For immediate release
Dated: February 27, 2012
Reaping Nature announces Earth Day contest for kids
Contest to raise awareness about plastics in our oceans
FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. – Reaping Nature Educational Outreach Foundation, a Forsyth County non-profit organization, is inviting children ages 5 to 12 to display their artistic talents in their annual Earth Day contest. This year’s theme is Plastic in the sea? How can that be?
Our oceans make up 99 percent of our planet’s living space and is the largest space in our universe known to be inhabited by living organisms. When plastic bags reach our waters, they pose a direct threat to the animals that depend on the oceans for food. To a sea turtle, a floating plastic bag looks like a jellyfish. Swirling around, plastic breaks up and becomes plastic pellets. These small hard pieces of plastic look like food to seabirds and fish.
“In the North Pacific and now in the Atlantic ocean there is a swirling sea of plastic bags, bottles and other debris,” said Denise Carleton, Reaping Nature’s Executive Director. “Plastic ingested by marine life poses a direct threat to other wildlife and potentially to humans who ingest them.”
The contest is open to all children ages 5 to 12 in Forsyth County public and private schools and home-schooled students. Six winners in two age groups, 8 and under and 9 to 12, will be awarded in first, second and third place.
Winners will be announced at Reaping Nature’s paint, paper and electronics recycling event at Harry’s Farmers Market in Alpharetta on Saturday, April 21. Winners need not be present to win.
Carleton says the contest is a way to promote environmental stewardship in young people while increasing recycling, litter prevention and water conservation awareness.
“Our mission through these contests is to educate children and the public about the environment,” said Carleton. “We are hopeful that the contest will get children talking to their parents, that teachers use this year’s theme as a learning tool in classrooms, and that entire communities will be impacted in a positive way.”
The top six winners will have their artwork displayed on Reaping Nature’s website. The deadline to submit entries is April 9. All artwork submitted becomes the property of Reaping Nature and may be reproduced. Clipart and copyrighted characters or logos will not be accepted. Judy Jenkins from Forsyth County Schools has approved the contest for all Forsyth County schools.
Complete contest details, official rules and entry form can be found on Reaping Nature’s website at www.reapingnature.org.
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Sources:
http://www.whoi.edu/science/B/people/kamaral/plasticsarticle.html
