The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now accepting entries for the 2011 Minnesota Junior Duck Stamp Contest, which is administered by Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge). Entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2011.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have held a Jr. Duck Stamp Contest in Minnesota since 1993. Last year, Nick Buchal from Mahtomedi won the Minnesota contest and placed in the top 10 nationally with an oil painting of Green-winged Teals. The conservation message winner, Christopher Wreede from Litchfield is helping to promote awareness of the program through his statement, "A balance between Innovation and Conservation is the key to a balanced future."
This dynamic educational program uses both conservation and design principles to teach wetland habitat and waterfowl biology to students in kindergarten through high school. The program provides an opportunity for students to artistically express their knowledge of the diversity, interdependence and beauty of wildlife.
Students may submit artwork featuring one of the following species: 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. Judging will be open to the general public, and will be begin at 9:00 am on March 21 at Refuge’s Bloomington Visitor Center. 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. Contest judges select a “Best of Show” from the twelve first place winners, which will be submitted to the Federal Duck Stamp Office and entered into the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest held in April at John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, Pennsylvania. Along with the art, a conservation message will be selected from each state’s submission. The top three winners in art and conservation message of the National Junior Duck Stamp Contest receive scholarships.
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. 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 Junior Duck Stamp contest, please contact your Junior Duck Stamp State Coordinator, Mara Koenig at 952-858-0710, mara_koneig@fws.gov. Entries and reference forms should be postmarked by March 15, 2011 and mailed to:
c/o Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge
3815 American Blvd E.
Bloomington, MN 55425
