Georgetown, Del., Sept. 23, 2022 – The New Castle, Kent and Sussex Conservation Districts are accepting entries for the annual conservation poster contest from Delaware public, charter, private or homeschooled students in grades K-12. Posters will be judged on the 2022 theme, “Healthy Soil: Healthy Life,” in the following grade categories: K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. In addition, digital posters will be accepted from students in grade categories 7-9 and 10-12. First, second and third place winners in each category will receive a cash prize of $50, $25 and $15, respectively.

Posters can be submitted electronically, by mail, or in-person to your local conservation district by Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.

Each district will submit first-place posters in each grade category for judging at the state level. State winners will receive a cash award from the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts. In the event that an insufficient number of posters are received at the county level, the county level judging will be eliminated, and all posters will be judged at the state level. First-place state winners will be entered into the national poster contest.

The annual conservation poster contest provides students an opportunity to convey their thoughts about soil, water, and related natural resource issues through art. It also highlights the educational outreach efforts of conservation districts and their state associations, auxiliaries and agencies. The contest follows the annual stewardship theme developed and sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts.

The 2022 theme reminds us that healthy soils are the foundation for all life on Earth. Soil is an important resource for everything from human health to agriculture to water filtration. The imperative benefit of healthy soil is food production. Healthy soils also give us clean air and water, plentiful crops and forests, diverse wildlife and beautiful landscapes.

For more information and educational resources about the theme, visit SCDs Poster Contest page, NACDs website  or contact your local conservation district:

• New Castle County
  • Rick Mickowski, 302-365-8979,
• Kent County
  • Alisa Bentley, 302-608-5370,
• Sussex County
  • Siobhan Kelley, 302-856-2105.