The Wetlands Institute is proud to be the official State of New Jersey site for Junior Duck Stamp entries and judging. Nearly 175 young artists from all over New Jersey entered their artwork in the 2014 competition which will be judged on Monday March 31, at The Wetlands Institute. All of the entries are beautiful interpretations of waterfowl submitted by students from grades K through 12.
Judging will be done by local artist, birder, and carver Anthony Hillman; local artist Janet McShain; local philatelist Gary Rudy; US F&W biologist Elizabeth Ciuzio Freiday; and retired teacher and president of the Friends Group of Cape May National Wildlife Refuge John King.
A Junior Duck Stamp design is a “term paper” in which students use visual rather than verbal articulation to show what they have learned. Participants select a species of North American waterfowl, do research on this species and its habitat, then depict the waterfowl in an artistic medium.
K-12 students attending public, private, or home schools in the United States are eligible to enter; so long as they are U.S. citizens, resident aliens, or nationals. First Place National Winner receives a $5,000 cash award and a free trip to participate in the First day of Sale ceremony in Late June or Early July.
Entries are judged in 4 grade groups (K-3rd, 4th-6th, 7th-9th, and 10th -12th), with three first place, three second place, three third place, and sixteen honorable mention ribbons awarded. The state Best of Show is selected from the 12 first place winning designs and competes in the national competition in Washington, DC. All National and State winning designs are on display during the year and are returned to the students the following spring.
The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is an integrated art and science curriculum developed to teach environmental science and habitat conservation. Be sure to check the US Fish & Wildlife Service Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program web site each year, to get up to date artwork requirements, permitted species, and National awards information. Each year a downloadable entry form is available here, as well as the newly required Reference Form.
Some of the winning artwork will be displayed on The Wetlands Institute’s website at wetlandsinstitute.org. There you will also find information on how to enter the competition.