Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest

Sponsorship and Judging

The 23rd annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest is sponsored by The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, The State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Environmental Resources Network, Inc. (T.E.R.N.).  The theme changes yearly, though the contest is an ongoing educational effort to help children and teachers gain awareness of Georgia’s native plants and animals.  Artists as well as wildlife and plant professionals judge the contest entries based on artistic interpretation, originality, visual impact and contest theme.

Eligibility

• The contest is open to individual students (no group drawings) in Kindergarten through 5th grades.
• Home school groups, public schools and private schools are encouraged to participate.
• Schools/groups may enter one poster from any or all divisions:

Division 1: Kindergarten

Division 2: First and Second Grades

Division 3: Third and Fourth Grades

Division 4: Fifth Grade

• Each school/group may enter no more than at total of four posters to the state level contest (one per division).

Size and Format

1. Outside dimensions cannot exceed 17" x 22" (vertically or horizontally).
2. Collages and other three-dimensional artwork are not suitable for this contest.
3. Posters should be submitted on white tagboard or on white art paper (no matting).
4. DO NOT FOLD. Submit art flat in a package or roll into a mailing tube.
5. If you want the students’ entries returned, you MUST include exact postage (stamps only - no
   metered tapes) and mailing label or the entries will not be returned.

Contest Rules

1. While following the Poster Contest Rules and Guidelines, instruct your students to depict artistic drawings of their findings and arrange for a local competition at your school.
2. Each entry should depict at least one native nongame plant and/or animal of Georgia.  Entries that include identifiable native nongame plants AND animals are ranked higher.  Please include the Artwork Description information on the Poster Contest Entry Form. This demonstrates to the judges the student researched their subject.
3. First-, second- and third-place winners should be chosen at the local level (refer to Contest Awards section).
4. All participating students can receive place award ribbons and a Give Wildlife a Chance certificate (refer to Contest Awards section).
5. Only ONE school-wide winner from each division can be chosen to compete in the state-level contest at The State Botanical Garden of Georgia (refer to Eligibility section). State level entries are normally the artwork of the first-place school winners.
6. All contest entries must adhere to the contest theme: Everyone Can Be a Citizen Scientist!
7. Avoid the use of game species (those legally hunted or fished).  For examples of game species, check out the 2012-2013 Hunting Season Dates [1] and Migratory Bird Seasons [2] webpages.  While these animals are important to the wildlife diversity of Georgia, this competition emphasizes the exploration of Georgia’s nongame plant and animal species.
8. Do not include pictures of exotic, zoo animals.
9. Do not include people as the main focus.

Entry Form

1. Attach a copy of the 23rd Annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest Entry Form to the back of each poster with tape.
2. Please DO NOT use glue or staples.
3. Send poster contest entries to: 

Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest
The State Botanical Garden of Georgia
2450 S. Milledge Ave.
Athens, GA 30605
P: (706) 542-6156; F: (706) 542-3826

ENTRY DEADLINE: Posters must be postmarked by Wednesday, March 27, 2013 to participate. 

Click here [3] to download the entire 2013 Give Wildlife A Chance poster contest brochure.