Sacramento, California— A watercolor painting of a Ruddy Duck was California’s entry in the 2021 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program art contest. Gain Kim, age 18, of Fullerton, California, won Best of Show with her work titled "The Ducks on Water." Kim’s sponsor is D-Dim Academy instructor Wonsik Lee.
Students entering the contest also submit a conservation message with their artwork. Sharon Park, age 16, from Torrance, California wrote the winning message — "Respecting nature, respecting ourselves, and respecting all those around us is ultimately respecting our future." Park’s sponsor is ID8 Art’s instructor Phoebe Kim.
This year’s competition received approximately 500 entries from students throughout the state and was virtually hosted this year. Fourteen judges from various organizations including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Santa Rosa Junior College, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Santa Clara Valley Open Space Authority worked together to select this year’s winners. Kim’s painting and Park’s conservation message represented California in the virtual National Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest, which took place from April 16-19, 2021. The national winner’s design will be made into the annual Federal Junior Duck Stamp.
Administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is a dynamic art and science program designed to teach wetlands habitat and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school. The annual program provides resources to educators to help students learn about the outdoor world and their connection to waterfowl, wetlands and habitat conservation. In California, the visitor services team at the Service’s California-Great Basin Regional Office in Sacramento facilitates the program.
The Junior Duck Stamp is sold by local national wildlife refuges, the U.S. Postal Service and Amplex Corporation for $5. All proceeds from the sale of the stamp are used to fund environmental education programs, reward students for their work, and expand the program. Complete program information can be found at www.fws.gov/juniorduck/.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service works with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. For more information about our work and the people who make it happen, visit https://www.fws.gov/cno/ or connect with us via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Flickr.
-FWS-
