Georgia Junior Duck Stamp Art On Exhibit At Callaway Gardens®

Aug. 22, 2011 - PRLog -- PINE MOUNTAIN, GA – Callaway Gardens® is proud to host the 2011 Georgia Junior Duck Stamp Exhibit.

Each year Georgia youth participate in the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Contest sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS).  Students in grades K-12 select a North American duck, goose or swan; research the species and its habitat; then depict the bird in an artistic medium.  

Following the competition, the artwork goes on an exhibition tour around Georgia.  The exhibit will be on display in the Daisy Classroom of Callaway’s Virginia Hand Callaway Discovery Center August 26 through October 31, 2011, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT.

Winners on the state level receive prizes and certificates.  The Best of Show winner competes nationally for thousands of dollars in scholarships. Georgia was represented in the national competition by Colin Williams.  The 16-year-old artist from Savannah, GA, finished in the top 10 nationally by receiving an honorable mention.

Federal Junior Duck Stamps may be purchased for $5 plus shipping and handling by calling 1-800-STAMP-2-4.   For more detailed information on this program, visit http://duckstamps.fws.gov.

The USFWS sponsors this program annually to promote conservation through arts.  It is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.  Callaway Gardens exists to fulfill a similar mission of preserving the natural environment and helping others learn good stewardship of the earth.

According to the USFWS website, for every dollar spent on Federal Duck Stamps, 98 cents goes directly to purchase vital habitat for protection in the National Wildlife Refuge System. Since 1934, sales of Federal Duck Stamps to hunters, stamp collectors and other conservationists have raised more than $700 million that has been used to acquire more than 5.2 million acres of habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Admission to Callaway Gardens is $18/adult; $9/child (ages 6 to 12); children ages 5 and under are admitted for free.  Special event rates may apply. Tax is included.

Callaway Gardens®, is in Pine Mountain, Ga., 60 minutes southwest of Atlanta and 30 minutes north of Columbus.  For additional information, call
1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292) or visit www.callawaygardens.com.

About Callaway Gardens
For almost 60 years, Callaway Gardens has provided “a place of relaxation, inspiration and a better understanding of the living world” for millions of visitors.  Owned and operated by the non-profit Ida Cason Callaway Foundation, Callaway Gardens includes a garden, resort, preserve and residential community on 13,000 acres in Pine Mountain, Georgia.  Highlights include a butterfly conservatory, horticultural center, discovery center, chapel, inland beach, nature trails and special events throughout the year.

In addition, Callaway Gardens offers nearly 80,000 square feet of meeting space, 763 guest rooms, restaurants, a full-service spa, shops, golf, tennis, fishing and more.

Five unique, close-knit residential communities –with custom home sites, lakefront properties and cottages on the golf course – offer an ideal home away from home or full-time residence.

Callaway Gardens is home to a 4,610-acre forest preserve which is under conservation easement.  This conserved, sustainably-managed land is used for biological studies and environmental education programs.

Note to Editors:  Images, interviews and visits to the event can be arranged.  Thank you.

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A gardens, resort, preserve and community, owned and operated by the non-profit Ida Cason Callaway Foundation, offering "So Much to See and Do" while "Connecting Man and Nature in a way that Benefits Both." Located in Pine Mountain, Georgia.