LAKE COUNTRY
Teachers and students across Georgia are invited to celebrate wildlife through art by participating in the 34th annual Give Wildlife a Chance poster contest.
The goal of this competition is for students in grades K-5 to generate knowledge of and appreciation for Georgia’s biological diversity. The initiative is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, and The Environmental Resources Network (TERN) friends group of DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section.
The 2023-24 theme is What’s That? Habitat! which highlights the natural resources that make up a plant’s or an animal’s home. This home is called a habitat, and it’s where they can find everything needed for survival, such as food, water, shelter and space.
Some wildlife, such as raccoons, cardinals, and mosquitofish, are very adaptable and can live in a variety of habitats. Others, such as bog turtles, gopher frogs, and shoal spider lilies, require specific habitat types to thrive, so these species can be found only in certain areas. Habitats filled with native plants – either in the wilderness or in backyards – attract more wildlife because they offer nutritious foods that insects and animals like and are used to eating.
As inspiration for their artwork, students can observe birds and other wildlife in their backyard or schoolyard to see how they interact with their environments. Even if neighborhood greenspace is scarce, a world of insects and plants can still be found nearby. City, county, and state parks are great places to discover nature, too.
After creating artwork based on this year’s theme and according to contest rules, participants will enter their drawings and paintings at the local school level. Top school-level entries then proceed to the state contest at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens. First--, second-, and third-place winners will be chosen for four divisions: kindergarten, first and second grade, third and fourth grade, and fifth grade. The deadline for schools to submit digital photos of state-level entries is March 8, 2024.
The top-12, state-level winners’ artwork will be showcased on the DNR Wildlife Resources Division and State Botanical Garden social media sites. Also, as a special perk, each state-level winner’s teacher and one parent will be eligible to receive a free DNR wildlife license plate, courtesy of TERN. For contest rules, awards, entry forms, and other information, visit online at georgiawildlife.com/ PosterContest.
Learn more at georgiawildlife.com/about/ what-we-do, or call Wildlife Conservation Section offices in Social Circle at 706-557-3213, Forsyth at 478-9941438, or Brunswick at 912-264-7218.
-Contributed