North Carolina Aquarium Hosts Earth Day Photo-Essay Contest For Students K-12

By Claire Aubel 

Atlantic Beach, NC - The North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores puts the focus on “Your Ecological Footprint” in a new Earth Day Photo-Essay competition for grades K-12.

“We want students to take a moment to look around them and take stock of what kind of footprint they are leaving on the Earth. How much waste are they leaving behind? How much pollution do they and their families create?” said Aquarium Educator Lindsay Thornton.

“In their photos, we hope participants will feature everyday items or actions that either negatively or positively impact our planet. That can include such actions as unplugging idle battery chargers, composting their apple cores and planting trees that will take up carbon dioxide,” she said. “Or maybe their inspiration will be a negative image – recyclable soda cans in the trash, litter blowing around on the beach or a dripping water faucet.”

Students can compete for cash prizes at three levels: elementary, middle and high school. Each entry must include a photo taken by the student that depicts the theme, accompanied by a descriptive essay of 100 or fewer words.

Photos and essays must be printed – no digital submissions – and labeled on the back with the student’s name, grade, school and contact phone number. Submissions will be accepted April 1-17, and can be dropped off or mailed.
The creative contest is part of the Aquarium’s weeklong Earth Day celebration, Party for the Planet, April 19-25. Selected entries will be exhibited over the weekend of April 24-26.

Party for the Planet offers fun and engaging activities for all ages throughout the week. The celebration culminates with an Earth Fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 25, followed by the Earth Day Film Festival that evening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

All Party for the Planet activities except the film festival are free with paid admission or membership. The film festival is $4 per person.

The Aquarium is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for ages 62 and over and $6 for ages 6-17. Children 5 and under and North Carolina Aquariums members are admitted free. The Aquarium is five miles west of Atlantic Beach at 1 Roosevelt Blvd., Atlantic Beach, NC 28512. Visit www.ncaquariums.com or call 252-247-4003 for more information.

PHOTO: What kind of footprint do you leave on the world? Capture it on film for the Earth Week Photo-Essay Contest at the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores. The competition for students grades K-12 features the theme, “Your Ecological Footprint.” NC Aquariums photo.

North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores  252-247-4003  www.ncaquariums.com
PO Box 580 Milepost 7 Atlantic Beach, NC 28512