SUSSEX COUNTY, Del.- The annual Sussex Conservation District poster contest returns again this year with a new theme: “One Water”

This contest is open to all students in Sussex County, from grades K-12. Even at just three years old, Cora Garrett is already passionate about maintaining a clean environment.

Cora’s mom, Ellie Garrett, asked her, “We like to take care of the environment and clean up trash, right?”

To which Cora excitedly responded, “Yeah!”

Taking care of the environment is one of the core motivations behind the Sussex Conservation District’s Poster Contest. Watersheds, which are areas of land that channel rainfall and snowmelt into other bodies of water, form an interconnected system referred to as “One Water.”

The posters created for this contest must highlight the importance of watersheds in conservation efforts within the state of Delaware.

Amanda Fabi, a Resource Specialist at the Sussex Conservation District, explains, “For the poster contest, students from kindergarten to 12th grade are allowed to use paint, crayons, markers, and similar materials.”

Additionally, students in grades 7-12 have the option to submit digital posters.

A good poster should also incorporate a brief, catchy message, attractive colors, and white space to captivate the viewer’s attention. The winning posters will be submitted to the National Contest, with the goal of inspiring future generations, like Cora, to spend more time outdoors and to serve as a reminder that it’s never too early to care for the environment.

Poster entries can be submitted by mail, email, or in person at the Sussex Conservation District office by Oct. 27.