Montana Junior Duck Stamp Program, Conservation Through The Arts
Hundreds of children from around Montana participate in this exciting program every year. As part of the
Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program, the Montana program incorporates conservation education with the visual arts. Teachers introduce the concepts of waterfowl habitat and wetland ecology into their teaching programs by using the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design curriculum, researching waterfowl characteristics and habitat, and encouraging students to depict a North American duck, goose, or swan in it's natural habitat.
Students from public, private, and home schools, grades K-12, are eligible to participate. The four age group categories are K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12 grades. The artwork is judged by a distinguished panel of local wildlife experts and artists with three first place, second place, and third place winners awarded in each age category, as well as 64 Honorable Mentions, and one Best of Show. All participants are acknowledged for their efforts. Awards include savings bonds, art supplies, and various other gifts. An awards ceremony is held for all first through third place winners in conjunction with the Bitteroot Birding Festival in the spring. Winning artwork then travels in a state-wide exhibition for the remainder of the year.
The Montana Best of Show is sent to Washington D.C. to compete at the national level. The winner from the federal competition is then made into the Federal Junior Duck Stamp, available for $5. All proceeds from the sale of the Federal Junior Duck Stamps support conservation education (To purchase Federal Junior Duck Stamps, call AMPLEX - (800)DUCK-499 or through the USPS at (800)STAMP-24.
