Brochure and Entry Form (.pdf)
Columbia, SC—A habitat is the unique environment where an organism lives, ranging from tiny rock pools to vast forests. The 2025 Stewardship theme, “Home is Where the Habitat is,” shines a light on the crucial role of both natural and managed habitats in our conservation efforts. Understanding how habitats change over time is important, and teaching our youth about these changes is key to effectively managing and preserving our ecosystems for the future.
We invite K-12 students in Richland County to create a poster showcasing the importance of protecting both natural and managed habitats to support biodiversity and maintain ecological balance.
Eligibility
Richland County students in grades K-12 should submit their posters to the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District for local judging by Friday, April 11, 2025. Students in other counties in SC should contact their local conservation district for entry deadlines and details.
Students entries will be grouped by the following grade levels: K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. When completing the entry form, select the current grade level of the student for the 2024-2025 school year.
Rules
60 lb paper and 11″ x 17″ is a great size for posters, and is suggested. However, we will accept posters in any size 8.5″ x 11″ or larger. We can provide up to 24 sheets of 11”x17” poster paper per school; contact Jessica Thompson at thompson.jessica@richlandcountysc.gov to request supplies.
Any media may be used to create a flat or two-dimensional effect, including paint, marker, ink, crayon, charcoal, colored pencil, stickers, collage, wallpaper, magazines, photos, digitally-designed graphics or flat objects found in nature.
Posters should be packaged so they remain flat when sent for judging.
All posters must be created by an individual student rather than a team of students.
The 2025 contest topic (Home is Where the Habitat is) must be on the poster.
Attach a signed entry form to the back of the poster. Student or school names must not appear on the front of the poster.
Entry must be contestant's original creation and may not be traced from photographs or other artists' published works.
Evaluation
Posters will be evaluated by grade level according to the following criteria:
- Conservation Message: poster illustrates why forests are important and/or how we can conserve forests. (50%)
- Visual Effectiveness: poster attracts attention, uses colors and white space effectively, is easy to read, is neat, and makes good use of colors and shading. (30%)
- Originality (10%)
- Overall Appeal (10%)
Submission
Posters completed by Richland County students should be delivered to the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District by Friday, April 11, 2025. Posters may be dropped off in person or mailed to 2020 Hampton Street, Room 3063A, Columbia, SC 29204. Posters should be packaged to remain flat when sent for judging.
Competition Progression and Awards
Richland County winners will progress to the state competition in Fall 2025; state winners will progress to the national competition in Winter 2025. Cash prizes will be awarded at each level.
County Competition: $25 prizes will be awarded to winning posters in each of five grade level categories. Cash prizes are sponsored by the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District.
State Competition: $50 prizes will be awarded to winning posters in each of five grade level categories. Cash prizes are sponsored by the SC Association of Conservation Districts.
National Competition: First place prizes in each grade level category will receive $200; second place posters will receive $150; third place posters will receive $100. Cash prizes are sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts Auxiliary, the Country Store at the NACD Annual Meeting, and individual donors.
Sponsors
Richland Soil and Water Conservation District
SC Association of Conservation Districts
National Association of Conservation Districts
For more information, contact Jessica Thompson at (803) 576-5464 or thompson.jessica@richlandcountysc.gov.
Brochure and Entry Form (.pdf)
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Conservation Districts are political subdivisions of state government under the local direction of five-member Boards of Commissioners. The Richland Soil and Water Conservation District promotes the wise use and care of natural resources--with a focus on soil and water--for long-term sustainability in a changing environment.
Contact
Richland Soil and Water Conservation District
2020 Hampton Street, Room 3063A
Columbia, SC 29204
Phone (803) 576-5464
Fax (803) 576-2088
E-mail soilandwater@richlandcountysc.gov
Facebook www.facebook.com/rswcd
Instagram www.instagram.com/richland_swcd/