Fall is a Great Time to Get Outside!

The leaves are turning and birds are migrating, but it's still warm enough to get outside for a nature walk at a park or national wildlife refuge (remember to bring your current Federal Duck Stamp for free refuge admission!).

If you are a teacher, check out the re-designed Junior Duck Stamp Educational Curriculum for great ideas for activities that will help you get your students engaged with their natural world.

Entry form and instructions for the 2013 Junior Duck Stamp Art Competition will be posted soon! For more information about the competition in your state, contact your state coordinator.

The Federal Duck Stamp Contest is Sept. 28 & 29!
Check www.fws.gov/duckstamps for more details - watch the judging live online -10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mountain Time each day

Support Conservation and the Arts - Buy Your Junior Duck Stamps on June 29!

How to Buy Federal and Junior Duck Stamps

Introducing the 2012-2013 Junior Duck Stamp, Featuring Art by Ohio's Christine Clayton; Stamp on Sale June 29

June 5, 2012

Christine Clayton, 17, of Sidney, Ohio, won the 2012 National Junior Duck Stamp Contest in April with her beautiful rendering of a northern pintail. The 2012-2013 Junior Duck Stamp featuring Christine's design will go on sale June 29 at the Bass Pro Shops retail outlet in Hampton, Va. Join us at 10 a.m. for a ceremony and then meet Christine and 2012-2013 Federal Duck Stamp artist Joe Hautman. Buy stamps and get autrographs, too!

Join Us for the First Day of Sale for the 2012-2013 Federal Junior Duck Stamp on June 29!

May 14, 2012

The 2012-2013 Federal Junior Duck Stamp, based on a design by 17-year-old Christine Clayton of Sidney, Ohio, will go on sale June 29. The First Day of Sale event for the Federal and Junior Duck Stamps will be held at the BassPro Shops retail outlet in Hampton, Va., beginning at 10 a.m. We hope you'll join us and be among the first to buy the new Federal and Junior Duck Stamps!

Ohio Youth Wins the 2012 Federal Junior Duck Stamp Competition

April 20, 2012

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that a northern pintail was selected to appear on the 2012-2013 Federal Junior Duck Stamp. The design for the new stamp, painted by 17-year-old Christine Clayton of Sidney, Ohio, was chosen by a panel of judges at the national Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest, held at the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, Md.

News Release

Winner: Christine Clayton, 17, Sidney, Ohio
Northern Pintail

Complete Contest Results

"Best of Show" Gallery of Contest Art

2012 Junior Duck Stamp Contest Highlights Video

Announcing the New Junior Duck Stamp Program Educational Curriculum - A Fresh Face for the Junior Duck Stamp Program

April 18, 2012

As part of its 20th Anniversary, the Junior Duck Stamp Program has updated its hallmark arts and science curriculum to make it fresh, modern and even more relevant and engaging for today’s teachers and students. The new curriculum provides 10 lesson plans, with exercises and activities focusing on conservation science, our changing natural world, and fun.

News Release

2012 Junior Duck Stamp Education Curriculum

National Junior Duck Stamp Contest Will Be Held April 20 at Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, Md.

Updated: April 10, 2012

*We will be streaming the contest live online! Join us here at www.fws.gov/juniorduck at 10 a.m. Eastern on April 20 to view the live feed!*

Mark your calendars for Friday, April 20, and join the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and our partners for the national Junior Duck Stamp Contest judging at the Patuxent Research Refuge in Laurel, Md. The event will kick off at 10 a.m. as our panel of five judges examines the 53 "Best of Show" art pieces from each state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. One piece of art will be selected as the top winner and will be made into the 2012-2013 Junior Duck Stamp, which the Service sells for $5. The top three art winners and the top "conservation message" winner receive cash prizes. Join us!

Online gallery of all 2012 Best-of-Show art

For news media: Digital Media Kit

 

2011 Green Ribbon Award:
State Coordinator of the Year

December, 7 2011

Each year, Junior Duck Stamp State Coordinators in all 50 U.S. states, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands help to bring the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program to more than 28,000 students.  To honor the most dedicated coordinators, the Junior Duck Stamp Program developed the Green Ribbon Award for State Coordinator of the Year.  We are pleased to recognize the 2011 State Coordinator of the Year, Marilyn Gamette of California.  Gamette has been committed to the JDS program since its inception in 1989, working to expand the program in California and helping to break state and national records with 3,126 pieces of art submitted in 2011.  Throughout her career and into her retirement from the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Gamette has inspired children and adults with her dedication and educational efforts.

2011 Junior Duck Stamp Program
Green Ribbon Award: Volunteer of the Year

October, 17 2011

The Junior Duck Stamp Program is pleased to announce Christine Danley as the recipient of the 2011 Green Ribbon Award for Volunteer of the Year! Christine has volunteered at Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge since 2004, volunteering over 3,500 hours of time. During this time she has played a pivotal role in the administration of the Montana Junior Duck Stamp Program. She assists with data entry for the 500+ Junior Duck Stamp student art entries for Montana every year, the state contest, judging and the coordination of the return shipping of student art. A lot of pride is taken in getting all the small details correct; it is very important to the young artists who have entered the contest. Christine explains: “It is actually fun and challenging for me to work through the details within the many phases of the Junior Duck Stamp Program and state contest, from the first entry received to the last box put upstairs into storage for next year. I love having the opportunity to see first-hand all the beautiful artwork submitted by children from across the great state of Montana.”

Illinois Youth wins 2011 Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest

April 20, 2011

Abraham Hunter, a 17 year old student from Vienna, Illinois won the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest on Friday, April 15 hosted by John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum in Pennsylvania. Several hundred school students and local Philadelphia residents were in attendance for the contest and afterwards enjoyed a day on the refuge. Second and third place wins went to Matthew Messina,17 from Avon, Connecticut and Christine Clayton, 16 from Sydney, Ohio.

The conservation message winner was Allison Armstrong, a 17 year old from Russellville, Arkansas, with her entry: “Spread your wings, create a splash, make a difference.”

2011 Junior Duck Stamp Contest Top 3
"Best of Show" Gallery of Contest Art
View contest images (Flickr)
Contest video (YouTube)
News release