Junior Duck Stamp Challenge 2021

A Scientific and Artistic Opportunity for K-12 Students

Maine Audubon is collaborating with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the 27th annual Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program, and we’re looking for Maine students to submit some creative, innovative, beautiful waterfowl art!

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is a dynamic, multidisciplinary curriculum that teaches wetland and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school. The program encourages students to explore their natural world, invites them to investigate biology and wildlife management principles and challenges them to express and share what they have learned with others.  This program and curriculum lend themselves to learning in a variety of forms, remote, hybrid teaching and in-classroom instruction.

Click here to see the winners of the 2019-2020 Maine Junior Duck Stamp Challenge!

NEW THIS YEAR!  Looking for a way to engage your students either in person or online?  Learn how the Junior Duck Stamp program can help provide meaningful hands-on opportunities. Maine Audubon is presenting special free online programs to get you and your students excited about this year’s program. Join us on Zoom for these special events: Jan. 14, 3:30-4:30 pm:  Maine Audubon Educator Linda Woodard will acquaint you with this free curriculum filled with engaging activities. Kirstin Underwood, Fish and Wildlife Biologist with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, will provide background information on water fowl and their conservation message. Missed it? View Waterfowl & Wetlands (presentation by USFWS biologist Kirstin Underwood) Jan. 28, 3:30-4:30 pm: Wildlife artist and visiting school artist Michael Boardman will speak on how to draw ducks, what to look for when choosing a subject, and more. He will be joined by wildlife artist Rebekah Lowell.  They will describe how they create and design duck stamps, and provide tips and answer questions. Missed it? Watch the videos: Michael Boardman Rebekah Lowell

The winning artwork from a national art contest serves as the design for the Junior Duck Stamp, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service produces annually. This $5 stamp has become a much sought after collector’s item. One hundred percent of the revenue from the sale of Junior Duck stamps goes to support recognition and environmental education activities for students who participate in the program.

This program has a free downloadable curricular guide to help support learning about waterfowl habitat and conservation. The guides provide fun, age-level appropriate activities that will enhance your curriculum and students’ knowledge of wildlife and habitat.

Maine Program and Submission Info

Students will be able to submit an entry of approved waterfowl art into the competition. Designs are judged in four grade categories—K-3rd grades, 4th-6th grades, 7th-9th grades, 10th-12th grades—with awards for first, second, and third places and honorable mentions.

The Maine Best of Show entry will compete with contest winners from other states in a national competition. The first place national winning design is used to create the Federal Junior Duck Stamp. Proceeds from the sale of Junior Duck Stamps (which cost $5 each) support conservation education by providing awards and scholarships for students, teachers, and schools.

Resources:
Eligible Species
Videos
Waterfowl & Wetlands (presentation by USFWS biologist Kirstin Underwood)

The submission deadlines for the 2020-21 challenge is March 1, 2021.

You can download the teacher guides here and view the contest rules and entry forms here.  For questions and/or curricular support, please contact Maine Audubon’s Lead Educator, Linda Woodard at lwoodard@maineaudubon.org.

Please Send Submissions To:

Maine Audubon
Attn: Junior Duck Stamp
20 Gilsland Farm Rd
Falmouth, Maine 04105

Thanks to our sponsor, L. L. Bean, for donating a deluxe backpack to the grand prize winner.