Entry Deadline:  April 8, 2016
Complete Rules and Entry Form (.pdf)
Entry Form Blanks (.pdf)

The 2016 Conservation Poster Contest theme is “We All Need Trees.”  This title must be on the poster for it to be eligible for judging.

Trees are essential for the survival of humans and other organisms.  Through photosynthesis, trees convert carbon dioxide into the stuff of life, including food, fiber, lumber, medicines, and fuel. They also produce oxygen, remove pollutants from the air, capture and cleanse runoff, protect soil from erosion, mitigate climate change, and create habitat for wildlife.  Trees provide shade and add beauty and value to our homes and communities.  Trees and forests are important economically; forestry is the number one manufacturing sector in SC’s economy with an $18.6 billion impact on our state.  We invite you to learn more about trees and the many ways they support life, then share your knowledge with the world in the form of a poster.

Eligibility
The National Conservation Poster Contest is open to students in grades K-12.  Richland County students should submit their posters to the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District for local judging by April 8, 2016; students in other counties in SC should contact their local conservation district for entry deadlines and details.

Rules
•    Any media may be used to create a flat or two-dimensional effect (e.g., paint, crayon, charcoal, colored pencil, stickers, collage, or other materials on regular poster paper).  There is no computer-only special category.  
•    Posters must be no smaller than 8.5”x11” and no larger than 22”x28”.
•    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 2016 Stewardship Title, “We All Need Trees,” must be on the poster.  
•    Each entry must include a signed entry form. 
•    Although younger students may receive help in planning their posters from parents or teachers, we encourage students to complete as much of the work as possible by themselves.  Entries completed by students in their own handwriting and coloring will score better than those designed, drawn, and/or colored with adult assistance.  

Evaluation
Posters will be evaluated by grade level (K-1; 2-3; 4-6; 7-9; 10-12) according to the following criteria:
•    Conservation message (50%)
•    Visual effectiveness (30%)
•    Originality (10%)
•    Universal appeal (10%)

Submission
Posters completed by Richland County students should be delivered to the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District by April 8, 2016.  Posters may be dropped off in person or mailed.  Posters should be packaged to remain flat when sent for judging.


Competition Progression and Awards
Richland County winners will progress to the state competition; state winners will progress to the national competition.  Cash prizes will be awarded at each level.

•    County Competition—Sponsored by the Richland Soil and Water Conservation District; $25 prizes will be awarded to winning posters in each of five grade level categories (Grades K-1; 2-3; 4-6; 7-9; 10-12).

•    State Competition—Sponsored by the SC Association of Conservation Districts; $25 prizes will be awarded to winning posters in each of five grade level categories (Grades K-1; 2-3; 4-6; 7-9; 10-12).

•    National Competition—Sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts; first place posters in each grade-level category will receive $200, second place posters will receive $150, and third-place posters will receive $100.  Grade-level categories are K-1; 2-3; 4-6; 7-9; 10-12.  Monetary prizes at the national level are sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts Auxiliary and the Albert I Pierce Foundation.

Resources

A complete list of resources, including age-appropriate websites and books, is available online at http://www.nacdnet.org/education/contests/poster/.