Deadline to enter 7th Annual Kids Art Contest is March 19

VNP Staff Report

Voyageurs National Park has announced the 7th Annual Kids Art Contest in honor of National Park Week. Children from preschool through sixth grade are welcome to enter the contest by creating a new painting or drawing that illustrates the theme: Remembering the Past — Celebrating the Future.

First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded in four age groups based on creativity, skill, and theme. Age groups are preschool-kindergarten, first-second grade, third-fourth grade, and fifth-sixth grade.

For all age groups, artwork should be no smaller than 8x10 inches and no larger than 18x24 inches. Write the child’s name, grade, school, teacher, and family contact information on the back of each entry.

All art entries will be on display at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center. The park will host an award ceremony April 17 at Rainy Lake Visitor Center to celebrate National Park Week (April 18-25). Family activities are planned around the ceremony. Artwork may be picked up after the ceremony at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center.

Prizes for the art contest are sponsored by the Friends of Voyageurs National Park.

To enter the contest, drop off artwork at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center between 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, or mail entries to: Kids Art Contest/Kids in Parks Program, Voyageurs National Park, 3131 Highway 53, International Falls, MN 56649.

Deadline to enter the contest is March 19.

Kids program

In 2008, the park started the Kids in Parks Program. The first place winner of the Youth Art Contest in the 5-6 grade group will become the third annual participant in the Kids in Parks Program.

The first place winner will receive free lodging for a weekend in the park for a family of four, plus free tickets for the Otter tour boat and North Canoe Voyage.

The goal of the Kids in Parks Program is to share a park experience with a family from one of the park’s surrounding communities.

The winner of the Kids in Parks Program must meet the criteria outlined below.

• Artwork must be entered by the deadline

• Must be in the 5-6 grade group

• Must live in Koochiching or northern St. Louis County (north of Cook) or Fort Frances, Ontario

• Must have a signed guardian approval form on the back of the submitted artwork

• Must be available to stay in the park the weekend of July 9-11

• Must be able to meet the following requirements during his/her stay:

• Complete one volunteer service project

• Accompany a park ranger for one hour

• Accompany a park naturalist for two hours

National Park Week is proclaimed each year by the President of the United States to recognize and celebrate national parks.