple accounts or identities
  • Attempts to manipulate or improperly influence the judges
  • Acts in a disruptive, abusive, threatening, or unsportsmanlike manner

Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, misdirected, deleted, hidden, or undeliverable entries or communications.

Sponsor is also not responsible for technical failures involving social media platforms, internet service, email systems, devices, software, networks, servers, or other technology.

15. Release and Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, each entrant agrees to release and hold harmless Sponsor, its parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies, representatives, employees, officers, directors, and agents from claims, injuries, losses, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses arising from:

  • Participation in the Contest
  • Creation or submission of a model or Submission
  • Construction, handling, display, or launch of a model rocket
  • Acceptance, possession, misuse, or use of the prize
  • Sponsor's authorized use of a Submission

Nothing in these Official Rules limits any rights or remedies that cannot lawfully be waived or limited.

16. Social Media Platform Release

By entering, each entrant completely releases Instagram, Facebook, Meta, and X from any responsibility or liability relating to the Contest.

The Contest is not sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Instagram, Facebook, Meta, or X.

Any questions, comments, or complaints regarding the Contest must be directed to Sponsor and not to any social media platform.

17. Privacy

Information collected in connection with the Contest will be used to administer the Contest, evaluate entries, verify eligibility, contact potential winners, deliver the prize, feature selected Submissions, comply with legal obligations, and carry out the permissions described in these Official Rules.

Entry into the Contest does not automatically enroll an entrant in marketing communications. Any separate marketing subscription will require the entrant's affirmative consent.

Sponsor will not knowingly request Contest entry information directly from a child. Entries involving a child must be submitted and managed by the child's parent or legal guardian.

Personal information will be handled in accordance with the Estes Rockets Privacy Policy.

18. Governing Law and Disputes

Except where prohibited, all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation, and enforceability of these Official Rules or the rights and obligations of an entrant and Sponsor will be governed by the laws of the State of Colorado, without regard to conflict of law principles.

Except where prohibited, any legal claim relating to the Contest must be brought individually, without resort to any form of class action, in a state or federal court with jurisdiction serving Fremont County, Colorado.

19. Winner Announcement

After the winner has been verified, Sponsor may announce the winner's first name, last initial, state of residence, social media username, and winning Submission on the Estes Rockets website and official social media accounts.

To request the winner's name after the Contest has concluded, email marketing@estesrockets.com with the subject line Design2Fly Challenge Winner.

20. Sponsor

Estes Industries, LLC
1295 H Street
Penrose, Colorado 81240
marketing@estesrockets.com
719-372-6565