In 2012, Patuxent Research Refuge hosted judging for two Junior Duck Stamp Competitions - state competition and national competition. The Junior Duck Stamp program encourages students to learn about waterfowl, wetland ecology, and wildlife conservation. Students are encouraged to research a waterfowl species, depict it in an artistic media, and enter the Junior Duck Stamp competition for their state.

State 2012 competitions - for both Maryland and the District of Columbia - were held March 29th. Best of Show for Maryland and for the District of Columbia were selected from hundreds of entries. Judges for the competition: Jessica Helmbold, Charlotte Kilchenstein, Jorge Coppen, Sandy Spencer, Gary Carver,

National 2012 competition was held April 20. The national Champion was selected from 53 "Best of Show" entries each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Judges for the competition: Dr. Donald H. Messersmith, Chandler S. Robbins, Joseph Hauptman, Donnie Satchell, Francis Sweet

Photographs courtesy of FWS Volunteer Ed Grimes.

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