Montana’s fifth grade students will have an opportunity to test their artistic skills this spring and compete for some exciting new prizes by participating in the 2008 Montana State Parks poster contest.
This year’s contest theme is "Experience Montana State Parks." The deadline to enter is April 4.
Prizes include lodging in a Montana State Park, backpacks, equipment and field guides.
"This year’s theme is "Experience Montana State Parks," said Linda Howard, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks’ Parks Division marketing specialist. "Students are asked to convey in their artwork an experience that they might have in a particular state park."
The artwork must contain a phrase that includes a verb and an adjective to describe the experience at the State Park. For example, "Catch a Native Trout," or "Explore Magnificent Caverns."
For contest materials, go to the FWP web page at fwp.mt.gov and click on the "Education" button, then the "Parks Education" button. The State Parks Poster Contest page includes the 2008 contest rules and entry form, an online educational tool that provides students with facts about the parks, and a gallery of winning posters from past years.
Artwork for the poster contest may be done using any medium, including crayon, ink or pencil. Bright colors and dark outlines are strongly encouraged for better reproduction. The size of the art work must be no larger than 9 inches by 14 inches, and no smaller than 8.5 inches by 11 inches. Judges will assess creativity, imagination, theme, originality, design, and use and control of the medium. Winners will be announced April 18. All entries must be the original work of an individual student.
First place prize, a $200 value, will be two nights lodging in a Montana State Park, a backpack filled with outdoor equipment and field guides, and a subscription to Montana Outdoors magazine. The second and third place prizes, $150 and $100 values respectively, will include a backpack filled with outdoor equipment and field guides, and a subscription to Montana Outdoors magazine. The winning artist’s school will be reimbursed for transportation costs for a field trip for fifth graders to the Montana State Park of their choice. This is limited to two school busses for one full day.
Winning entries will be displayed in the FWP headquarters in Helena and all regional FWP headquarters around the state. All artwork will be returned to the winners after the tour. Students and teachers without access to the Internet may request an information packet from FWP by phoning: 406-444-3818, or by writing: FWP, Parks Division, 1420 East 6th Ave., Helena, MT, 59620-0701.
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