Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl Poster Contest 2025
SPRINGFIELD – The Massachusetts Federation of Garden Clubs along with the USDA, Forest Service and National Garden Clubs, Inc., offer students the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of wildfire prevention and basic environmental conservation principles through original drawings of Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl.
Children in grades one through five are invited to participate in this annual drawing contest featuring conservation icons Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl. Children can enter individually, but groups, clubs and schools are encouraged to use this as an opportunity to show their members or students the importance of taking a personal role in forest fire prevention or natural resource conservation.
Posters must be completed by individual students, have correct spelling, and all posters must include either Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl. Smokey Bear posters must include Smokey’s wildfire prevention message: Only you can prevent wildfires! Woodsy Owl posters must include Woodsy’s conservation messages: Give-A-Hoot, Don’t Pollute or Lend a Hand – Care for the Land. Complete rules including size requirements, permitted materials and other important contest rules can be found on the GCFM website at www.gcfm.org/ngc-youth-contests.
Membership of a garden club is not a requirement, but all competition entrants must be sponsored by a local garden club recognized by GCFM. Entries must be sent to the sponsoring club by January 10, 2025. For more information or to connect with a recognized garden club, contact Mary Bandouveres at gcfmyouthcontests@gmail.com
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