Students in 3rd, 4th and 5th grades are invited to get creative and learn about the natural environment in North Carolina through the “We All Live in a Watershed” conservation poster contest. This annual statewide educational competition has seen many СѼƵ County students win big at the regional and state levels! The contest is administered by the СѼƵ Soil and Water Conservation District and sponsored by a global biotechnology company based in North Carolina.
Requirements
Create an informative and colorful poster that answers these questions about watersheds:
1. What is a watershed, and what are its different parts?
2. Why are healthy watersheds important?
3. What are the main threats to our local watersheds?
4. How do we keep watersheds healthy?
- Posters must be the original work of individual students (no group posters, please).
- Poster size: no smaller than 22" x 28" and no larger than 24" x 36"
- Each poster must have a filled-out identification card on the back ()
- Most importantly, have fun artistically displaying your conservation knowledge and earn prize money for winning!
Judging
Posters are judged based on 50% scientific content and 50% artistic originality by experts who appreciate children’s artwork. All judges will use a rubric that is used at the regional and state level contests.
СѼƵ District staff will select the best 10 posters in each grade level to be judged by a panel of judges with a variety of backgrounds including watershed management, visual arts and design. This panel of judges will select the top 5 posters in each grade level for the СѼƵ Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors to make the final selection of the 1st and 2nd place posters in each grade level.
Awards and Prizes
Teachers may submit ONE poster per class in grades 3-5.
Each entry will receive a ribbon. The top 10 posters in each grade level will receive a framed certificate. 1st and 2nd place winners receive cash prizes; $50 for 1st place and $25 for second place! The first-place 3rd, 4th and 5th-grade posters advance to the regional competition, which may lead to the state competition. Winning first place at all three levels would earn a student $350 in cash prizes!
Contest Handbook
For detailed information about the contest rules, learning resources, tips, and more, please explore the contest handbook below. This is your one-stop-shop for information about this year's poster contest!
As a supplement to the online study resources included in the handbook, please download this printable study guide document:
Registration and Deadlines
To register, teachers of grades 3–5 can fill out the registration form linked below by Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.
Posters must be selected by teachers (one poster per class) and be ready for pickup in the school's front office by Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025.СѼƵ To arrange the pickup, please email Leah Purvis at leah.purvis@wake.gov. Don't forget to fill out the and tape it to the back of the posters!
For more information, please email Environmental Educator Leah A Purvis at leah.purvis@wake.gov or call 919-250-1065.
Feel free to share this flyer with teachers who may be interested: