Plug Into Nature by Madeline Ensley ~ Photo Courtesy of GDNR

Our friends with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, the Environmental Resources Network (TERN), and the friends group of DNR’s Nongame Conservation Section are sponsors of the 25th Annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest.

To celebrate the silver anniversary, this year’s theme is “Georgia’s WILD Animals & Plants – A Natural Investment.”  Teachers and students across Georgia are invited to honor Georgia’s wildlife and students’ artistic interests by participating in the 25th annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest.

The goal of the competition is to generate a greater knowledge and appreciation of Georgia’s diverse and increasingly threatened nongame wildlife and their habitats. Nongame species (those not legally hunted or fished for) vary from rare animals and plants such as the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and the hooded pitcherplant to common species such as the northern cardinal and flowering dogwood.

The topic highlights the value of these natural resources as well as the currency required to keep wildlife populations thriving. Projects to conserve our state’s rare, endangered and other nongame wildlife, as well as native plants and natural habitats, are not funded by state tax dollars. Rather, the Nongame Conservation Section relies on grants and donations to manage the 95 percent of species in Georgia that are not hunted or fished for. Most contributions come from the sale and renewal of wildlife license plates, which were reduced in price to $25 last July, with a larger portion supporting nongame wildlife.

Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest

• Theme: “Georgia’s WILD Animals & Plants – A Natural Investment”
• Emphasis: Generate a greater knowledge and appreciation of Georgia’s diverse and increasingly threatened nongame wildlife and their habitats.
• Teacher instructions: Have students design their own Georgia wildlife license plates that include nongame wildlife and/or native plants. Hold a school-level contest. First-place winners in each age division progress to the state-level contest.
• Deadline for state-level contest entries: April 10, 2015.
• Top 12 state-level winners’ artwork will be showcased on the Wildlife Resources Division Flickr and Instagram websites and displayed at the State Botanical Garden in Athens from May 5–12, 2015.
• Details: www.georgiawildlife.com/PosterContest.

In light of this beneficial shift in funding, kindergarten through 5th-grade students in public schools, private schools and homeschool groups are asked to design their own Georgia wildlife license plates that feature nongame wildlife and native plants. Participants enter their drawings and paintings at the local school level. Top school-level entries then proceed to the state contest at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens. First-, second- and third-place winners are chosen there for four divisions: kindergarten, first and second grade, third and fourth grade, and fifth grade. The deadline for schools to submit state-level entries is April 10, 2015.

The top 12 state-level winners’ artwork will be showcased on the DNR Wildlife Resources Division Flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/wildliferesourcesdivision) and Instagram websites (www.instagram.com/GeorgiaWildlife), as well as displayed at the State Botanical Garden in Athens from May 5 – May 12. The State Botanical Garden offers a fascinating variety of plants as well as opportunities to view wildlife in the fields and forests.  Admission is free, although donations are accepted. For directions, operating hours and a garden map, visit http://botgarden.uga.edu.

As a special perk for supporting this contest in its 25^th year, each state-level winner’s teacher and one parent will receive a free bald eagle license plate, courtesy of TERN! For details about contest rules, awards, entry forms, and other information, visit www.georgiawildlife.com/PosterContest.

 Nongame Conservation Section of GDNR’s Wildlife Resources Division

The Nongame Conservation Section is charged with conserving nongame wildlife, including native plants and natural habitats. Only a deep concern and commitment to these natural resources will ensure their existence for future generations. The section receives no state general funds, depending instead on fundraisers such as the sale of the eagle and hummingbird license plates and the Give Wildlife a Chance state income tax checkoff.

Learn more at www.georgiawildlife.com/Conservation/Support, or call Nongame Conservation Section offices in Social Circle (770-761-3035), Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218).