TGC VP - Ruby Brigman, Uvalde
830-278-5875

As all organizations know, the youth are 100% our future. In TGC we have programs from kinder to high school. In the early grades there are posters and writing contests on an adopted yearly theme. In the later grades the contests are on written prose and on public speaking about that year's theme. Each year we are amazed what our youth create.


Gardening Opportunities for Youth:
Garden Clubs for the youth can be organized at any level. Each club must be sponsored by an adult Garden Club, meet five times a year, minimum of 3 -5 members. Registration form is in the Youth brochure or may be requested from Headquarters.


YOUTH PROGRAMS:

For additional information and scale of points, visit National Garden Clubs, Inc. and click on "Education" then "Youth Gardening".

National Junior Youth Poster contest:
(AKA: State--Environmental Posters)

Please note there is NO NGC Environmental Poster Contest for the 2007-2009 administration.


Youth Activities Poetry Contest:

2007 Theme – “Nature & Me”

The time has arrived to explore the different types of poetry that our youth can use to express their creative ideas.  This year’s title for the poetry contest is “Nature & Me.”  Use your imagination and join the winners to see your poetry in print!

ELIGIBILITY:   Kindergarten through 9th Grade

CONTEST RULES:
1. All entries must be typed and titled.
2. Include name, address, age and school grade of participant on the back of the entry.
3. Sponsoring garden club must also be identified.
4. All entries become property of National Garden Clubs, Inc
5. Poems do not have to rhyme.
6. Poems may be traditional verse, acrostics, bland verse, cinquains, diamond poems or Haiku.

DEADLINES: 
Entries to YOUR State Youth Chairman - Observe Your State Deadline. 
State Winning Entries to Regional Chairman – January 1, 2008 
Regional Winners to National Chairman – February 1, 2008

NATIONAL AWARD:  First Place in each grade in each division will receive a Certificate of Commendation.

NOTE:  Only regional winners are considered in the judging for national winners.  Contest winners will not be allowed to win in two consecutive years.  The winning entries will be compiled into a booklet, which will be made available to the winners.


High School Essay Contest:

ELIGIBILITY: All High School students attending 9th through 12th grades. The contest must be sponsored by: single garden club, group of member clubs, councils or districts; or a State Garden Club. All entries become the property of National Garden Clubs, Inc.

A $1000 National Garden Club Scholarship will be awarded to the National Winner. If the Winner is an underclassman, the $1000 Scholarship will be held by NGC, Inc. without accrued interest, until such time that the student enters college. At that time, the money will be forwarded to the Financial Aid Officer of the college that the student will enter. The second placed sinner will receive $100.

CONTEST RULES: Between 500 - 600 words. The entry will be penalized if the essay does not conform to the required length. All words are to be counted. Students should write the essay so it is suitable to be published in the NGC publication, The National Gardener.

2007-2008 theme:
"Sustain the Earth—Enlighten our Youth"
[Emphasis on environmental concerns —rivers, oceans, atmosphere, rain forest ...]

2008-2009 theme:
"Nurture the Earth—Foster our Environment"
[Emphasis on taking care of our planet—preservation, caretaker, steward, custodian ...]


High School Speech Contest:

Please note there is NO NGC Speech Contest for the 2007-2009 administration. Watch this space for information about the TGC Speech Award.


2007 Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl Poster Contest

Here is what YOU and YOUR students can do to help the environment:
We’re inviting 1st through 5th grade students to demonstrate through original drawings of Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl their understanding of fire prevention and basic environmental conservation principles.
The Grand Prize National Poster Contest Winner will win a free round trip airfare and accommodations for four to Washington, DC.  A $100 U.S. Savings Bond will also be awarded to the First Place National Winners from each grade level sponsored by the National Garden Clubs, Inc. 
The Grand Prize National Poster Contest Winner will win a free round trip airfare and accommodations for four to Washington, DC.  A $100 U.S. Savings Bond will also be awarded to the First Place National Winners from each grade level sponsored by the National Garden Clubs, Inc. 

ELIGIBILITY: First through Fifth grade students.

CONTEST RULES:
1. All poster entrees must be sponsored by a local Garden Club.
2. Posters must feature Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl and must not feature both together.
3. Smokey Bear posters must be based upon and include, Smokey’s fire prevention message (Only YOU Can Prevent Wildfires!).  Woodsy Owl posters must be based upon and include, Woodsy’s conservation message: Lend a Hand – Care for the Land!
4. The entry posters should encourage children to take a personal role in preventing wildfires or conserving natural resources.
5. Each entry should be 11 x 17 inches in size.
6. Materials that can be used include: crayons, markers, poster paints, water colors, etc.
7. No three-dimensional posters, computer scanned, or electronically generated images will be accepted!
8. The artist’s name, address, home phone number, grade level, school, teacher’s name, city, and State must be printed on the back of the poster in the lower right corner.  Each poster must also show the name of the sponsoring local Garden Club.  (Do not use a dark marker for this information as it may show through.)
9. The Local Garden Club Chair must submit the poster entries no later than January 15, 2008, to his or her  State’s Chair.
10. The State Garden Club Chair must submit the five winning posters from his or her State to their Regional Garden Club Chair by February 15, 2008.
NOTE: Posters must be submitted to the District Youth Activities Chair by November 1, 2007.

Poster Tips
A good poster has a bold and simple design.
Its message is delivered both in the picture and in the slogan.
Its message is easily understood.
Posters are to be completed by individual student artists.  Competition may include students from 1st to 5th grade.
Posters will be judged 20 percent each for originality, design, slogan, artwork, and overall effectiveness of the message. 

Download labels here:
Members sign in here
  Texas Garden Clubs, Inc. Homepage President and Officers State Headquarters Membership Awards Projects Youth Activities Scholarship What's Coming Up Education Programs Texas Garden Club Member of the Year Helpful Links Subscribe Join Our Email List Past Issues Tell a Friend About TGC