The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service invites students to learn about wildlife conservation and express their creativity by entering the 2011 Junior Duck Stamp competition. All entries must be postmarked by midnight, Tuesday, March 15.
The Georgia Junior Duck Stamp competition recognizes Georgia’s top student waterfowl artists. Public, private, home-schooled and art studio students from kindergarten through high school are invited to compete for recognition, prizes and scholarships in an activity that promotes the conservation of America’s wetlands and waterfowl habitat.
Go to www.fws.gov/juniorduck/ for contest information, rules, a list of eligible species, entry requirements, entry forms and waterfowl curriculum.
Each year, hundreds of Georgia students compete in this competition. Teachers can use an integrated science and art curriculum provided by the service. Each participating student must research and then artistically portray a duck, goose or other waterfowl species native to North America on paper. All artwork submitted must be an original 9-inch by 12-inch horizontal image of North American ducks, geese or swans. All participants receive a certificate of appreciation.
All artwork with attached official entry and reference forms should be mailed to:
Georgia Junior Duck Stamp Program
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1875 Century Bldv., suite 240
Atlanta, GA 30345
For more contest information or for entry forms, call 404-679-7070 or go to www.fws.gov/juniorduck/EntryPacket.htm.
Contest judging will take place at the service’s Southeast regional office on Tuesday, April 5. A total of 100 winners and one best of show will be selected from the four different age groups. The best of show will compete nationally in Washington, D.C. The national first place winner is then used as the federal Junior Duck Stamp, which is sold by the U.S. Postal Service and Amplex Corporation for $5 per stamp. Proceeds from the sale of Junior Duck Stamps support conservation education and provide awards and scholarships for the students, teachers and schools that participate in the program.
The Georgia 2011 winning artwork will tour the state on public exhibit at venues ranging from Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Elachee Nature Center in Gainesville and the Macon Museum of Arts and Sciences.