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The U.S.F.W.S. (USFWS) looks for student artists for its 2004 Georgia Junior Duck Stamp Art Competition. Young artists from across the state, grades K-12, can compete for recognition, prizes, and scholarships while helping to promote conservation of America's waterfowl and their habitats. Competition is open to private, public and home school students. March 15th, 2004 is the deadline for submitting entries.
Students must select a species of North American waterfowl, research the natural history of the species, and depict the waterfowl in an artistic medium. All artwork submitted must be a 9" by 12" horizontal image, no in excess of 1/4" thick, and represent ducks, geese, or swans found in North America. Loons and mute swans are not eligible.
No writing is permitted on the front of the work. Images may be rendered in oil, acrylic, pastels, pencil, pen, or even crayon. Each entry must be the student contestant's original design and created by his or her own hand.
The Junior Duck Stamp plan includes a curriculum designed to teach about preserving wetland ecosystems. Interested teachers may download a curriculum guide at http://duckstamps.fws.gov or call (703) 358-2000.
For entry rules, forms and a list of eligible species, call (706) 613-9493 or visit http://duckstamps.fws.gov. Artwork and completed official entry forms must be mailed or hand-delivered by March 15th to Georgia Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator, U.S.F.W.S. Georgia Ecological Services, 247 South Milledge Ave., Athens, Georgia 30605.
In Georgia, participating students compete for cash awards and prizes offered by sponsors including Georgia Power Company, the University of Georgia School of Forest Resources, the Georgia Wildlife Federation, and various private businesses. First, second, 3rd and honorable mention is awarded in each age category. All participants gain a certificate of recognition for their efforts.
The student judged to be Georgia's Best-of-Show winner may choose a deluxe tour through one of 5 national wildlife refuges located in the state. Choices include Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in southeast Georgia, Piedmont NWR and Bond Swamp NWR near Macon, Eufaula NWR on the Alabama-Georgia border, or the Savannah Coastal refuges on Georgia's Atlantic shoreline.
Georgia's 2004 Best-of -Show entry also competes nationally in Washington, D.C. Along with a 1st place prize of $4000, the winning Countrywide 1st place design is used to produce the 2004 Federal Junior Duck Stamp. 2nd place Countrywide winner gains $2000, while 3rd place gains $1000 for his or her efforts. The winning Countrywide artist, one parent and a teacher then gain a free trip to Washington, D.C. during the fall to attend the adult Federal Duck Stamp contest.
Students also gain recognition as one hundred pieces of selected artwork tours the state during a yearlong 2004 exhibition. Over 20,000 individuals this fall toured the 2003 exhibition during its stay this fall at the Gardens at Callaway in Pine Mountain, Georgia. The 2003 exhibit can be seen this month at the Thomasville Cultural Center in Thomasville, Georgia through February 12th and at the Georgia Wildlife Federation's Fishing, Turkey Hunting and Outdoor show at the Atlanta Expo from February Sixth through 8th.
To see digital images of 2003, 2002 and 2001 winners, visit the U.S.F.W.S. Georgia Ecological Services website at http://athens.fws.gov. Collectors interested in purchasing the 2003 Junior Duck Stamp may call 1-800-STAMP-24 or visit the U.S. Postal Service at http://www.usps.com.
