10^th International Children's Contest
Announcement for teachers and schools 

A fun and exciting art contest for children 7 to 14 years old

We invite all primary school children from tropical and sub-tropical nations, and whose  schools are located near mangroves, to create art telling us "why mangroves are important to me and my community".  

Selected winners will be published in our 2011 calendar to be distributed internationally to raise awareness of mangrove forest ecology. This creative contest aims to promote appreciation and awareness of mangrove forests, and to encourage and listen to creative voices of children living in mangrove areas. 

Help us launch this program in your school by contacting science and art teachers in your area and encourage them to work together on this fun and innovative project. 

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What kind of art can be submitted? 

Technique: Paint, color pencil, ink, collage, pastel, crayons, etc

Dimensions: Canvas, or paper, 45 cms x 30 cms. (18 in. x 12 in.)

The artwork has to be in a format horizontal, to fit on the page of the calendar. (We have received wonderful artwork that was vertical and we were unable to use it.)

Artist Identification: On the back of each artwork please write. Full name, age, school, address, city or town, country, and title of art work.

Age Limit: Ages 7-14 years old

Mailing instruction: The artwork has to be mailed in a tube. Make sure is sent in certified or registered mail. Please don’t bend the artwork because we will not be able to use it.

How will entries be judged?

Each school will hold its own exhibition and select 3 winners in art.  Winning entries will be collected in each country by a participating NGO and sent to the MAP office in the USA

What are the prizes?

1st Prize will receive a certificate + 2 calendars and the recognition of being published in an International calendar with global distribution.

2nd Prize will receive a certificate and a calendar.                             

3rd Prize will receive a certificate and a calendar.                             

Schools will receive 5 Calendars. NGOs will receive 6 Calendars.

When is the deadline?

Please, we must receive the artwork and poetry in MAP's office by August 14, 2010.

Mailing Address:
Mangrove Action Project
PO Box 1854
Port Angeles, WA 98362-0279, USA

or physical address
Mailed to:
4872 Deer Park Rd.,
Port Angeles, WA 98362-0279
USA

Please mail in a tube.

Who do I contact?
Please let us know if your school plans to participate by contacting:
Monica Gutierrez-Quarto,
Calendar Project Coordinator

Mangrove Action Project
PO Box 1854
Port Angeles, WA 98362-0279, USA
tel./ fax (360) 452-5866
E-mail: monicaquarto@olympus.net or mangroveap@olympus.net  

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Some suggested Field Trip and Classroom Lessons

 It is suggested that this contest could coincide with an Associated Mangrove Ecology Educational Project with the children. This lesson will highlight the importance of the mangrove forests for the environment, for their community, for fishermen and/or for the associated mangrove forest fauna. The intent of this educational project is to help the participating children better comprehend the important role mangroves play in their lives and for their communities. 

 1. - Information and guidance in the classroom, aided by textbooks, mangrove curriculum, slides and videos. 

 2. - Eco-Study Field trips for firsthand observation with the teacher and/ or a local resource person, where they can observe the myriad forms of life that inhabit the mangroves, such as the many colored birds, fish, crabs, mollusks, reptiles, mammals, and insects, while also learning about the unique characteristics of the associated mangrove plants and trees. 

 3. - As a result of this research, the children may wish to create artwork for the 2010 calendar art competition. 

Yours sincerely,
Monica Gutierrez-Quarto,
Calendar Project Coordinator

Mangrove Action Project
monicagquarto@olympus.net
mangroveap@olympus.net
Tel. (360) 452-5866