The National Geographic Bee is a nationwide contest for schools with any grades four through eight. It is an educational outreach program of the National Geographic Society. With a first-place prize of $25,000 college scholarship--and other prizes in additional scholarships, cash, and classroom materials--the Bee is designed to encourage the teaching and study of geography. Students from schools in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Department of Defense Dependents Schools take part in the National Geographic Bee. Principals of eligible schools must register their schools to participate. There is a minimum requirement of six students from any of the eligible grades to hold a competition.