Environmental contests for students

The Wisconsin Rural Water Association (WRWA) and local water utilities are sponsoring a water conservation poster competition for students, while the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is sponsoring both a poster and an essay contest about trees.

Teachers throughout Wisconsin are invited to enter the artwork of 1st-6th graders in the WRWA’s 2009 Water Conservation Poster Contest. Winners will receive prizes and have a chance at a prize for their school.

As part of the project, teachers are encouraged to discuss the importance of water resources, and schools may contact the WRWA for a possible presentation. The organization has provided some water facts to consider:

- Water is essential to life and is used in many ways.
- Wisconsin uses more than 7 billion gallons of water per day, with about 80% used for thermoelectric power.
- Each person uses approximately 60-80 gallons of water every day in Wisconsin.

Deadline for entries is March 11, 2009. More information and rules are available on-line.

Please view Wisconsin's state education newsletter for a list of more environment-themed contests.