Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program

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The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is a dynamic art and science program designed to teach wetlands habitat and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school. The program guides students, using scientific and wildlife observation principles, to communicate visually what they have learned through an entry into the Junior Duck Stamp art contest. Students apply their knowledge of wetlands and waterfowl to create a beautiful piece of wildlife art for submission to the Junior Duck Stamp contest. The Junior Duck Stamp program is more than an art contest for kids. The program engages students through research and observation, provides opportunity for reflection, and challenges them to protect the wildlife and habitat that inspired their artwork. The Junior Duck Stamp contest begins each spring when students submit their artwork to a state or territory contest. Most State contests are run by Fish and Wildlife Service employees, but in a few states the program is managed by a state Natural Resource agency representative or a representative from an educational organization through a cooperative agreement. Students at the state level are judged in four groups according to grade level: Group I: K-3, Group II: 4-6, Group III: 7-9, and Group IV 10-12. Three first, second and third place entries are selected for each group. A “Best of Show” is selected by the judges from the twelve first-place winners regardless of their grade group. Each state or territory Best of Show is then submitted to the Duck Stamp Office and entered into the national Junior Duck Stamp Contest. To further the interdisciplinary underpinnings of the program, students are now encouraged, but not required, to include a conservation message on their entry form with their art design. The conservation message is judged in some states and at the national level for Best of Show winners. The message should explain something the student has learned about wetlands habitat, conservation or waterfowl. It may also be a statement used to encourage others to participate in conservation. The first place design from the national contest is used to create a Junior Duck Stamp for the following year. Junior Duck Stamps are sold by the U.S. Postal Service and Amplex Corporation consignees for $5 per stamp. Proceeds from the sale of Junior Duck Stamp support conservation education, and provide awards and scholarships for the students, teachers, and schools that participate in the program. The proceeds from the sale of Junior Duck Stamps are used to pay for conservation education programs, awards for contest participants, resources for teachers and marketing materials.

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