2019 Winners – Northwoods Invasive Species Poster Contest – Oneida County Aquatic Invasive Species Program

ON THIS PAGE:

• List of 2019 Poster Contest Winners
• Goal
• Who can Participate?​​
• Poster Entry Information
• Prizes
• Classroom Outreach: Schedule a Classroom Visit
• Teacher & Student Resources
• Invasive Species Profile Sheets

GOAL:   
​The primary goal of this contest is to educate 4th – 8th grade students about aquatic and terrestrial invasive species that impact our Northwoods’ Counties. The contest encourages students to nurture their interest for the visual arts, science, and environmental conservation. 

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?  
​Currently, our poster contest covers 18 counties, representing a large part of Northern Wisconsin! (See map below). However, ANY public, private, parochial, or home schooled student in 4th – 8th grade, ANYWHERE IN WISCONSIN, is invited to submit a poster! If you are interested in entering this contest, talk to your teachers! ​

POSTER ENTRY INFORMATION:

• Students’ artwork must depict aquatic and/or terrestrial invasive species that are threatening Wisconsin’s lands and waters. ​
• Artwork must be solely the original work of the student.
• For judging purposes, students are encouraged to write their name on the back of the poster.
• Completed entry form must be taped to the back of poster.
• For  contest information please check out our 2020  Northwoods Invasive Species Poster Contest Page.

PRIZES:

• Winners will be chosen in four divisions: Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, and Grades 7-8
• Students in each division compete for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place divisional trophies, honorable mention ribbons, and best slogan ribbons.
• Each 1st place winner’s class wins too! An Invasive Species Team member will visit the 1st place winner’s classroom to host an awards ceremony (a $30.00 value).
• Each 1st place winner’s school will receive a field guide for its library.
• Winning posters are featured in a calendar distributed to schools and public libraries.
• Participating teachers will have a chance to win one of two $25.00 gift cards.  

CLASSROOM OUTREACH: Schedule an Invasive Species Educator to Visit Your Classroom:
Teachers, would you like help preparing your students for the Northwoods’ Invasive Species Poster Contest?  Oneida County AIS Coordinator, Stephanie Boismenue, would love to visit your classroom to introduce your students to the world of AIS, show them what goes wrong when a non-native species is introduced to a new environment, and what they, as students, can do to stop the spread of AIS.  She has plenty of hands-on preserved critters, teaching tools, and resources to engage your students in a fun, learning experience, and prepare them for the poster contest. To schedule a classroom visit, please contact Stephanie at sboismenue@co.oneida.wi.us.  Stephanie will work with you to create an amazing program to fit your students needs. 

For classroom visits outside of Oneida County:
If you are a teacher outside of Oneida County and would like an invasive species educator to visit your classroom, please contact your local Land & Water Conservation Department listed  on this document: local_resources.pdf.   If your county is not listed, please contact Oneida County Conservationists Michele Sadauskas at msadauskas@co.oneida.wi.us, and she will be happy to assist you.

TEACHER AND STUDENT RESOURCES:
Do you need help choosing a topic? The Aquatic and Terrestrial Invasive Species Profile sheets (listed at the bottom of the page) represent some of the common invasive species found in Wisconsin.  These fact sheets will help you gain a better understanding of how invasive species can harm our woods, lakes, rivers, and wetlands and there are many from which to choose.

However, there are many more invasive species in Wisconsin and we encourage you to research them as well. Perhaps bringing awareness to a less commonly known or understood invasive will help keep it out of your area.

Not sure what your artwork should depict? Here are some ideas to that may help you….

• Do you have a cool idea of how to prevent the introduction of invasive species, reduce their spread, or ways to get rid of them?
• Can you think of a fun slogan or public service announcement explaining the risks of a particular invasive species?
• How can invasive species decrease outdoor enthusiasts’ ability to enjoy hunting, fishing, camping, hiking, ATVing, boating, and other outdoor recreational activities?
• What invasive species are in your community?
• How do invasive species cause harm to their new environments, human health, or the economy?
• How can invasive species impact you and your favorite outdoor activities?
• Do you have a personal connection to and/or understanding of a specific invasive species, its habitat, behavior or conservation needs/issues?

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Students in 4th – 8th grade, anywhere in Wisconsin, are invited to enter the 2019 Northwood’s Invasive Species Poster Contest.  Posters entries must be received by 4:00 p.m, on Wednesday, May 1, 2019.​  For more information visit our 2019 NORTHWOODS’ INVASIVE SPECIES POSTER CONTEST Page.