Big River Art Contest

Big River Art Contest connects students to the science, heritage, and stewardship of the Mississippi River through the practice of art.

• The Mighty Mississippi, sample artwork
• Caring For the River, sample artwork
• Big River Journey, sample artwork

Note: Entrants in category 3 must have been on a Big River Journey field trip.)

1. Entrants must be students in grades 4, 5, or 6.
2. Use one of the 3 category themes listed above for the subject of your art.
3. Artwork may be created using any of the following: pastels, crayon, watercolor, paint, pencil, pen, or flat collage.
4. Each student may submit one work of art.
5. All entries must be original, on 11" x 17" or 12" x 18" paper, flat, and signed.
6. Original poetry or verse may be included in the artwork; a stewardship message may be written on art in category 2 ("Caring for the River.")

1. The Mighty Mississippi, sample artwork
   This category is about the living Mississippi River - its wildlife, plant life, scenery, and recreation - and its relationship to you. Subject possibilities include:
   • fish and fishing (hint: portray specific species);
   • birds and bird watching (depict birds you see on the river);
   • mayflies or other aquatic insects;
   • following animal tracks;
   • the river as a home for animals - frogs, mussels, beavers, deer, turtles, others - and add a poem about the animal;
   • Other subject possibilities are exploring the river with friends, canoeing, fishing, hiking, biking, watching the river, or daydreaming about river animals! Think of the river as a friend of yours!
2. Caring for the River, sample artwork
   Here are some message ideas:
   • If you drink water, help care for the river!
   • Take care of the river like a friend!
   • Do you like songbirds? Save river habitats!
   • Your street flows into the river!
   • I clean up litter so it doesn't wash into the river.
   • Keep fertilizers and pesticides out of the river!
   • Plant native trees and shrubs!
   • Keep our river clean pick up after your pet!
   • Leave no pollution use a bike instead of a car!
3. Big River Journey, sample artwork
   Show what you did or what you saw on the boat trip; include your favorite learning station or activity.
   • Draw the boat with you and your friends on it viewing birds, boats, barges, channel markers, cityscape, river confluence.
   • Draw a series of "snap shots" of your experiences.
   • What did the city look like from the boat?
   • What kind of birds and wildlife did you discover with the binoculars?
   • What did you discover with the microscopes?
   • Can you imagine seeing the rivers great prehistoric waterfall?
   • Did the trip help you to imagine people who've been here in the past?
   • Did the trip help you to make friends with the river?

   How to enter:

   1. Student's name, home address and phone , school and school phone, and teacher's name must be clearly printed on the back of the artwork, along with name of the chosen category theme.
   2. Teachers should submit packets of entries to: Art Contest Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, 111 Kellogg Blvd East, Suite 105, St. Paul, MN 55101-1256
   3. Entries must be received by Friday, June 5, 2009.

   Prizes:

   Winners
   Four prize winners will be chosen in each category. Each winner will receive a certificate, two tickets for a boat ride on one of the Padelford boats, and two tickets to the Science Museum of Minnesota (including Omni Theater.)

   Grand Prize Winners
   One winner in each category will be selected as a grand prize winner. In addition to the prizes above, each grand prize winner will receive a $20 check.

   Teacher Prizes
   The teacher of one randomly selected grand prize winner will receive a free trip (which may be Big River Journey) for up to 30 students on a boat of the Padelford Packet Boat Co. during the current school year. The two teachers of the other grand prize winners will each receive a free trip (not Big River Journey) for up to 30 students.

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