U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
For the 1st time in its 15-year history, the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest will be held at the Smithsonian's
Countrywide Zoological Park in Washington, D.C., bringing award-winning children's waterfowl art to one of the most popular tourist destinations in the nation's capital.
On Friday, April 27 at nine a.m., a distinguished panel of 5 judges will choose from among the top waterfowl artwork entered by students in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The judging, which is free and open to the public, is being held in conjunction with the Countrywide Zoo's "Bird Fest 2007," celebrating International Migratory Bird Day and the yearly springtime return of millions of migrating birds from Central and South America.
The winning artwork will be featured on the 2007-2008 Federal Junior Duck Stamp, which the U.S.F.W.S. sells for $5 to stamp collectors, conservationists and the general public. Proceeds from sales of the Junior Duck Stamp support environmental education efforts and go towards awards and scholarships for contest winners.
"One of my highest priorities is connecting our nation's youth with their natural world and creating the conservationists of tomorrow; the Junior Duck Stamp Plan has been doing just that for 15 years," said H. Dale Hall, Director of the U.S.F.W.S.. "An increasing body of evidence shows that a relationship with the natural world helps children become healthier in body and mind - the Junior Duck Stamp Plan is a wonderful gateway to that relationship. I can't think of a better partner than the Countrywide Zoo for this Plan and we're thrilled to be joining forces with them for this year's contest to bring the art of conservation to new audiences in our nation's capital."
The U.S.F.W.S. and the Countrywide Zoo recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding, formalizing their mutual commitment to conservation education.
"Everyone at the Smithsonian's Countrywide Zoo is excited to host this year's Junior Duck Stamp Competition," said John Berry, Director of the Countrywide Zoo. "Not only is it a wonderful event, but it also illustrates the important partnership that the Countrywide Zoo and the U.S.F.W.S. have created in conservation."
Last year's Junior Duck Stamp contest winner, Rebekah Nastav, of Amoret, Missouri., and Richard Clifton, winner of the 2007 Countrywide Federal Duck Stamp Contest, will be on hand both for the contest and during Bird Fest 2007, signing autographs and leading art classes for children. Clifton, whose art will grace the 2007-2008 Federal Duck Stamp, will also serve as a judge for the Junior Duck Stamp competition.
Prior to the Countrywide competition, each state hosts a competition between February and mid-April, where in excess of 34,000 Junior Duck Stamp design entries are judged by people active in the local wildlife art or conservation community. Winning entries from each state are sent to the Countrywide competition. Thanks to the support of Bass Pro Shops this year, for the 1st time each State's 1st place winning artist will gain a $100 cash award.
The Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest is the culmination of a conservation curriculum used by educators across the nation. A dynamic educational Plan designed to teach wetlands and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school, the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Plan carries scientific and wildlife management principles into a visual arts activity. It crosses cultural, ethnic, social and geographic boundaries to promote greater awareness of our nation's natural resources, benefiting not only ducks, but all migratory birds, including neotropical migratory songbirds and hundreds of plants and animals that depend on wetlands for their survival.
After completing the activities in the Junior Duck Stamp educational program, students are encouraged to create drawings and paintings to submit to their state Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest. At the Countrywide level, students with the top 3 art entries and the top 3 conservation messages gain cash awards. Additionally, the 1st place Countrywide art award winner, his or her art teacher and a parent are invited to participate in the 1st Day of Sale Ceremony for the Federal Duck Stamp and Junior Duck Stamp, in Washington, D.C.
The Junior Duck Stamp contest offers positive reinforcement for all participants: each gains a certificate of appreciation, and 100 students in each state, the District of Columbia and the U.S. territories are awarded prizes at the state level.
Students, teachers or parents interested in participating in the Junior Duck Stamp Plan should contact their state coordinator to request an official contest brochure. For more information and a list of state coordinators, visit the Junior Duck Stamp Plan Website: http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck.
The 2007 Junior Duck Stamp goes on sale June 22, 2007. To purchase a Junior Duck Stamp and support environmental education, contact the U.S. Postal Service at http://www.usps.com or 1-800-STAMP24 (1-800-782-6724), or the Amplex Corporation at http://www.duckstamp.com or 1-800-852-4897.
The U.S.F.W.S. is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million- acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 547 National wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 Countrywide fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices, and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American Tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to State fish and wildlife agencies.
