Our goal is to put a wildlife habitat on every school campus in the Valley of the Sun!

SCHOOLYARD WILDLIFE HABITAT CONTEST 

If your school is interested in creating a wildlife habitat, here is a terrific opportunity for you to jump start that project!  A wildlife habitat can be very rewarding and educational.  Kids learn about stewardship of the earth, and almost every academic subject can be related to a wildlife habitat in one way or another, giving the teachers a phenomenal teaching tool.

The contest winner will receive a FREE wildlife habitat.  The exact plan and quantity will vary, depending on the school’s needs. 

Your school’s habitat can be certified with the National Wildlife Federation, allowing the school to reap a multitude of rewards.  The National Wildlife Federation (NWF), a leader in environmental education for 65 years, offers an exciting array of resources and programs perfect for formal and non-formal educators - whether you are teaching in a traditional classroom, nature center, day care center, or youth service organization. Easy to integrate across your curriculum or into your program, NWF's award-winning resources and habitat certification program are designed to bring the natural world to kids and kids out into nature!  For more information, visit www.nwf.org/backyardwildlifehabitat.

The rules are few and simple, so enter today!  A panel of 5 independent judges will be reviewing the contest entries.  Entry deadline is March 1, 2009, no exceptions.  The winner will be notified by April 1, 2008, and the entry essay will be published in the 6^th Annual Parade of Ponds booklet. 

The winning school will receive their habitat in early October of 2008, and will be required to host a dedication ceremony the Saturday following the completed installation.  At that time, we will hold a press conference, thank all of our sponsors, and present the school with a Wildlife Habitat Reference Manual to help them get started enjoying their habitat, as well as the knowledge to maintain it.

The school will also be required to provide an outlet of 120 volts AC complete with a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) to the water feature area, and a live water source within 15’ of the water feature.  The exact locations of these items will be discussed during the first planning meeting, usually held in May or June.

RULES, GUIDELINES & JUDGING CRITERIA: 

1. The school must be located within the Greater Phoenix (Maricopa County) area.

2. The school must have a minimum of 1000 square feet of space to dedicate to a habitat.  Preference will be given to those schools that can provide an area visible to the public to further promote the habitat program.

3. The Entry Form must be filled out completely and received, with appropriate attachments, by March 1, 2009, no exceptions. 

THIS YEAR'S PANEL OF ESTEEMED JUDGES:

1. Mariana Hancin, Master Gardener

2. Kellie Tharp, Environmental Education Program Manager, Arizona Game and Fish Department

3. Cathy Cromell, Editor, Arizona Master Gardener Press, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension; Garden Editor-at-Large, Phoenix Home & Garden magazine

4. Joetta Miller, Water Conservation Program Manager, City of Glendale

5. Stacy Fischer, Owner, Fischer Garden Design

Please check back for formal entry form.