Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges Photo Contest

12th Annual Amateur Photography Competition
Sponsored by the Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of Rhode Island

The Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of Rhode Island have announced their 12th Annual Amateur Photo Competition to highlight the beauty of the five refuges that comprise the state’s National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Photos will be accepted in the following categories: refuge wildlife, refuge flora, refuge wildlife habitat/landscape and photos taken by children age 14 and under of any subject on a refuge.

All photos must have been taken on one of the five national wildlife refuges in Rhode Island:
Ninigret NWR, Charlestown
Block Island NWR
Trustom Pond NWR, South Kingston
Chafee NWR at Pettaquamscutt Cove, South Kingstown and Narragansett
Sachuest Point NWR, Middletown

Amateur photographers are encouraged to enter their existing refuge color photos or to take new ones. The color photos must be 8”x10” and not matted or framed. For full details and photo registration see the contest flyers which are available at each Refuge or visit our website at www.FriendsNWRofRI.org.

Photos and a $10 entry fee per photo must be received by September 6, 2012. There is a maximum limit of four (4) photos per contestant. Checks should be made payable to the Friends of NWR-RI. Contestants can deliver their photos between 10:00AM and 4:00PM to the Friends of the NWR-RI office at the US Fish and Wildlife Service Kettle Pond Visitors Center, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown, RI, or to the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center in Middletown, RI. Photos may also be mailed to the Friends of the NWR-RI, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown, RI 02813.

All photos entered will be exhibited at Kettle Pond Visitors Center, Charlestown, RI from September 16th to September 30th and then displayed at Sachuest Point Visitors Center, Middletown, RI from October 1st to 15th. The photos will be judged by a panel of photographers prior to the opening reception at Kettle Pond on September 16, 2012. First, second and third place winners will be chosen in each of the four categories. The Best of Show will be awarded a $100 cash prize. Other prizes will be awarded as well.

For more information about the contest and entry forms, send an e-mail to RThieke@cox.net or call the Friends office at 401-364-9124 or visit our website at www.FriendsNWRofRI.org.

The Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of Rhode Island is a volunteer member-based nonprofit organization devoted to conservation and development of healthy habitat for flora and fauna at Rhode Island’s National Wildlife Refuges, and to safe, accessible, ecological experiences for refuge visitors. The Friends group helps secure funds for and works on refuge projects designed to meet the goals of the US Fish and Wildlife Comprehensive Plan for Rhode Island’s 1800 acres of federal refuge habitats.