While at the February 8th meeting of Friends of Red River, LWF Board Member Mark Shurtz and LWF Executive Director Rebecca Triche checked out the Louisiana artwork entries for the 2015 Junior Duck Stamp Program. Refuge staffer Terri Jacobson coordinates the Junior Duck Stamp program for Louisiana and encourages youth in K-12 to enter. The Junior Duck Stamp Program was created as an auxiliary to the Federal Duck Stamp in 1989. Since 1993, the Junior Duck Stamp has been designed by an art contest participated in by children from kindergarten to twelfth grade, and has become a valued collectors’ item by duck enthusiasts. Every year, each state holds a contest for artwork featuring ducks. The overall winner from each state is then entered into the national competition, and the winner’s artwork is used as that year’s Junior Duck Stamp. Junior Duck Stamps are sold at the price of five dollars and all proceeds go to supporting conservation efforts and education. Prizes from the art contest vary from state to state, but the top winners at the national level are awarded scholarships.
In addition to the art contest, the Junior Duck Stamp Program also offers a free curriculum on wildlife and conservation. The curriculum is available online or from the state coordinator, and is designed for use in classrooms, home schools, or other educational environments like nature centers or wildlife refuges.
For more information on the Junior Duck Stamp Program, go to: http://www.fws.gov/birds/education/junior-duck-stamp-conservation-program.php.
Or contact the Louisiana Coordinator:
Terri Jacobson
Red River National Wildlife Refuge
150 Eagle Bend Point
Bossier City, LA 71112
318-742-1219
All art entries must be sent to the state coordinator and postmarked no later than March 15.