Contact: Dawn Webb, Conservation Relations, phone: (302) 653-2880
or Joanna Wilson, Public Affairs, phone: (302) 739-9902

Delaware Students Invited to Enter 2006 Kids for Conservation Poster Contest

Delaware students are invited to blend their artistic talents with their thoughts on wildlife conservation and enter the 2006 Kids for Conservation Poster Contest. This year’s theme, “Get Hooked on Wildlife,” emphasizes the importance of all wildlife – plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and insects, as well as their habitats.

Sponsored by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, the contest is open to grades K through 12, to be judged in five grade categories: K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12.

Posters should be 9 inches by 12 inches and include a conservation message with a short, catchy slogan that encourages the public to become more aware of wildlife and its habitat as well as the benefits of conservation. Any media may be used, including paint, crayon, colored pencil and charcoal.

The entries will be reviewed by a panel of five judges, with winners in each category to be chosen based on conservation message, visual effectiveness, originality and universal appeal. First place winners in each category will receive ribbons. The Best of Show winner will receive a $100 savings bond and his or her artwork will be featured in literature for the Project Nature Share Program.

Entries will be judged and displayed at the 5th Annual Waterfowl Festival, to be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 at Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Milton. The event will also include demonstrations of fly fishing, dog retrieving, decoy carving, wild game cooking and duck and goose calling; an air rifle shooting range; a guided canoe trip on Prime Hook Creek; hay wagon refuge tours; more than 30 environmental exhibitors and live music by Junior Wilson. For more on the event, call the refuge at 302-684-8419 or visit http://primehook.fws.gov.

Poster contest entries must be postmarked by Friday, Oct. 6 and mailed to Prime Hook Wildlife Refuge, 11978 Turkle Pond Road, Milton, DE 19968. For complete rules and an entry form, please visit www.fw.delaware.gov.  For more information about the contest, please contact Dawn Webb at 302-653-2880 or Kelly Hudson at 302-684-8419.
 

-30-