The Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR), State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Environmental Resources Network, Inc. (TERN) encourage students to participate in the 36th annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest!
As part of the DNR and TERN’s Kids for Conservation initiative, this contest provides a unique opportunity for kindergarten through fifth-grade students to explore the wonders of Georgia’s native animals and plants through the 2025-26 theme: Welcome to the Wild World, Little Ones!
Wild animals have young in a variety of ways. Some give live birth and others lay eggs. In general, mammals and birds are devoted parents for many weeks, months or even years. On the other hand, most amphibians, fish, reptiles and invertebrates don’t care for their young at all. Nature is full of exceptions, though. For example, the brown-headed cowbird lays its eggs in the nests of other bird species and flies away. Most reptiles lay eggs and leave, but American alligator mothers incubate their eggs and protect hatchlings from predators for a year or two. Rather than broadcasting eggs as many fish do, male bluehead chubs make a nest and guard the eggs until they hatch. Bumblebees feed nectar and pollen to their brood, and wolf spiders carry offspring on their backs to keep them warm and protected.
Young animals come into the world during different seasons, too. In the spring, birds are nesting, young bobcats and foxes emerge from dens, and the first bats of the year are born. As summer approaches, spotted fawns blend in with the sun dappled forest floor. Quarter-sized box turtles hatch and leave their nests. Young snakes arrive, most hatching from eggs (inside or outside the mother’s body) but some through live birth.
New life even appears in fall and winter! Right whale calves are born, ornate chorus frog tadpoles appear, and black bears give birth to cubs while still hibernating.
New life is a cause for celebration! By participating in the Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest, you can appreciate wildlife and the habitats they need to survive, as well as learn how our actions can help or harm them.
CONTEST DETAILS
While following the Poster Contest Rules and Guidelines, create artwork based on this year’s contest
theme: Welcome to the Wild World, Little Ones! Artwork should depict at least one identifiable animal and/or plant native to Georgia. Include a description on the Poster Contest Entry Form, thereby demonstrating that the student understands their subject.
East Side Elementary PTA will choose one first-place winner from each division and email photographs of the winning entries with accompanying entry forms to The State Botanical Garden of Georgia (see Poster Contest Rules and Guidelines below).
EAST SIDE ELEMENTARY DEADLINE: February 27th
Drop off completed artwork in front office.
East Side PTA will submit division winners to the state level by submitting electronic copies. The deadline to compete in the state-level contest is March 6, 2026. State-level entries will represent one or more of the four division categories described in the Poster Contest Rules and Guidelines section.
First-, second- and third-place winners will be chosen as state-level winners from each division level, and the winning artwork will be announced and showcased on Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division and State Botanical Garden media in May 2026.
Poster Contest Rules & Guidelines
Eligibility
The contest is open to individual students (no group drawings) in kindergarten through 5th grades. AI and computer-generated artwork are not allowed.
Schools may enter one poster from any or all divisions:
Division 1: Kindergarten
Division 2: First and Second Grades
Division 3: Third and Fourth Grades
Division 4: Fifth Grade
Each school may enter no more than a total of four posters to the state level contest (one entry per division).
Entry & Format Requirements
Any size flat artwork is fine as long as it can be photographed well. Collages and other three-dimensional artwork are not eligible. By submitting artwork, you are granting (on behalf of yourself and the student) permission for sponsors to publish, reproduce and distribute the artwork.
East Side Awards: Winners in each division will win a $25 Five Below Gift Card!
State-Level Awards: The artwork of first-, second- and third-place winners in the state-level contest will be showcased on Georgia DNR Wildlife Resources Division and State Botanical Garden social media. Winners will also receive state-level award ribbons and may be recognized in other ways.
Special Perk for Teachers & Parents of State Winners! The teacher and one parent of each state-level winner will receive a free wildlife license plate, thanks to TERN! Details will be emailed to the winning students’ teachers and parents. To see wildlife tag options, visit gadnr.org/license-plates.
