Beginning Saturday, September 7, and running through Saturday, September 28, the Easton branch of the Talbot County Free Library will be hosting a display of 36 prize-winning pieces of art from the annual Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program.
Hundreds of Maryland students participate each year in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program. Introducing the Junior Duck Stamp curriculum into the classroom teaches students about waterfowl, wetland ecology, and wildlife conservation while meeting national education outcomes for science, English, and art. The students are then encouraged to research a waterfowl species and depict it in an artistic medium. Entries from Maryland students in grades K-12 from public, private, and home schools, are submitted each year to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).
The four grade categories are K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Artwork is judged in its category by a panel of local wildlife and art experts. Each grade category receives 3 first place, 3 second place, 3 third place, and 16 honorable mentions. The Best of Show for Maryland is chosen from the first place winners. Maryland’s Best of Show is sent to compete at the national level, which is held in April. The winning entry in the federal competition is made into the Federal Junior Duck Stamp. To see last year’s winners visit: https://duckstamps.fws.gov. To purchase Federal Junior Duck Stamps call the AMPLEX Corporation at (800) DUCK-499, or pick one up at a participating USFWS location.
Each entrant receives a certificate of participation. Past Maryland awards have included ribbons, savings bonds, art supplies, and various other gifts donated by sponsors. Maryland’s winners are invited to the awards ceremony in May at the National Wildlife Visitor Center. The Best of Show, First, Second, and Third Place winning artwork is put on display at various locations in the state of Maryland through January. The exhibit in the Talbot County Free Library’s Easton branch will feature 36 artworks: the 3 first-place, 3 second-place, and 3 third-place winners from each of the four age groups.
Entries in the Maryland contest must be postmarked by February 1, 2020. Entries must be sent to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge at the following address: Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge, 2145 Key Wallace Drive, Cambridge, MD, 21613, Attn: Junior Duck Stamp Contest
Questions about the Junior Duck Stamp program can be directed to Tom Miller by phone at 410-221-8156 or by email at [email protected] .
All library programs are free and open to the public. For more information about the exhibit, please call the library at 410-822-1626, or visit www.tcfl.org.
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