FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MUST SUBMIT BY OCT. 22
Contact: Siobhan Kelley, communications and outreach specialist
302-856-2105 x122; siobhan.kelley@sussexconservation.org
Delaware Conservation Districts sponsor annual conservation poster contest, “Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities”
Georgetown, Del., Sept. 8, 2021 – The New Castle, Kent and Sussex Conservation Districts are accepting entries for the annual conservation poster contest from Delaware public, charter, private or home-schooled students in grades K-12. Posters will be judged on the 2021 theme, “Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities,” in the following grade categories: K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12.
In addition, a computer-generated category is open to all high school students in grades 9-12 at the county level only and are not eligible for state or national judging. First, second and third place winners in each category will receive a cash prize of $50, $25 and $15, respectively.
Posters can be submitted electronically, by mail, or in-person to your local conservation district by Friday, Oct. 22, 2021.
Each district will submit first-place posters in each grade category for judging at the state level. State winners will receive a cash award from the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts. In the event that an insufficient number of posters are received at the county level, the county level judging will be eliminated, and all posters will be judged at the state level. First-place state winners will be entered into the national poster contest.
The annual conservation poster contest provides students an opportunity to convey their thoughts about soil, water, and related natural resource issues through art. It also highlights the educational outreach efforts of conservation districts and their state associations, auxiliaries and agencies. The contest follows the annual stewardship theme developed and sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts.
The 2021 theme, “Healthy Forests, Healthy Communities,” reminds us that trees are vital. As the biggest plants on the planet, they absorb carbon from the atmosphere, stabilize the soil, filter water, provide healthy habitat for wildlife and offer many additional benefits – for nature, people and biodiversity. Not only is it necessary to protect existing trees and plant new ones, but it’s also important to advocate and educate about trees and forest conservation within your community.
For more information and educational resources about the theme and poster contest guidelines visit, https://dacdnet.org/education-outreach/2021nacdpostercontest/ or contact your local conservation district:
- New Castle County, Rick Mickowski, 302-365-8979,
- Kent County, Alisa Bentley, 302-608-5370,
- Sussex County, Siobhan Kelley, 302-856-2105.