Birds of a feather, growing together…The Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest brings partnerships together
Guest post by Mesha Wood, Park Ranger, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Washington Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service The Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest is proving to be a thread that brings partnerships together; where we celebrate the arts and learning about waterfowl as a community.
©USFWS, ©Artwork by Alana of Ridgefield, WA
The annual contest that highlights waterfowl (which includes ducks, geese and swans) and their homes (otherwise known as wetlands) annually culminates with one student across the nation, being selected as the following year’s Junior Duck Stamp Artist. While this is a major accomplishment, (and we couldn’t be happier for this year’s winner from our neighboring state, in Oregon), we’ve noticed something even bigger perhaps to be celebrated in Washington. Through the program, we have observed that we are stringing more together than meets the eye – a community of young artists, their supporters, and partnerships that make this robust program, all possible.
Washington State’s program is run out of Ridgefield, WA, home to Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge and the Refuge Complex’s Admin Office (which also manages Steigerwald Lake, Franz Lake and Pierce Refuges). While the lower Columbia River influences the waterways of the refuge complex, the growing communities surrounding such, are not only influenced by the natural settings and peacefulness of the sites, but in observing them through the arts and the Junior Duck Stamp Contest.
©USFWS, ©Artwork by Swara of Sammamish
One major goal of the refuge and its partners is to embrace EVERYONE as an artist and help students express themselves, whether their entry is a painting that took months to create or a quick sketch done during one of our “Intro to Waterfowl, Wetlands, and the Duck Stamp” programs. Some of the entries that are recipients of an award for “Pure Happiness” or “Most Darling” evoked those feelings in the staff, community partners, and visitors that cast a vote during our public voting. Those entries weren’t necessarily the most advanced portraits/realistic depictions of waterfowl, but nevertheless were inspirational to many. And that is one reason we like to highlight the Top 10 in each age group alongside other entries that receive some special site-specific awards. Honoring all artistic styles, efforts, and expressions.
©USFWS, ©Artwork by Hayden from Ridgefield, WA using printmaking techniques to create their entry
Another goal is to bring community together around the arts. Over the years, countless partners have engaged in this program with the refuge, and the saying “it takes a village,” is ever so true for the Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest to thrive.
©USFWS, ©Artwork by Lily of Wahkiacus, WA
The Gorge Refuge Stewards, and the Friends of Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge, have been instrumental in the contest, hosting an annual judges and partners luncheon on the official judging day. This year’s turn out included teachers from local classes that participated in our programs, past contest judges, Refuge staff and volunteers, members of the Lower Columbia Nature Network and Ridgefield Arts Association, USFWS Fish and Aquatic staff from the Gorge National Fish Hatcheries, and judges representing the USFWS partners program, the refuge volunteer community, the City of Vancouver, Art Nature Place, Fort Vancouver Regional Libraries, and Clark County. At the luncheon, members chatted and networked, voted on site specific art awards and selected the winner of the Conservation Message contest. It was a wonderful time to enjoy each other’s presence, interest in the arts, celebrate the support they provide to this program, and the growth we have experienced in the last three years, because of them.
©USFWS, 2024 JDS Judges, holding the artwork of the Top 5 entries. L to R: Brent Waddell, USFWS Refuge Volunteer, Kelsey Hudson, Fort Vancouver Regional Library, Mike Murawski, Art Nature Place Co-founder, Jalene Littlejohn, USFWS Partners Program, and Kalie Morgan, Clark County.
©USFWS, Wildlife Law Enforcement Officers for the National Wildlife Refuge System
Wildlife Law Enforcement Officers for the National Wildlife Refuge System stopped by the refuge and took time to vote on their favorite entry. The voting was open to staff, community partners and the public for three days after the official judging process had concluded.
But the engagement with the program goes beyond that day. Countless hours spent receiving the artwork and cataloging each entry by hand into a computer database, photographing each entry, printing and hand lettering awards for each participant, Top 10 winner, and site specific award recipients, a full day of official judging, three days of monitoring public viewing and judging, returning artwork back to teachers and families, and procuring prizes for the Top 10 in each age group, means that staff, volunteers, and partners are critical to ensure this program is not on the back of any one person.
©USFWS/ Artwork ©Yvonne, of Camas, Best of Show Winner for 2024
Michelle Hankins, art teacher at View Ridge Middle School in Ridgefield, WA taught a second ‘Duck Drawing Workshop” at the refuge in 2024, hosted by the Ridgefield Arts Association and Ridgefield School District, brought her 7th and 8th grade classes to the refuge for a “birding by bus” tour and a chance to learn how to frame a photo/their drawing, developed this year’s “STEAM CAREER” sticker, which aims to showcase careers in art and the artist’s path to their career in the arts to inspire students (Each participant receives one of the stickers and a handout about the artist), and supported her own two children in entering the contest. After noting how the drawing workshop has been intergenerational, Michelle is working with the refuge and two local arts associations to develop some mini art workshops for adults as well in the future, showing the even larger impact the contest is inspiring.
©USFWS, ©Artwork by Shanaya of Sweety Saradha Arts, 3rd Place in age group
Teachers at Mt. Pleasant school in Washougal greeted staff from the refuge and Jennifer Rowlen, from the Columbia River Gorge National Fish Hatchery Complex into each classroom in the school, to discuss what makes a duck, a duck and practice drawing one with step-by-step instruction (developed by Elise Carlson, of Student Conservation Association). The program additionally was offered at Sarah J. Anderson Elementary School in Vancouver, where students in Meghan Formel’s 1st grade dual-language class, were able to also learn about ducks and the refuges and enter the contest. This year’s Conservation Message Winner, Oscar, was from her class, having submitted the winning entry in Spanish:
“La conservacion del habitat para la vida silvestre es imporante para mi poque al igul que los humanos, los animales silvestres merecen respect”
(Translated by staff, in conservation of wildlife English to read: habitat is important to me because just like humans, wild animals deserve respect.)
©USFWS, Mesha Wood, USFWS
Mesha Wood, USFWS stands by a display of drawings and writing by Sarah J Anderson students, reflecting on what they learned about ducks from their in-class presentation by USFWS. Students later in the year visited the Oregon Zoo for a chance to see ducks up close in the Pacific Northwest Exhibit and now are excited about seeing them in a natural home when visiting a refuge this summer.
Long after the contest has concluded, it isn’t truly over. After the annual virtual awards ceremony, hosted by the Lower Columbia Nature Network, students can expect this year to see various displays of select artwork entries. Staff are working with Fort Vancouver Regional libraries and the Vancouver Water Resource Education Center to put up displays, while also in discussion with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Woodland Park Zoo and other USFWS sites about the potential. Artwork will also be showcased at this year’s Washougal Arts and Cultural Alliance’s Arts Festival in August.
We couldn’t be more excited to help ‘spread our wings’ in hosting this competition for Washington on behalf of the USFWS, but also for the community we are growing around it. We are forever grateful to the participants, teachers, parents, community partners and refuge volunteers and staff that make this program so exciting to host! We’ll see you in 2025!
Want to host a display or get more involved for 2025? Reach out to State Coordinator, Mesha Wood at 971-336-1042 or at Mesha_Wood@fws.gov. The new contest will kick off in the fall as the new school year begins with educational kits, programming in the local area, and education curriculum available. The contest is free, and open to students in grades K-12 in Washington State. Live outside WA? Look online for who hosts your contest?
©USFWS, Artwork for the 2024 Contest laid on the table, with those receiving a judge’s vote to move forward with a poker chip
