Join Soil and Water Stewardship Poster Contest by May 1

The Kane-DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District will be sponsoring a Soil and Water Stewardship Poster Contest.

The contest provides students an opportunity to share their thoughts about natural resource issues.

The theme for this year's contest is "Local Heroes - Your Hardworking Pollinators." Worldwide roughly 1,000 plants are grown for food, beverages, fiber, and medicine that need to be pollinated by animals. In the U.S., pollination by native insects results in $40 billion worth of products each year. These important animals are being threatened due to habitat loss, chemical misuse, and invasive species.

All kindergarten through 12th-grade students in Kane and DuPage counties are eligible to participate in this program. It is open to public and private schools as well as homeschool students.

Grade divisions are K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12.

A gift certificate of $25 will be awarded to the grand-prize winner and a $15 gift certificate will be awarded to the first runner-up in the K-1, 2-3, and 4-6 grade divisions.

A gift certificate of $50 will be awarded to the grand-prize winner and a $25 gift certificate will be awarded to the first runner-up in the 7-9 and 10-12 grade divisions.

Grand prize posters from each grade division will then compete in the Association of Illinois Soil and Water Conservation District's annual poster contest with the possibility of advancing to the National Conservation Poster Contest.

Posters must be mailed or delivered to the Kane-DuPage Soil and Water Conservation District office, 2315 Dean St., Suite 100, St. Charles, IL 60175, no later than May 1.

For contest guidelines and entry form, call (630) 584-7961, ext. 3, or visit www.kanedupageswcd.org.