Teachers, Students Urged to Participate in Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest

Teachers and students across the state are invited to celebrate wildlife through art by participating in the 33rd annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest.

The goal of this competition for grades K-5 is to generate knowledge of and appreciation for Georgia’s biological diversity.

The popular initiative is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, and The Environmental Resources Network, or TERN, a friends group of DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section.

The 2022-2023 theme – Wildlife Tales: True or False? – highlights amazing facts about wildlife as well as commonly held myths.

Some untruths are relatively harmless while others may cause unnecessary fear or prompt harmful behavior.

Students are encouraged to brainstorm interesting things about wildlife they’ve heard or read about, and consider if they’re true or not. If unsure, research may be required.

As inspiration for their artwork, students can observe birds and other wildlife in their backyard or schoolyard.

After creating artwork based on this year’s theme and according to contest rules, participants will 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 will be chosen for four divisions: kindergarten, first and second grade, third and fourth grade, and fifth grade.

There’s lots of time for students to work on their posters because the deadline for schools to submit digital photos of state-level entries is April 7, 2023.

The top 12 state-level winners’ artwork will be showcased on the DNR Wildlife Resources Division and State Botanical Garden social media sites.

Also, as a special perk, each state-level winner’s teacher and one parent will be eligible to receive a free DNR wildlife license plate, courtesy of TERN. For contest rules, awards, entry forms, and other information visit georgiawildlife.com/PosterContest.

Learn more at georgiawildlife.com/about/what-we-do, or call Wildlife Conservation Section offices in Social Circle (706-557-3213), Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218).