2012 Native Fish Art and Writing Contest Announced!

Teachers and Parents - Did your students or child participate in the 2011 Native Fish Art and Writing Contest? If so, show them how much their hard work means to us by presenting them with a certificate from our Web site. Simply download the certificate and print out as many as are needed for your students or children. You can fill in their name.
Native Fish Art and Writing Contest Certificate (pdf, 97kb)

This annual contest, sponsored by Trout Unlimited, is open to all New Jersey students in grades 4 through 7. Participation can meet NJ Core Content Curriculum Standards Science 5.5: Grade 4 - A.1, C.1; Grade 6 - C.1; Science 5.10: Grade 6 - A.1 (as based on Trout Life Cycle (pdf, 96kb) (from Trout in the Classroom Activity Guide).

To enter the contest, participants need to research one of New Jersey's native fish. With the information gained from their research, students write a short story depicting one year in the life of that fish and submit an artistic depiction of the species featured in their story.

The story must be original and include correct biological and ecological information about the fish. Things to include in the story are habitat, food, habits, and any other ecological information that pertains to that fish. The fish species must be named in the story and the fish must be native to New Jersey. Stories must be 500 words or more and typed.

The drawing of the native New Jersey fish can be done in acrylics, pencils, watercolors, oil, oil pastels, crayons or ink. Art must be original and depict a scene from the story. The finished size of the artwork must be 8.5 x 11 inches. Entries will be judged on both the artwork and the short story. There are first and second place winners in each of the following categories: 4th grade, 5th grade, 6th grade, and 7th grade. All winners will receive a certificate and fishing equipment. First place winners will also receive a youth membership in Trout Unlimited. In addition, each winner and their immediate family will be invited to the Pequest Trout Hatchery and Natural Resource Education Center in Warren County for a luncheon and awards ceremony on the morning of opening day of trout season (Saturday, April 7 in 2012). Winners will also be able to fish at the Pequest Fishing Education Pond.

Winning artwork from the 2011 contest.

Entries must be received by Friday, March 2, 2012. Entries must include the entrant's name, home address, home telephone number, grade and school name. Failure to include this information will lead to disqualification. All entries become the property of the Division of Fish and Wildlife and will not be returned.

Submit entries to:

Native Fish Art and Writing Contest
NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife
605 Pequest Rd.
Oxford, NJ 07863

2011 Winners and Artwork
2010 Winners and Artwork
2009 Winners and Artwork
2008 Winners and Artwork
2007 Winners and Artwork
2006 Winners and Artwork
2005 Winners and Artwork
2004 Winners and Artwork
2003 Winners and Artwork
2002 Winners and Artwork
2001 Winners and Artwork