Calling all young artists: The Jr. Duck Stamp Contest is underway at Crab Orchard refuge | Events

MARION, IL (KFVS) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now accepting entries for the 2013 Illinois Junior Duck Stamp Contest, which is administered by the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge.

Entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2013.

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program is unique in its blending of science and art. It engages children in the study of waterfowl and habitat conservation as well as migration. The program guides students, using scientific and wildlife observation principles, to communicate visually what they have learned through an entry in their state’s Junior Duck Stamp art contest.

This conservation education program is open to any child in kindergarten through high school. Southern Illinois teachers can contact the Refuge about outreach programs and resources, offered free of charge, in support of the Junior Duck Stamp program.

Students may submit artwork featuring one of the following waterfowl families: whistling ducks, swans, geese, brant, dabbling ducks, diving ducks, sea ducks, mergansers, stiff tails, or Hawaiian ducks. A full list of permitted species is available online at http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck. Artwork entries will be judged on the basis of original design, anatomical accuracy, artistic composition and suitability for reproduction on a 1” by 1.5” stamp.

During the contest, students will be judged in four groups according to grade level: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12.Three first, three second and three third place entries, along with 16 honorable mentions will be selected from each group, for a total of 100 winners. Contest judges select a “Best of Show” from the twelve first place winners. The Illinois “Best oif Show” will then be submitted to the Federal Duck Stamp Office and entered into the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest.

The first place art from the national contest is used to create a National Junior Duck Stamp each year. The Junior Duck Stamp is available for $5 from the U.S. Postal Service and from many National Wildlife Refuges.  All proceeds from the sale of the stamps support conservation education and provide awards and scholarships for participating students, teachers and schools.

A downloadable entry form and information on contest rules and regulations for teachers and supervising adults can be found online at http://www.fws.gov/jrduck.  For additional information or if you have questions regarding your student’s or school’s participation in the Jr. Duck Stamp contest, please contact your Jr. Duck Stamp State Coordinator, Kim King-Wrenn at 618-998-5955 or email: Kimberly_King-Wrenn@fws.gov.  Entries and reference forms should be postmarked by March 15, 2013 and mailed to:

C/O Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator
Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge
8588 Route 148
Marion, IL 62959

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