Show off your artistic and scientific communication skills!

Enter the National Association of Conservation Districts’ Annual K-6 Conservation Poster Contest

Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District is pleased to announce the 2026 Annual Conservation Poster Contest theme: “Soil. Where it all Begins”. 

Educators are encouraged to register by the following dates:

  • Register on or before Wednesday, December 17, if you would like a complementary classroom visit. 30-to-45 minute visits are offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, starting January 2. Classroom visits are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

  • Register on or before Friday, January 23, if you choose to forgo the classroom visit and introduce the contest and poster theme to your students yourself.

Posters are due Wednesday, February 25. Knox-Lincoln staff will pick them up at your school’s front office at 8 AM, or they can be sent by mail or dropped off at the Knox-Lincoln SWCD Office by 5 PM. For more information about the 2026 Conservation Poster Contest, contact Louisa at louisa@knox-lincoln.org or (207) 596-2040.

Use the form below to register just your class, or to be the point of contact on behalf of more classrooms at your school:

Registration and Entry

Register your classroom(s) or student group as soon as you know you are participating. You may register your own classroom or be the point of contact for scheduling visits to several classrooms at your school.

  • If you would like a complementary classroom visit, please register on or before Wednesday, December 17

    30-to-45 minute visits are offered on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, starting January 2. Knox-Lincoln SWCD staff will introduce the poster contest and relevant science ideas of the theme to your students through interactive activities and a slide presentation. A resource guide with lesson plans, suggested activities, books, and videos will be provided to all teachers who participate. Classroom visits are limited and available on a first-come-first-served basis.

  • If you choose to forgo the classroom visit, please register on or before Friday, January 23.

    It is absolutely fine to introduce the contest and poster theme to your students yourself. A resource guide with lesson plans, suggested activities, books, and videos will be provided to all teachers who participate.

Posters are due on Wednesday, February 25. Choose the most convenient option for you:

  • Picked up at your school office on February 25. If you choose this option, the posters must be in your school office by 8 AM for Knox-Lincoln staff to collect.

  • Dropped off on February 25 by 5 PM at the Knox-Lincoln SWCD office.

  • Sent by mail and delivered by February 25 to the Knox-Lincoln SWCD office.

Please attach a completed 2026 Poster Contest Form to the back of each poster securely using masking tape.

Category Level and Classroom Level awards will be announced by March 11, 2026. Posters will be returned to schools by March 31, 2026. Learn more about award designations.

This detailed information is also available in PDF format. Educators should read this information carefully in order to understand requirements for registration, entry, and poster design.

Registration, Entry, and Poster Requirements:

Poster Criteria

  • Poster size is flexible depending on what teachers and students have available to them. Posters must be at least 8.5”x11”. Do not use neon-colored paper.

  • Any media may be used, including paint, crayon, colored pencil, charcoal, stickers, paper, or other materials.

  • Posters must visibly include the contest theme, Soil. Where it all Begins.

  • The entry must be the contestant’s original creation. Although younger students will most likely receive help in planning from parents or teachers, NACD encourages each student to do their own work.

  • Each poster must be created by an individual student rather than a team of students.

  • Student names must only be written on the back of the poster, not the front. Please attach a 2026 Poster Contest Form to the back of each poster securely using tape.

  • Students in grades K-6 are eligible to participate.

Poster contest registration and detailed entry instructions can also be downloaded in PDF format.