Hey everyone!
My name is Logan Sauer, I’m the visitor services intern here at Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge
in Ohio. Today we’re going to be taking you around
the country to learn about our Junior Duck Stamp: Conservation and Design Program, just
one of the many programs managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Let’s go!
Hi!
I’m Toni Westland with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service here at the J.N.
“Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge where I’m the Supervisory Refuge Ranger.
Today we’re gonna talk about the history junior duck stamp program, but we couldn’t
talk about that without this guy, Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling, who started the federal
duck stamp back in 1934.
Did you know that “Ding” Darling was the head of the U.S. Biological Survey which became
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service?
In his short time in office, Ding created and guided the funding for the Migratory Bird
Hunting Stamp Act which became the Federal Duck Stamp.
Here we have the first federal duck stamp actually created by “Ding” Darling.
Did you know that this is the most successful conservation stamp program in the world?
And it continues today.
Artists from all over compete to have their artwork spotlighted on the duck stamp.
So, why should we buy duck stamps?
Ninety-eight cents on every dollar goes right back to buying land.
Did you know that we’ve purchased over 5.9 million acres of wetlands across the national
wildlife refuge system because of this important program?
Fast-forward 55 years to the birth of the junior duck stamp program.
A conservation, education, and arts program.
That teaches children kindergarten through 12th, the fundamentals of waterfowl and habitat
conservation in an engaging way.
The students demonstrate what they have learned by drawing or painting a duck, goose, or swan.
So, here with us now is Jaye Boswell, retired art teacher from Sanibel, Florida and founder
of the junior duck stamp to tell us how it all began.
Hi!
I’m Jaye Boswell, retired art teacher and founder of the federal junior duck stamp program
and this is how it started.
Once upon a time, there was a little school with 160 young children situated on a small
island of the coast of southwest Florida.
Next-door to this little school was an enormous wildlife refuge.
This story takes place in 1989, many years ago.
The principal, Mrs. Ward, of the little school asked the art teacher, Mrs. Boswell, how she
would feel about having the art students draw some ducks in a wildlife setting.
The art teacher thought and thought and realized how many valuable and educational learning
tools could be intertwined into this art project.
Mrs. Boswell immediately tracked the principal down and said, “let’s go for it.”
The enthusiasm of the children, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the teachers all contributed
to the birth of the federal junior duck stamp.
At the start of every school year, several little art students would enthusiastically
ask the art teacher, “are we going to draw a duck stamp this year?”
“Absolutely!” the art teacher would say.
It is so gratifying to conservation and the arts programs have such positive impacts on
our wonderful children.
There’s nothing that can compare to the healthy sights and sounds of nature, whether
it’s in the woods, at the seashore, in a canyon, or a cave, the buzzing, the chirping,
the splashing, the screeching, the howling, or the honking, flapping, and the fabulous
formations of our migrating ducks, swans, and geese.
Hi!
My name is Carina Velazquez.
I’m the Visitor Services Specialist here at Potomac River National Wildlife Refuge
Complex.
I help facilitate the junior duck stamp contest for the state of Virginia.
In addition to the art and the conservation message contest, the Junior Duck Stamp Program
also provides four curriculum guides that help spark interest in wildlife and habitat
conservation through science, art, math, and technology focused lessons and activities.
The youth guide is filled with activities that can be done year-round indoors and outdoors!
The educator guide provides resources to help teachers lead students through wildlife and
habitat investigations.
And lastly, we have guides specifically designed and tailored for homeschool and non-formal
education such as nature centers, wildlife refuges, and youth groups.
All four guided concentrate on wildlife observation, nature journaling, photography, exploring
the outside world, and investigating the treasures of your backyard, local park, or national
wildlife refuge.
[Nature sounds] As stewards of conservation, we know how important
it is to reach youth and to get them to learn and care about the environment.
In 2019, approximately 20,000 students entered their state junior duck stamp competition
and over 300,000 students, families, and communities are reach annually through student artwork
displays and waterfowl and wetland related activities.
Hi! I’m Monica Scroggin, Visitor Services Specialist.
And I’m Gabby Giacomangeli, Biological Science Technician.
And we’re coming to you from Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge in Florida.
Several students who have participated in the program have gone on to become full time
wildlife artists and conservation professionals.
Many of them attribute their interest and success to their early exposure to Junior
Duck Stamp Program.
The winning artwork from the national art contest serves as the design on the Junior
Duck Stamp which is produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service annually.
The stamp is sold for only five dollars and one hundred percent of the proceeds are used
to fund environmental education programs, recognize and award students for their work,
and expand the conservation education program across the United States.
Hi everyone!
My name is Becky Larkins, I’m the Supervisory Refuge Ranger at the Southeast Louisiana National
Wildlife Refuges Complex.
I’m also one of the junior duck stamp coordinators for the state of Louisiana and we hope that
you all get involved in the federal junior duck stamp program.
Now remember, you can enter in any two-dimensional artwork that depicts a native North American
waterfowl.
That’s ducks, geese, and swans.
Now remember, this needs to be your own creation.
So, plagiarism is not permitted.
Any form of plagiarism will get you disqualified.
So you’ve decided to enter into the federal junior duck stamp program!
This is great news!
Now here are some reminders on what your artwork needs to look like in order for you to get
to the judging stage.
All artwork must nine inches by twelve inches in horizontal or landscape, please do not
include portraits, those can get disqualified.
Please do not mat, frame, or put any type of border around your artwork.
Make sure that your artwork is a fourth of an inch thick or less.
If it’s over a fourth of an inch thick, it can get disqualified.
Also remember, if you want to sign your artwork, do so on the back.
Any signatures or words on your main front page of your artwork could get it disqualified.
It’s important to remember that at this time any computer-generated artwork or 3-D
artwork is not accepted for the federal junior duck stamp contest.
For a full list of eligible North American waterfowl species, contest rules and requirements,
and to download your entry form, visit the federal junior duck stamp website today.
Hello!
My name is Gisella Burgos.
I am the Visitor Services Specialist at the Caribbean Islands National Wildlife Refuge
Complex which includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The Junior Duck Stamp Program crosses cultural, ethnic, social, and geographic boundaries
to increase awareness, respect, and appreciation for natural resources.
El programa juvenil de estampas de aves acuáticas integra a diferentes áreas culturales, étnicas,
sociales y geográficas para aumentar la conciencia, el respeto y el aprecio a nuestros recursos
naturales.
We invite any student kindergarten through 12th grade to enter.
Any student living overseas may enter through their legal state of residence.
This program is available in Washington D.C., all U.S. territories, and all 50 states.
Thank you so much for tuning in!
For a list of junior duck stamp coordinators by state, entry deadlines, and any other information,
please visit the junior duck stamp website.
We look forward to seeing your entries! [soft wave sounds]