On May 24, 2019, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey celebrated and recognized the winners of the 2019 Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest, a statewide educational contest open to all fifth-graders. The 17th annual contest encourages students to become wildlife biologists through their research and artwork on the endangered and threatened wildlife species in New Jersey. The first place winner from Cape May County is Jocelyn Jamison from Dennis Township Elementary.
“These talented children poured their hearts into the Species on the Edge contest, creating vibrant artwork and passionate essays about these rare wildlife species,” said David Wheeler, Conserve Wildlife Foundation Executive Director. “We are inspired to help connect the next generation of New Jersey conservation leaders with the natural world around them. Their art and essays illustrate the wonders of nature – and reveal many of the challenges we must overcome to help vulnerable wildlife survive in our densely populated state.”
Students were asked to draw a picture of one of New Jersey’s over 80 endangered and threatened wildlife species and compose an essay about how the animal became endangered and what can be done to help protect it. The Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest encourages students to learn about local environmental issues, express their concerns for the world around them, think creatively about ways to improve it, and to consider how their actions impact the natural world.
This year’s ingenious group of winners was honored at an awards ceremony which was hosted at the New Jersey Education Association, in Trenton, New Jersey. The contest was sponsored by PSEG Foundation, NJEA, GAF, Atlantic City Electric, Church & Dwight, Wakefern Corp./ ShopRite and The Zoological Society of New Jersey.
Since 2003, over 30,000 children from across New Jersey have entered the Species on the Edge Art & Essay Contest.
