Address: 5417 Gerstner Memorial Drive, Lake Charles, LA 70607
Phone: (337) 474-1583 ext. 3
Email: danielle.fruge@la.nacdnet.net
Website: www.gulfcoastswcd.org
State Poster Contest Website: http://soiltospoon.shutterfly.com/
Now on FaceBook at LACD Auxiliary Conservation Poster Contest
In Cooperation With
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
September 10, 2014
TO:
Calcasieu and Cameron Parish Teachers
FROM:
Gulf Coast Soil and Water Conservation District
RE:
Gulf Coast SWCD is sponsoring a district-wide Conservation
Poster Contest
The Gulf Coast Soil and Water Conservation District contest will join the Louisiana Association
of Conservation Districts Auxiliary and the National Association of Conservation Districts by
locally sponsoring a Conservation Poster Contest. The Annual National Conservation Poster
Contest provides kindergarten through twelfth grade students with an opportunity to share their
thoughts about soil, water and related natural resource issues. This year’s theme is “Dig Deeper;
Mysteries in the Soil”.
WHO MAY ENTER?
Any student in grades K-12 in the schools located in the Gulf Coast Soil and Water Conservation
District is eligible to enter the poster contest. The district includes Calcasieu and Cameron
parish(s). There are five categories: K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12.
HOW ARE POSTERS SELECTED?
The local SWCD will evaluate artwork entered into competition. The posters are judged on the
following criteria: Conservation message- 50%, visual effectiveness- 30%, originality- 10%, and
universal appeal- 10%. The same criteria will also be used in judging the state-wide and national
competitions as well.
WHAT ARE THE CONTEST RULES?
Any media may be used to create a flat or two-dimensional effect (paint, crayon, colored pencil,
charcoal, paper, or other material). All posters must have the student’s name, grade, teachers
name and school on the back of the poster. This year completed entry form will only be needed
if that student places in the local contest. We will contact the teacher for the information and
parent signature if needed.
Calcasieu and Cameron Parish Teachers
Page 2
The poster must depict the conservation theme,
“Dig Deeper; Mysteries in the soil”.
The poster size must be between 8.5” X 11” and 22” X 28”.
All posters should be submitted to the Gulf Coast Soil and Water Conservation District by
2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 07, 2014. (As the office will be closed November 11th and
possibly November 10th)
WHAT ARE THE PRIZES?
The Gulf Coast Soil and Water Conservation District will award the following prizes in each
category: 1st Place- $50.00 2nd Place - $25.00, and 3rd Place $10.00. All first place entries for
our local contest will be sent to compete in the state-wide contest. The top two posters in each
category of the stat-wide contest will receive monetary prizes of $75.00 for 1st place, $50.00 for
2nd place in the LACD Auxiliary Contest. All first place entries from the state contest will move
on to the national contest where the nation winners will receive additional monetary prizes. 1st
place winners will receive $100.00 and 2nd place winners will receive $75.00. Prizes at the state
and national level are sponsored by the LACD Auxiliary and NACD.
WHY PARTICIPATE?
This year’s theme, “Dig Deeper: Mysteries in the Soil” focuses on the importance of soil and its
health. You ask, why should we protect the soil? Here’s why. Believe it or not, nearly everyone
and everything on this earth needs the soil to live! Soil is the foundation to all life. Did you know
that it takes 500 to 1,000 years to form one inch of soil and that in just half of that amount you
can find anywhere from 100 million to 1 billion bacteria and other organisms in it? WOW! That
is one of the many reasons we all need to take the right steps to ensure that our soil stays healthy
and happy. Healthy soil is made up of 25% water, 25% air, 45% minerals and 5% organic matter.
It is our responsibility, as the earth’s conservationists, to protect all these components that make
up soil. A couple of ways to protect our soil and its inhabitances are to: keep the ground clean
and clear of non-dissolving (or things that take a long time to dissolve) objects such as plastics,
metal cans, and tires; keep the air and water free from anything that can harm soil dwellers
(important role in keeping the soil porous and mixed), and try to prevent major soil disruptions
such as unnecessary digging. So we encourage you to DIG DEEPER into the wonderful world of
soil to learn more about the MYSTERIES it’s hiding. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERNCE!
QUESTIONS?
Questions about the contest may be directed to Danielle Vail at the Gulf Coast Soil and Water
Conservation District located at 5417 Gerstner Memorial Drive, Lake Charles, LA 70607 or you
may call (337) 474-1583 ext.3. Our office hours are Monday- Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
You may also email us at danielle.fruge@la.nacdnet.net . Please be sure to visit our website at
www.gulfcoastswcd.org and our LACD Auxiliary Poster Contest Website at
http://soiltospoon.shutterfly.com/.We look forward to working with you and your students
throughout the year. We can also be found live and in color on FaceBook. Look us up at LACD
Auxiliary Conservation Poster Contest.