SPORTS BRIEFS

Students sought

for Junior Duck

Stamp contest

     Calling all student artists in kindergarten through 12^th grade! The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now accepting entries for the 2017 Iowa Federal Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) art contest. While entering the JDS contest, students learn about waterfowl and their habitat, and then create an image of an eligible North American waterfowl species. This contest can be entered by school groups, informal groups, or the student may enter individually.

     Iowa entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2017, and mailed to Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, P.O. Box 399, 9981 Pacific Street, Prairie City, IA 50228. All information needed to participate can be found on the website: www.fws.gov/juniorduck.

     The entries are judged by a panel of five judges with 100 Iowa students receiving awards. The Best of Show from Iowa is submitted to the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest in Washington, D.C. One image from the Best of Show entries from each state will become the next Junior Duck Stamp, with cash prizes for the national first, second and third place winner. The Junior Duck Stamps are sold for $5, with the proceeds from the sale of the stamp being returned to the program for environmental and conservation education.

     For information, please contact the Iowa Junior Duck Stamp Coordinator, Doreen Van Ryswyk by calling 515-994-3400 or email Doreen_VanRyswyk@fws.gov.

Snowshoeing,

animal tracks

program is set

     Need to get your kids out of the house for some screen free time? Take advantage of a no school day and mark your calendar to bring the whole family to the “Central Park Nature Center Family Snowshoeing and Animal Tracks and Sign Program” on Monday, Jan. 16 from 1 to 3 p.m.

     Put on your winter boots and dress to spend a little time in the outdoors as you try your skills at snowshoeing and reading animal tracks and sign. We’ll learn how to identify several animals by their tracks alone and deduce what they were doing from the tracks and signs they left behind.

     Then warm up a little in the Central Park Nature Center as you enjoy a homemade treat and hot chocolate provided by the Friends of Jones County Conservation and Nature Center. Explore the Central Park Nature Center’s latest exhibit additions. Make a plaster cast of an animal track to take home. Test your Iowa mammal identification skills as you take the light board quiz. Hone your bird identification skills by observing birds at the Nature Center feeders and learn how you can participate in the 2017 Great Backyard Bird Count.

     Please call Michele at 319-481-7987 for more information or directions to the Central Park Nature Center.