Kids are invited to create their own animals and submit their drawings to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for a special contest.
Winners will receive free day passes to the Maine Wildlife Park.
It’s one of a handful of activities the department has organized to give vacationing children a way to connect with the outdoors.
The contest lasts just during school vacation week, and the winners will be listed at the end on the department’s Facebook page and by email.
There also is a scavenger hunt and an animal track chart people can download and take outside with them to figure out what critters have been walking in the snow.
For the contest, kids will decide what animal they want to create, draw it, name it and decide where it lives and what it eats, plus any special skills it has, such as climbing, flying or swimming.
Once the animal is drawn and all decisions are made and recorded, entrants may upload their drawings to the department’s Facebook page in comments under the contest post or email them to MDIF&W at info.ifw@maine.gov.
The form with the contest’s instructions is available on the department’s website under Nature-Based Educational Activities and Materials. Those interested will find links to other activities on that page as well.
