Annual Endangered Species Day Youth Art Contest

Elementary, middle and high school teachers are encouraged to have their

students participate in the annual Endangered Species Day Youth Art

Contest, an integral part of the seventh annual national Endangered

Species Day, celebrated on May 18, 2012.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and numerous conservation organizations

will observe Endangered Species Day to recognize conservation efforts

underway across the nation aimed at helping America’s imperiled species.

Started in 2006 by the United States Congress, Endangered Species Day is a

celebration of the nation’s rarest plant and animal species. The Youth Art

Contest provides students from kindergarten to high school with an

opportunity to learn about endangered species and express their knowledge

and support through artwork. Young artists who are home schooled and

participate in youth groups are also eligible to submit their art. Entries

must be postmarked by March 15, 2012.

The Youth Art Contest will be judged by a prestigious panel of artists,

photographers and conservationists. Winners will be chosen in four

categories: K-Grade 2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12, and will

receive plaques and art supply gift packs. In addition, one grand prize

winner will be honored with their name engraved on a special trophy and

receive a round-trip flight to Washington, D.C. with one guardian to

attend a reception in May. The grand prize winner will also receive a

special art lesson (via Skype) from well-known artist Wyland.

The Youth Art Contest is organized by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,

the Endangered Species Coalition, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums

and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art/ University of New Orleans.

For more information, including judging criteria and an entry form, visit

Many of the Service’s field and regional offices will be hosting events in

their communities and providing unique programs to visitors on endangered

species conservation in celebration of Endangered Species Day. For more

information on how you can find an event near you, please visit

http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ESDay/2012.html.

America’s fish, wildlife and plant resources belong to all of us, and

ensuring the health of imperiled species is a shared responsibility. To

learn more about the Service’s Endangered Species program, go to

http://www.fws.gov/endangered/ where you can download podcasts and find

links to follow them on Twitter and Facebook.