Kids in the Keys and elsewhere in Florida can enter the Florida Wildlife Federation's third annual Kid's Wildlife Habitat Contest, open to youths ages 12 and under.
It's easy: Just tell contest organizers how your nature habitat -- whether at home, school or somewhere else -- provides water, food, cover and a place for wildlife to raise its young.The habitat can be anything from a butterfly garden to bird nests.
The winning habitat will be featured on the federation's website and in its newsletter. The winner will also get an age-suitable gardening book and commemorative plaque. Entries must be received by March 31.
The federation says there's great concern among health-care specialists, educators, environmentalists and parents about the shrinking amount of time children spend playing outdoors. Less time outdoors can mean increased obesity and less first-hand observation of basic scientific lessons to be learned from being outdoors.
Trying to stem that is the reason for the contest -- to get kids to reconnect with nature and at the same time teach them something about identifying plants and animals in the natural world.
If your child or students don't already have a habitat to nominate, go to www.fwfonline.org to see how to create one, and what past winners did. The winner will be announced on Earth Day in April.
For more information, call Diane Hines at (850) 656-7113.
Source: http://www.keysnet.com/2011/11/12/395310/wildlife-federation-seeking-kids.html