HARRISBURG – Preparation for the 2024 solar eclipse is underway at the Shawnee National Forest and the forest is seeking help from local youth artists with their first-ever poster contest, to feature the 2024 solar eclipse.
“This contest provides a great opportunity to reach out to the youth in our local communities and get them thinking about the Shawnee National Forest,” said Dennis Wilson, Hidden Springs and Mississippi Bluffs district ranger. “This type of event doesn’t occur very often and what better way to enjoy it than being on the forest.”
The contest is open to students currently enrolled in first through twelfth grade, attending school in the following counties: Alexander, Gallatin, Hardin, Jackson, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski, Saline, Union, and Williamson.
Submissions will be broken down into three grade categories for judging:
- 1st thru 4th
- 5th thru 8th
- 9th thru 12th
Students are asked to think about their favorite feature or location on the Shawnee National Forest and use that for inspiration in their poster design. Posters must include scenery from the forest and a solar eclipse, as well as include the following text: Shawnee National Forest, Solar Eclipse 2024, April 8, 2024, path of totality.
A panel of Forest Service employees will select the top five posters from each grade category. Finalists will be posted to the Shawnee National Forest Facebook page by January 17 for one week of voting. The poster in each category with the highest amount of “likes” will be the winner.
“I can’t wait to see all the cool posters submitted by the students, remember you can’t win the cool Smokey Bear swag and other prizes if you don’t enter,” Wilson said.
Winners will be announced January 26 and will receive a framed print of their poster, Smokey Bear solar eclipse swag bag and a solar eclipse t-shirt from Friends of the Shawnee. Every participating artist will receive a certificate of participation.
“We have a few tips to keep in mind when designing a poster; a good poster has a bold and simple design,” added Wilson. “Remember the poster’s message should be easily understood and delivered both in the picture and in text. We want posters to encourage people to visit the Shawnee National Forest.”
Each poster entry should be 11 x 17 inches in size and must be hand drawn. No computer/AI created entries. Materials that can be used include crayons, markers, poster paints, watercolors, and the like. No three-dimensional posters, computer-scanned, or electronically generated images will be accepted.
Submissions must be mailed or dropped off to a Shawnee National Forest office by January 12, 2024. Addresses, phone numbers and hours of operations for offices are available on the forest’s website.
For additional information on the solar eclipse poster contest, as well as a complete list of rules and guidelines, please visit www.fs.usda.gov/shawnee.