Endangered Species Day Art Contest
Mar 16, 2010This spring, young people
can celebrate our nation's wildlife and wild places by entering in the Endangered Species Day Art
Contest. The art contest is an integral part of the fifth annual
national Endangered Species Day, celebrated on and around May 21, 2010. The
contest provides youth with an opportunity to learn about endangered species and
express their knowledge and support through artwork.
The Endangered Species Day
Art Contest is organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Endangered
Species Coalition, the Ogden
Museum of Southern Art/ University of New Orleans and the Association of Zoos
and Aquariums (AZA).
Artwork
should highlight one or more land- and/or ocean-dwelling endangered
species—mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, plant, and/or invertebrate
(e.g., insect, spider, snail, coral, crustacean or clam)—found in the
United
States. Entrants are encouraged to depict
species that are found in their region. Entrants may wish to choose an animal
from AZA’s Species Survival Plan
Program or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Spotlight Species.
The deadline for entries is March 26.
Winners will be chosen in
four categories: K-Grade 2, Grades 3-6, Grades 7-9, and Grades 10-12. From
these, one national winner will be selected who will be honored with a special
trophy designed by a gifted young artist and will also be recognized at a
reception in Washington,
D.C. in May, 2010.
The contest will be judged
by a prestigious panel of artists, photographers, actors, scientists and
conservationists. Panel members include Admiral Stephen Rochon, White
House Chief Usher; Jeff Corwin, host of Animal Planet’s Jeff
Corwin Experience; and Jack Hanna, host of Jack Hanna’s Into the
Wild.
For more information about
the Endangered Species Day Art Contest and to register, visit this
site. For a personal experience with endangered species, visit your local AZA-accredited zoo or
aquarium.
Endangered Species Day
Started by the
United States Senate, Endangered Species Day is the third Friday in May. Every
year, thousands of people throughout the country celebrate Endangered Species
Day at parks, wildlife refuges, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, libraries,
schools and community centers. You can participate in festivals, field trips,
park tours, community clean-ups, film showings, classroom presentations, and
many other fun and educational activities. Schools, scout troops and other
educational institutions are encouraged to learn about our nation's wildlife,
birds, fish and plants on the brink of extinction. For more information and for
lesson plans and other educational materials, visit www.EndangeredSpeciesDay.org
Association of Zoos and Aquariums
Founded in
1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation,
education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a
zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting an institution
dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you,
and a better future for all living things. AZA is a leader in global wildlife
conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.
AZA Members: Submit your Zoo & Aquarium News