Orkin Buzzer Beater Quiz & Summer Scientist Giveaway

I can't wait for SUMMER and it is almost here! Grilling out on the back deck, baseball games, going on hiking adventures and all the other fun family activities you can do outdoors make it a great time of the year. There’s one thing no one likes about being outdoors, though: mosquitoes! Not only are they a nuisance, but they also pose potentially serious health risks. Fortunately, the experts at Orkin study the science of mosquitoes and other pests closely so they can help keep them away from your home this summer. To help you better prepare your family to avoid those pesky mosquito bites this summer, A Geek Daddy challenges you to take the Orkin BUZZER BEATER Quiz.



So how did you do on the Orkin BUZZER BEATER Quiz?  Orkin knows the information in this quiz because it invests in developing scientific knowledge of mosquitoes so they can properly understand the best way to address the problems they create and properly eliminate them from residential and commercial properties.  While mosquitoes are a nuisance when you observe and learn about them they are impressive creatures.  In fact when you taking a look from a scientific perspective you have to admit insects in general are quite remarkable.  To encourage children to study the insects that live around us, A Geek Daddy has an Orkin Summer Scientist Bug Catching Kit to giveaway.  Hopefully this will help cultivate an interest in science and nature for a child over the summer.

To be eligible for this giveaway you must follow @Geekdad248 on Twitter and retweet our original contest tweet which is embedded below before May 2, 2016 @ 11:59 pm EST.  Must be a US  resident over the age of 18 to participate.  One entry per person and we'll randomly select someone from all eligible entries to receive the Orkin Summer Scientist Bug Catching Kit.

UPDATE: Congrats to Katrina from Cadillac, Michigan who won the giveaway.

Follow @Geekdad248 & RT for chance to win @TheOrkinMan Summer Scientist Bug Catching Kit #LearnWithOrkin #Ad US Only pic.twitter.com/K4MIVcXbAU

— A Geek Daddy (@GeekDad248) April 23, 2016

 
The Orkin Summer Scientist Bug Catching Kits are fun for the whole family to use and enjoy together.  Each pack includes:

Bug Catcher Craft Kit:  This awesome DIY bug catcher kit will let your family's personality shine through while also learning about nature and the world around us.  The kits include a variety of foam ladybugs, dragonflies and more!

Bug Nets:  Explore the great outdoors with these fun mesh insect nets.  They can be used to collect and study butterflies, ladybugs, caterpillars and many other backyard creatures.

See-Through Bug Jars:  Reveal the wonders of your backyard with these clear bug jars.  Each transparent plastic box has a magnifying lid for better insect viewing.  Young explorers love discovering worms, butterflies, ants, and insects.

Magic Color Scratch Little Garden Critters:  Scratch faces, designs and more on these Magic Color Scratch Little Garden Critters! A perfect kids' activity for critter lovers, simply scratch away the black coating to reveal vibrant rainbow colors.  Includes butterflies, frogs, turtles and more.

Glow-in-the-Dark Creepy Crawlers:  Turn off the lights and let them glow!  These vinyl glow-in-the-dark bugs are lots of fun for all ages.

Still have questions about pesky insects and critters that may invade your home or backyard during the summer months?  Ask the Orkin Man!  Reach out to Orkin on Twitter and Facebook with your questions or visit their youtube channel to view useful videos like this one on whether mosquitoes prefer adults over children.



Disclaimer & Rules / FTC Notice:  A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but ORKIN LLC is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize. By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion. A Geek Daddy Blog hosted this contest and blog post based upon ORKIN LLC providing the prize to the selected winner. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Prize will be delivered by UPS or FedEx so no P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses. A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this giveaway as a benefit to our readers. Information for this post was provided by ORKIN LLC. A Geek Daddy Blog did not receive any financial compensation for publishing this post but did receive one of the prizes for personal use.

#LEARNWITHORKIN

Class is in session: Orkin Household Pests 101

** A Geek Daddy received complimentary products from Orkin for participating in the #LearnWithOrkin blogger campaign. Content & Prize supplied by the Sponsor **

It’s back-to-school time and class is in session … Orkin is back with Household Pests 101 – featuring some of Orkin’s scientific knowledge of pests. The Orkin Man is here to help you #LearnWithOrkin so you don’t get schooled by pest problems in your own home. Click on the images below to check out some helpful videos, download the “Protect Your Home” Checklist for valuable tips on keeping pests at bay, and then take the Pest Prevention Pop Quiz so when your kids complain about taking a test at school you can say you took one too.



We can't give you a report card with an A on it for acing this quiz, but A Geek Daddy does have an Orkin Back-To-School Prize Pack to give out to one of our readers who completes the Pest Prevention Pop Quiz.  You can earn up to 3 entries to win this great prize pack for parents who are busy and on the go by doing the following prior to 11:59pm EST on September 7, 2015:

UPDATE: Congratulations to Angela from Davie. Florida who won the Orkin Back-to-School prize pack.

EMAIL (1 Entry)  E-mail thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com your name and mailing address and share with us the most useful or surprising tip you learned from the quiz. Email subject line should be Household Pests 101. 

FACEBOOK (1 Entry) Visit our Facebook page and on the contest post submit a comment sharing your own household pest prevention story or tips.  Please include the hashtag #LearnWithOrkin in your comment.

TWITTER (1 Entry) Follow @Geeky_Dad on Twitter & tweet: I took the @AskTheOrkinMan Quiz on A Geek Daddy Blog ( @Geeky_Dad ) for a chance to win a Back-To-School Prize Pack #LearnWithOrkin [Ad]

All entries will be assigned a number based upon the order they are received and one lucky entrant will be randomly selected to win the prize courtesy of Orkin.  Emails will only be used to contact the winner and will all be deleted at the conclusion of the promotion.

The Orkin Back-To-School Prize Pack contains the following:

One (1) Silver USB Portable Charger - We know you're on the go from sun up to sun down and can't afford not to be accessible.  This emergency charger is small, sleek, and can help your phone keep up with your busy lifestyle.

One (1) Double Wall Stainless Steel Travel Mug w/lid - Your car isn't the only thing that needs fueling up in the morning ... this stainless steel travel mug is a great way to ensure your morning coffee is always within an arm's reach.

One (1) Orkin "Protect Your Home" PDF Checklist - this handy checklist from the experts at Orkin will help you think like a pest in order to help protect your home from them.

Disclaimer & Rules: You must be a US resident to enter over the age of 18. A Geek Daddy Blog will select a random winner on approximately September 8, 2015 ( 1 winner will be selected from a random draw of all eligible entries - each submitted entry will be assigned a number and a random number will be drawn to select a winner based upon total entries ). A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but ORKIN LLC is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize. By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion. A Geek Daddy Blog hosted this contest and blog post based upon ORKIN LLC providing the prize to the selected winner. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Prize will be delivered by UPS or FedEx so no P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses. A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this giveaway as a benefit to our readers. Information for this post was provided by ORKIN LLC. A Geek Daddy Blog did not receive any financial compensation for publishing this post but did receive one of the prizes for personal use.

Don't Let the Bed Bugs Bite

Ugh! The Metro Detroit area where we live was just ranked second in a list that you don't want to be on ... Top Beg Bug Cities in the USA. Normally you want your community ranked high on lists, but not this one.  Each year the pest control company ORKIN ranks cities by the number of bed bug treatments they've performed.  Orkin just released their most recent ranking which covers from January through December of 2014 and Detroit jumped from fourth to second place which is obviously not a direction you want to see your community trending.  Other highly ranked cities included the Windy City (Chicago) in first place, the Buckeyes in Columbus Ohio were third and Cleveland was fifth showing that beg bugs appear to be taking a liking to the blood of us Midwesterners.  CLICK HERE to check out how your city may have fared in Orkin's top bed bug cities ranking.

Bed bugs are nasty pests - brownish oval insects about the size of an apple seed - that feed on the blood of animals or humans normally hiding in the daylight and sneaking out at night to eat while their victim is sleeping thus getting the name "bed bugs."  Fortunately, bed bugs aren't know to spread disease like mosquitoes but unfortunately their bites can leave itchy bloody welts on areas of skin that are exposed while sleeping.

To help spread the word about the growing bed bug problem in the United States, our friends at Orkin have provided A Geek Daddy blog with a new game they have released Bed Bug Feud.  Can you beat the clock and make it to the leader board?  E-mail your score to thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com and we'll randomly pick one entrant to get a free CleanRest Pillow Encasement (retail value $20.00) to help protect your bed from these pesky bugs.

UPDATE: Congrats to Peggy from Alexandria VA who won the Bed Bug Feud prize!



Think you have what it takes to make it on the leaderboard? Play Bed Bug Feud and beat the clock to be crowned the Bed Bug Champion!  One A Geek Daddy blog player will win this CleanRest Pillow Encasement:

Check out this informational chart from Orkin for some tips that may help you win the Bed Bug Feud:

Now don't panic, not every home has or will have a problem with bed bugs but I hope this game and these tips will give you the insight and information to keep an eye out for trouble and know what to do if you determine these pests have paid you a visit - call the Orkin man!  S.L.E.E.P. tight and don't let the bed bugs bite!  Remember to email us your scores at thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com for a chance to win a CleanRest Pillow Encasement which is not only good for protecting yourself from bed bugs but can also assist people with allergies get a good night's sleep.

 Disclaimer & Rules: You must be a US resident to enter over the age of 18. A Geek Daddy Blog will select a random winner on Sunday, February 8, 2015 ( 1 winner will be selected from a random draw of all eligible entries - each submitted entry will be assigned a number and a random number will be drawn to select a winner based upon total entries ). A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but ORKIN LLC is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize. By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion. A Geek Daddy Blog hosted this contest and blog post based upon ORKIN LLC providing the prize to the selected winner. Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Prize will be delivered by UPS or FedEx so no P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses. A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this giveaway as a benefit to our readers. Information for this post was provided by ORKIN LLC. A Geek Daddy Blog did not receive any financial compensation for publishing this post but did receive one of the prizes for personal use.

Could you Survive as a Mouse?

Orkin "Mouse in a House" Game & Giveaway

A Geek Daddy's Little Helper

Brrr! We were outside raking autumn leaves and mowing the yard one last time before winter and I wasn't expecting it to be as brisk as it was.  I'm not looking forward to cold temperatures becoming the daily norm around here but with Halloween passed and Thanksgiving approaching that time of year is here.  Fortunately, I have a cozy house to escape the winter chill in.  What though becomes of all the critters in your neighborhood where the outdoors is their home?

Many of the birds migrate, bats, racoons and skunks tend to sleep through much of the winter in their dens, and rodents often try to invite themselves into your home to take advantage of the warmth, food and shelter.  We may not like the sound of unwelcome visitors treating our home like a winter timeshare, but how would you look at the situation if you were a mouse looking to get out of the cold?  Our friends at Orkin challenge you to see what you would do if you were a mouse trying to survive the winter through their new interactive app #MouseInAHouse 

Try your luck by playing "Mouse in a House", a choose-your-own-adventure game that puts you in the shoes of a rodent looking to survive the upcoming harsh winter season.  Give it your best shot to stay alive and see how long you last!

To help keep one lucky A GEEK DADDY BLOG reader warm this winter, Orkin is providing us with a Mouse In A House Cozy Fleece Blanket ( 4'x6' ) to giveaway.  Just follow the instructions below before Sunday, November 9 @ 11:59pm EST to enter and one random entry will be selected to win.

UPDATE: Congrats to our winner Pat S from Alexandria VA

 ENTRY #1:  Email thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com with your name, mailing address with subject line MOUSE IN A HOUSE.

ENTRY #2:  Tell us either in a blog comment or your Entry #1 email a funny or horrific story about a mouse in your house.

ENTRY #3:  Follow A GEEK DADDY BLOG on Facebook and tell us your FB identity in your Entry #1 email.

ENTRY #4:  Follow A GEEK DADDY BLOG on Google+ and tell us your Google+ identity in your Entry #1 email.

Basically don't send us an email until you've done all four things and include all the info in one message.  Entry #1 is the only required submission and the other three are optional for a maximum of up to four entries.

Disclaimer & Rules:

You must be a US resident to enter over the age of 18. A Geek Daddy Blog will select a random winner on  Monday, November 10, 2014 ( 1 winner will be selected from a random draw of all eligible entries - each submitted entry will be assigned a number and a random number will be drawn to select a winner based upon total entries ).  A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but ORKIN LLC is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize. By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion. A Geek Daddy Blog hosted this contest and blog post based upon ORKIN LLC providing the prize to the selected winner.  Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Prize will be delivered by UPS or FedEx so no P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses. A Geek Daddy Blog is hosting this giveaway as a benefit to our readers.  Information for this post was provided by ORKIN LLC.  A Geek Daddy Blog did not receive any financial compensation for publishing this post.

If you do find mice in your house this winter you may want to contact Orkin at 1-800-800-ORKIN to help eliminate the problem.  Check out Orkin on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.

FACT or FICTION: Do you know the TRUTH when it comes to a Bug's Life?

 Take Orkin's Scientific Fact or Scientific Fake Quiz

for a chance to win a Scientific Back-to-School prize pack

You've heard the myths about bugs before.  Do you know what's fact and what's fake?  Take the Orkin Scientific Fact or Scientific Fake Quiz below to test your knowledge.  Be sure to watch every clip for the scoop on these infamous bug myths.

A Geek Daddy Blog is giving away a Scientific Back-to-School Prize Pack courtesy of our friends at Orkin.  The prize pack includes:

• Clip-on Fisheye Lens (iPhone, Galazy, Android compatible)

• Orkin On-the-Go Drink Tumbler

• Orkin Drawstring Bag

• Orkin "Field Notes" Notebook w/ Pen

For the win, watch all of the Scientific Fact or Scientific Fake videos above and than do one or all of the following (Entries will not be judged) to earn up to 3 entries:

ENTRY 1 - email thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com with your own creative bug myth.  Include your full name and mailing address.

ENTRY 2 - Tweet about a bug myth you had been fooled about including @Geeky_Dad and #OrkinMan within your message.

ENTRY 3 - Leave a comment on this blog post regarding which Scientific Fact or Scientific Fake video is your favorite & why.

Contest ends Thursday, August 28th at 11:59 pm EST.  You must be a US resident to enter over the age of 18.  One random winner will be selected on Friday, August 29, 2014 (Each eligible entry will be assigned a number and winner will be selected from a random number draw). 

A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but ORKIN LLC is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize.  By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion. A Geek Daddy Blog hosted this contest and blog post based upon ORKIN LLC providing a Scientific Back-to-School Prize Pack to the selected winner. Each household is only eligible to win a Scientific Back-to-School Prize Pack via blog reviews and giveaways once.  Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Prize will be delivered by UPS or FedEx so no P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses.

For more information about the insects in our world check out ORKIN's resources on Facebook and its website.

DISCLAIMER:  In addition to awarding a prize pack to the winner of this contest, ORKIN LLC also provided A GEEK DADDY Blog with a prize pack as part of the blog's participation in this promotion.

Go on a Bug Safari in your Backyard

We were hanging out on the deck in our backyard the other night when this amazing dragonfly flew by us and landed on the side fence.  The first thing that normally comes to mind when you think of "bugs" is pests like ants and termites, but these creatures can also be very majestic and intriguing.  If you are looking for something to keep your kids amused this summer that might also be a little bit educating in addition to entertaining consider sending them on a Bug Safari.  Take a trip to a local park or nature trail, or even just search around your own yard, looking for bugs.  Have a competition who can find the most variety of insects during your bug safari to help inspire your kids to get in the mood.  Encourage your explorers while on safari to take take notes and pictures of the insects they come across to document the their finding for the contest and to encourage them to learn more about the bugs they've found.

ORKIN has created a new video series called "Bug Wisdom" meant to be a reminder that some of life's biggest lessons come from small places.  Instead of just thinking of bugs as pests that you need ORKIN to come out and eliminate for you consider bugs as smart, curious creatures that we humans can learn a lot from their ways.  For example, you may be afraid of a honey bee's sting but without these insects our world's food supply would be in a lot of trouble...and unfortunately over the last few years honey bee populations have been in mysterious decline.  Insects are a great way to explore a variety of educational lessons with children including topics like ecosystems and food chains.  A Bug Safari can be an interesting and fun way to approach some of these topics with kids!

Click through the "Bug Wisdom" videos above and than take the SPIRIT BUG Quiz.  This quiz will compare your traits with those of the bugs featured in ORKIN's "Bug Wisdom" featurette to identify which bug you most like.Use this "Bug Wisdom" featurette and the Spirit Bug Quiz to inspire your kids to go on a Bug Safari.

To help A GEEK DADDY Blog's readers go on their own bug safari, ORKIN is providing one lucky person with their very own ORKIN BACKYARD EXPLORERS KIT.  The Explorer's Kit includes:

+ 9 page activity bug book;

+ ORKIN Bugview Bug Catching Tool & Magnifier

+ Red/Black Summer Wayfarer Sunglasses

UPDATE (7/3/2014):  Congratulations to Nancy F. from Michigan who won the ORKIN Explorers Kit.

One winner will be chosen from all eligible entries.  For a chance to win do the following:

ENTRY #1:  Follow @Geeky_Dad on twitter and tweet what your Spirit Bug is including the hashtag #BugWisdom & @Geeky_Dad in your message.

ENTRY #2:  Email thegeekdaddy [at] yahoo [dot] com with your Spirit Bug and your mailing address with subject line ORKIN BACKYARD EXPLORERS

You must be a US resident to enter over the age of 18.  I will select a random winner on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 ( I winner will be selected from a random draw of all eligible entries).  For a chance to win submit your entries before Tuesday, July 1 at 11:59pm EST.  You can enter by email or twitter...you will get 2 entries if you do both.

A Geek Daddy Blog will be responsible for selecting the winner of this contest, but ORKIN LLC is responsible for fulfillment and delivery of the prize.  By participating in this contest you waive any liability towards A Geek Daddy Blog or its publisher that may arise from your involvement with this promotion. A Geek Daddy Blog hosted this contest and blog post based upon ORKIN LLC providing a BACKYARD EXPLORERS KIT to the selected winner. Each household is only eligible to win an ORKIN BACKYARD EXPLORERS KIT via blog reviews and giveaways once.  Only one entrant per mailing address per giveaway.  If you have won the same prize on another blog, you will not be eligible to win again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Prize will be delivered by UPS or FedEx so no P.O. Boxes are allowed as mailing addresses.

For more information about the insects in our world check out ORKIN's resources on Facebook and its website.

DISCLAIMER:  In addition to awarding a prize pack to the winner of this contest, ORKIN LLC also provided A GEEK DADDY Blog with a prize pack as part of the blog's participation in this promotion.