2021 Poster Contest

The 2021 Youth Conservation Poster Contest, open to all Lexington County  K-12 students, invites students to combine artistic skills with scientific knowledge to illustrate the theme "Healthy Forests = Healthy Communities." Students may design their posters/images digitally or on paper, but all entries should be submitted electronically (photographs or scanned images of paper illustrations may be submitted as .jpg, .png, or .pdf files). Entries are due by April 16, 2021.

Background: Trees and forests are critical to providing clean air and water, healthy soil, abundant wildlife habitat and valuable products we use every day. They also promote mental, physical, and emotional health and have a huge positive impact on local economies! Healthy forests—those which support a variety of plants and animals and provide the things humans and other animals need to survive—promote healthy communities in several ways.

Environmental Health: Healthy forests promote healthy communities by creating healthier environments. Trees reduce storm water runoff, increase the soil’s ability to absorb and store water, and prevent soil erosion—all of which lead to cleaner, healthier waterways and reduce flooding that can impact communities. Trees can also absorb and break down certain pollutants, and their shading and cooling effects make cities more livable and help reduce cooling costs and energy consumption. Through photosynthesis, which converts carbon dioxide and water into tree trunks, roots, and leaves, trees can help capture and store atmospheric greenhouse gases and mitigate the risks associated with climate change. 

Mental, Physical, and Emotional Health: Healthy forests also promote mental, physical, and emotional health. Studies indicate that spending time in forests reduces stress, improves mood, boosts concentration, and can strengthen the immune system. Attractive “green” environments (such as forests) enhance the motivation for physical exercise; exercise, in turn, reduces our risk for numerous illnesses. These “green” areas also promote community identity, social activity, and social participation.

Economic Health: Approximately 63% of South Carolina is forested. Forestry and forest product industries provide more than 98,000 jobs and have a $21.2 billion impact on our state’s economy. Forests also provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and tourism, and these economic sectors also make significant contributions to local economies. Healthy forests create jobs and economic opportunity; jobs and economic opportunity, in turn, promote community health!

The Challenge: Keeping forests healthy by replanting when trees are removed, inspecting trees regularly for signs of infection or infestation, identifying and removing non-native and invasive species, and preventing pollution of the air, soil, and water are all ways to promote forest—and community—health. Please join us in celebrating the connections between #HealthyForests and #HealthyCommunities by submitting your illustration by April 16, 2021!

Rules

• Allowable poster/image sizes are between 8.5"x11" and 14"x22".
• The contest theme (Healthy Forests = Healthy Communities) must be on the front of the poster/image.
• Student and school names should not appear on the front of the poster/image.
• Any media may be used to create a 2D (flat) effect, including paint, marker, ink, crayon, charcoal, colored pencil, stickers, collage, wallpaper, magazines, photos, digitally-designed graphics, and flat objects found in nature.
• Posters must be the work of an individual student (no team entries).
• Entries should be the contestants' original creations and may not be traced from photos or other artists' works.
• Once posters are complete, make a .pdf, .jpg, or .png of your entry using a scanner or camera (or, in the case of digital illustrations, convert the image to a .pdf, .jpg, or .png file type), then have a parent or guardian submit the entry online using this form.
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Recommendations

• Successful posters/images present a simple, concise visual message, similar to a billboard or bumper sticker.
• As much as possible, limit text to the contest topic ("Healthy Forests = Healthy Communities"). Additional text can be difficult to read and complicates the message.
• The contest topic should be in bold, clear, unique text. Make sure the words stand out and are easy to read!
• All text should be large enough to be read easily.
• Avoid fluorescent-colored posters.
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Evaluation

Posters will be evaluated by a panel of judges according to the following criteria:

• Conservation Message: poster illustrates the theme “Healthy Forests = Healthy Communities” (50%)
• Visual Effectiveness: poster attracts attention, uses colors and white space effectively, is easy to read, is neat, and makes good use of color and shading. (30%)
• Originality (10%)
• Universal Appeal: information conveyed on poster is relevant worldwide (10%)

Submission

Have a parent or guardian upload a scanned or photographed version of your entry (.pdf., .jpg, or .png formats) using this online submission form by April 16, 2021. Please retain your original poster entry in a safe location until June 15, 2021, as we may request hard copies of select entries.

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.

• District (County) Competition: $25 prizes will be awarded to winning posters in each of five grade level categories. Cash prizes are sponsored by the Lexington 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 and the Albert I. Pierce Foundation.

Additional Resources

• Project Learning Tree’s Teaching with i-Tree unit includes three hands-on activities that help middle and high school students discover and analyze the many ecosystem services that trees provide. Students input data they collect into a free online tool that calculates the dollar value of the benefits provided by a tree, or a set of trees.

Sponsors

• Lexington Soil and Water Conservation District
• SC Association of Conservation Districts
• SC Department of Natural Resources
• National Association of Conservation Districts
• Congaree National Park
• SC Forestry Commission
• US Forest Service

For more information, contact Angie Williamson at (803) 358-8688 or awilliamsomlswcd@gmail.com

Rules

• The Lexington Soil and Water Conservation District will only accept poster/image sizes are between 8.5"x11" and 14"x22".  All entries will be digital.

• Entry must be contestant's original creation and may not be traced from photographs or other artists' published works.

• Any media may be used to create a flat poster (ex. paint, crayons, stickers, etc.)

• Although younger students may receive help in planning from parents or teachers, the Lexington Soil & Water Conservation District encourage students to complete as much of the work as possible by themselves.

• The Lexington Soil and Water Conservation District will judge each entry before sending winners to the SC Association of Conservation Districts for judging and state winners will be sent in for the national contest. Individuals cannot send posters to national.

Entries

Lexington County students should submit their posters to the Lexington Soil and Water Conservation District, 123 Park Road, Lexington, for local judging by the close of business (4:30 p.m.) on April 15, 2020.

ENTRY FORM - Must be sent with digital poster.