The need for conservation education for America’s youth is a broadly held concern.  Securing the future of our fish, wildlife and natural resources depends on recruiting and educating a new generation of stewards and outdoor enthusiasts who will invest their time, talent, passion and money in the conservation of the America’s fish and wildlife. 

The State-Fish Art Contest is a conservation education outreach initiative that is national in scope, regional in application, and local in implementation.  At the national level, partners include Wildlife Forever and the North American Fishing Club.  At the regional level, partners include state agencies, state parks staff and National Wildlife Refuges that disseminate information about the contest for local implementation.  At the local level, partners include public science and art teachers, home-school families, art clubs, sportsmen’s and community groups and parents.

The purpose of the State-Fish Art Contest is to create a new generation of stewards who understand local aquatic species and habitats, and to foster knowledge of local watersheds and their functions, values and vulnerabilities and their impacts on aquatic habitats across the United States.  The future of cooperative conservation efforts depend upon and informed and engaged partners  who possess knowledge of local resources and their values and vulnerabilities.

NGOs - Wildlife Forever. Government - Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, USFWS: Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, additional state agencies.  Private sector – Mall of America, Minnesota Twins, America On Line, Rapala, Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff, Art Institutes International Minnesota, North American Fishing Club, various local media.  Foundations – Project AWARE Foundation

The State-Fish Art program puts conservation education in the classroom.  The State-Fish Art Lesson Plan has been used by educators nationwide to impart lessons to students about their local state-fish and the conservation of aquatic resources.  Upon completion of the Lesson Plan, students are able to identify their state-fish (the Minnesota state fish is the walleye), recognize its habitat requirements, label the parts of a fish and describe their function, and outline a simple aquatic food chain.  The lesson plan then uses art and language arts to reinforce those science-based lessons.  The State-Fish Art Program has benefited from and maximized partnerships since its inception.  Future objectives are to continue to leverage partners’ resources to expand the program to every school in the United States.