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Teachers and students across the state are invited to celebrate wildlife through art by participating in the 37th annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest.
The goal of this competition for grades K-5 is to generate knowledge of and appreciation for Georgia’s biodiversity. The popular initiative is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia and The Environmental Resources Network, or TERN, friends group of DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section.
The 2026-2027 theme – Wildlife Great and Small: We Need Them All! – highlights the importance of protecting Georgia’s rich natural heritage. Over 4,000 species of plants and wild animals as well as tens of thousands of invertebrates live here. From North Atlantic right whales to sugar maples to wood storks to field ants, species come in all shapes and sizes. Just as every gear, bolt, rod and belt in a machine is needed to operate properly, every species, no matter the size, is needed for an ecosystem to function.
An ecosystem is a community of living things (plants and animals) and non-living things (air, water, soil) that work together to support life. If any part disappears, the ecosystem and the species in it suffer. Plants and animals that once depended on the missing part may die, which leads to lower biodiversity and possibly even ecosystem collapse. However, through stewardship, we can help keep common species common and prevent the loss of species.
As inspiration for their Give Wildlife a Chance artwork, students can keenly observe the living things in their backyard, schoolyard or local park. Notice not only the larger plants and animals but also smaller, less obvious lifeforms. Additionally, students can visit the Georgia Biodiversity Portal (https://georgiabiodiversity.org) to learn about rare plants and animals statewide and locally. For details about a particular species, click on its name in the list to see a profile page.
The artwork must be based on this year’s theme and adhere to the contest rules. Participants will enter their drawings and paintings at the local level. Typically, that’s done through the student’s school, but it also can be through another group hosting the poster contest, such as a homeschool organization, after-school camp, Scout troop or library branch. Top school-level entries proceed to the state contest at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens. First-, second- and third-place winners will be chosen for four divisions: kindergarten, first and second grade, third and fourth grade, and fifth grade. The deadline for schools to submit digital photos of state-level entries is March 1, 2027.
The top 12 state-level winners’ artwork will be showcased on DNR Wildlife Resources Division and State Botanical Garden of Georgia social media sites and through a statewide news release. Winners also will receive award ribbons and may be recognized in other ways. For contest rules, awards, entry forms and other information, visit https://georgiawildlife.com/PosterContest.
DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section is charged with conserving animals that aren’t legally fished for or hunted, plus native plants and natural habitats. Only a deep commitment to these natural resources will ensure their existence for future generations. The Wildlife Conservation Section depends primarily on fundraisers such as sales of eagle and monarch butterfly license plates, the annual renewal of those and older wildlife tags (such as the hummingbird design), the Give Wildlife a Chance state income tax checkoff, and direct donations (https://georgiawildlife.com/donations).
Learn more at https://georgiawildlife.com/about/what-we-do or call Wildlife Conservation Section offices in Social Circle (706-557-3213), Forsyth (478-994-1438) or Brunswick (912-264-7218).
GIVE WILDLIFE A CHANCE POSTER CONTEST
- Theme: Wildlife Great and Small – We Need Them All!
- Emphasis: Generate knowledge of and appreciation for Georgia’s biodiversity.
- Teacher instructions: Have students design artwork based on the theme that includes native wildlife – animals, plants or both. Hold a school-level contest. First-place winners in each age division advance to the state-level contest.
- Deadline for state-level contest entries: March 1, 2027.
- Top 12 state-level winners’ artwork will be showcased on DNR Wildlife Resources Division and State Botanical Garden of Georgia social media sites.