Teachers and students across Georgia are being encouraged to spotlight the state’s wildlife through creativity by entering the 36th annual Give Wildlife a Chance Poster Contest, open to grades K-5.

Organizers say the contest is designed to build knowledge of and appreciation for Georgia’s biological diversity. The statewide program is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the State Botanical Garden of Georgia, and The Environmental Resources Network (TERN), a friends group of DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Section.

The 2025–2026 theme, “Welcome to the Wild World, Little Ones!”, focuses on the many ways wildlife begins life—whether born live, hatching from eggs, or receiving lots of parental care (like many mammals and birds) to little or none (common among amphibians, fish, reptiles, and invertebrates). Students are encouraged to observe wildlife in backyards, schoolyards, and local parks for inspiration, then create drawings or paintings that match the theme and follow contest rules.

Entries are typically submitted through schools, but homeschool groups, after-school programs, Scout troops, camps, and libraries can also host local contests. Top local winners advance to the state competition held at the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens, with winners selected in four divisions: Kindergarten, 1st–2nd, 3rd–4th, and 5th grade. The deadline for schools to submit digital photos of state-level entries is March 6, 2026.

The top 12 state-level winners will have their artwork featured on DNR Wildlife Resources Division and State Botanical Garden social media pages. As a bonus, each state-level winner’s teacher and one parent will be eligible to receive a free DNR wildlife license plate, courtesy of TERN. Full details, rules, and entry forms are available at georgiawildlife.com/PosterContest.