Maryland Fifth Grader Wins Multi-state Coloring Contest
about the Chesapeake Bay
Author of the Nautical Mile Book Series hosts coloring contest for third, fourth and fifth graders who
can best capture the Chesapeake Bay through pictures
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Molly Alton Mullins
410.974.2941, Ext. 107
(St. Michael’s, MD) March 10, 2012 – Today Miss Abbey Nettleton, a fifth grader at Fort Smallwood
Elementary in Pasadena, MD, was unveiled as the winner of the first annual Chesapeake Bay Revival
Coloring Contest. The contest, created by Donna McCartney, author of the children’s Nautical Mile
Book Series, sought to recognize outstanding student artwork that best depicts the Chesapeake Bay.
You can access the finalists here and the winner was number 53—Snow Birds.
“My goal with this contest was to reach young people to learn how they see the Chesapeake Bay and
depict these visions through their own drawings,” said Donna McCartney, the host of the contest and
author of the Nautical Miles Books Series for children. “With my books, I have tried to capture the
spirit of the Chesapeake Bay for children, and I was very interested to learn more about their personal
connection and experiences.”
The Chesapeake Bay Revival Coloring Contest was launched last September and was open to third,
fourth and fifth grade students through the entire Chesapeake Bay region. Participants were asked to
create an original drawing about the Chesapeake Bay on a standard 8x11 piece of paper. In total, 36
schools participated, with 67 pieces of artwork selected as semi-finalists. These fantastic drawings
have been on display at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum since January. Miss Nettleton’s
submission of Chesapeake Bay Snow Birds was selected as the winner after being reviewed by a panel
of judges that included Chesapeake Conservation Corps volunteers of the Chesapeake Bay Trust,
members of the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and McCartney.
“We have been honored to have Abbey’s picture – and so many other exceptional drawings – on
display at the museum for the past few months,” said Kate Livie, director of education for the
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum. “Educating our young people about the Chesapeake Bay, and the
importance of protecting and restoring this national treasure, is extremely important to the museum.
This contest is a great way to get kids engaged, while also teaching them about the Bay at the same
time.”
For winning the contest, Miss Nettleton will be awarded a $500 shopping spree to Toys R Us, a signed
copy of Salty Summer, Chesapeake Bay-themed t-shirts and other prizes. The other finalists will win
books, t-shirts and prizes provided by the Chesapeake Bay Trust and BoatUS. Miss Nettleton is
described by her teachers as an exceptionally devoted student who father recently returned from one of
multiple active duties in Iraq. Fort Smallwood Elementary will also be awarded $1,000 for
conservation education as part of the contest winnings.
Salty Summer is the first book in the Nautical Mile Book Series, which is a collection of five
children’s books about young friends and their adventures on the Chesapeake Bay. It was published in
October 2011 and introduces children to sailing, fishing, nautical legends and lore. A portion of net
proceeds from book sales is being donated to the Chesapeake Bay Trust for environmental education
and Bay restoration efforts. The Nautical Mile Book Series is available at Barnes and Noble, Books A
Million, and Amazon.com. For more information and to see all the coloring contest finalists online,
visit www.nauticalmilebooks.com.
“It is my dream to help children understand the importance of our natural resources and the
Chesapeake Bay,” said McCartney. “Whether is through children’s stories or drawings or formal
instruction, we must do all we can to teach our next generation. I hope this contest helped illustrate for
these participants just how exceptional our Chesapeake Bay truly is and how we all must work to
restore and protect it.”
About the Chesapeake Bay Trust:
The Chesapeake Bay Trust (www.cbtrust.org) is a state-chartered, nonprofit grantmaking organization, sparking on-the-ground change in communities throughout
Maryland and the broader Bay watershed. Since its inception in 1985, the Trust has
awarded $45 million in grants and engaged hundreds of thousands of citizens in projects that have a
measurable impact on the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The Trust is supported by the sale of the
Maryland Treasure the Chesapeake license plate, donations to the Chesapeake Bay and Endangered Species
Fund on the Maryland State income tax form, donations from individuals and corporations, and partnerships
with private foundations and federal and state agencies. Fully 90 percent of the Trust’s expenditures are
directed to its Chesapeake Bay restoration and education programs.
About the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum
The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing the stories of the
Chesapeake Bay and the people who have shaped their lives around it. With 18 waterfront acres in the historic
town of St. Michaels, the Museum offers exhibits, demonstrations, boat rides on the Miles River, and annual
festivals that celebrate Chesapeake Bay culture, boats, seafood, and history. The Museum’s floating fleet of
historic Chesapeake Bay watercraft is the largest in existence and its small boat collection includes crabbing
skiffs, workboats, and log canoes. For more information, visit the Museum in St. Michaels or on the web at
www.cbmm.org.