Students in grades K - 12 are invited to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the Pequest State Trout Hatchery by participating in the NJDEP Division of Fish and Wildlife's 2013 Trout Art Contest!
This year's contest will be art only (no writing component), and will focus on the three kinds of fish raised at Pequest - brook, brown and rainbow trout. Students should choose one of these trout and using their artistic skills draw a scene of the trout they choose in a habitat where they would be found in New Jersey. Artwork should be creative and original, and incorporate accurate biological and ecological information regarding the fish's habits and habitat.
The artwork must have a finished size of 8.5 x 11 inches and can be done in acrylics, pencils, watercolors, oil, oil pastels, crayons or ink. Students might want to use the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife website as an online resource to learn about New Jersey's trout, the Pequest Trout Hatchery, and the trout stocking program for background information related to their artwork.
First place winners will be selected for each grade level. Winners receive a rod and reel plus a certificate, as well as a Youth Membership to Trout Unlimited. All winners are invited to attend a special luncheon and awards ceremony at the Pequest Trout Hatchery on Opening Day of Trout Season, April 6, 2013. Prior to the luncheon, students will have the opportunity to fish in the Pequest Fishing Education Pond, which is stocked with trout from the hatchery.
Artwork will remain on display at the Pequest Natural Resource Education Center for the year following the contest. Artwork becomes property of the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife and will not be returned.
Entries must be received by Friday, March 1, 2013. For more information, see
http://www.NJFishandWildlife.com/fishart.htm on the division's website.