U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announces Science Museum of Minnesota will host 2010 Junior Duck Stamp Contest
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul will host the 2010 Junior Duck Stamp Contest on April 23, 2010. This is only the second time in the program’s history that the event has been held outside of Washington D.C.
“The Midwest Region is proud to host the Junior Duck Stamp Contest in 2010,” said Tom Melius, Midwest Regional Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service. “This is not just an art contest; it’s a program that can help instill environmental stewardship in young minds.”
“The Science Museum of Minnesota is thrilled and honored to be chosen as the site of the 2010 Junior Duck Stamp Contest,” said Mike Day, senior vice president at the Science Museum of Minnesota. “It’s a privilege to be associated with the Junior Duck Stamp Program, as it’s one of the most successful wildlife conservation programs in the nation.”
The Junior Duck Stamp Program, a kids’ version of the prestigious Federal Duck Stamp Program and Contest, engages K-12 students in an integrated arts and science curriculum, culminating in a design challenge to create a North American waterfowl art piece for submission to their State Junior Duck Stamp Contest. First place winners from all 50 U.S. states and territories advance to a National contest where one piece is selected to be printed as the 2010 Junior Duck Stamp. The Junior Duck Stamp is both a collector’s item among philatelists and is a tool that generates funding for conservation education across the country. The stamp is sold for $5 by the U.S. Post Office, National Wildlife Refuges, some sporting goods stores, and online through Amplex.
“The Jr. Duck Stamp curriculum is easy to follow and encourages educators across all disciplines to use migratory bird and habitat conservation as a building block to develop skills in art, science and other fields of study,” said Ashley Spratt, Regional Coordinator for the Junior Duck Stamp Program.
Last year, three young Midwest artists placed first, second and third in the Junior Duck Stamp Contest, which was held at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, D.C. Lily Spang, age 16, of Toledo, Ohio won first place with her acrylic painting of a wood duck. Abraham Hunter, age 15 from Vienna, Illinois placed second with his acrylic painting of two golden-eyes, and Rebekah Nastav, age 18, from Amoret, Missouri placed third with her acrylic painting of a common golden-eye. The state of Minnesota has also been home to artists that created more than 20 Federal Duck Stamp winning designs in the Federal contest’s history.
For more information about the Junior Duck Stamp Program, and to download the curriculum and entry materials, visit http://www.fws.gov/juniorduck.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov.
