Mother Nature

Giving Mother Nature a Helping Hand

A Conservation Competition Program Involving middle and high schools in Arkansas

Purpose: This important conservation competition program is designed to encourage and involve school children in elementary, middle and high schools to participate in developing conservation projects to improve and enhance the environment.  The Arkansas Wildlife Federation with the assistance of the National Wildlife Federation, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas Department of Natural Resources, local colleges, universities, and local school officials throughout Arkansas will provide materials and guidelines to assist schools to select, prepare and submit their conservation projects. The Arkansas Wildlife Federation will seek corporate partners to assist the schools in providing seed funds to develop their projects and the cost for conducting this competition. Corporate partners will be invited to participate on the judging panels and be a part of the awards recognition program at the county, regional and state level as sponsors of this event. Awards and cash prizes will be given to 1st place, 2nd place, and 3rd place winners in all three school levels – middle and high schools. Also, schools who are not winners in these three awards categories will receive Honorable Mention recognition for their efforts to develop meaningful conservation projects for their community or county. The Arkansas Wildlife Federation and its partners strongly believe this conservation competition program will encourage students to consider academic studies and careers in environmental sciences. These conservation projects encourage students to become seriously involved in conservation and environmental projects that enhance our environment and “Give Mother Nature a Helping Hand.”