NY Middle Schoolers Urged to Draw Water Connections in Annual Poster Contest

ALBANY, NY (October 31, 2025) — New York middle school students are invited to enter the 21st annual water conservation poster contest with the theme “Water Connects Us All,” state officials announced Friday.

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York Water Environment Association launched the contest, which runs through Jan. 2, 2025. Entries must come from middle school students and will be judged for inclusion in DEC and NYWEA’s 2027 Annual Calendar.

“DEC is excited to launch the 21st water conservation poster contest which, for two decades, helps inspire New York’s next generation of environmental stewards,” DEC Commissioner Amanda Lefton said. “The poster contest theme ‘Water Connects Us All,’ encourages young people across New York State to become guardians of their watersheds and helps remind all New Yorkers of the daily actions each of us can take to protect and conserve our precious, connected water resources.”

The contest began in 2004 to teach students about local watersheds and water protection. Past themes include “Create a Watershed Superhero,” “We All Live in a Watershed,” “Conserve and Protect our Watersheds,” and “The Importance of Wastewater Treatment.”

“This poster contest is one of the things that makes NYWEA members proud of what we do,” NYWEA Executive Director Khris Dodson said. “I am even more proud of all of the watershed champions we now have because of the involvement of the students and teachers who have participated throughout the years.”

Fourteen winning posters will appear in the 2027 calendar. Teachers, schools and clubs can find participation details on DEC’s website.

The contest supports DEC efforts to reduce water pollution and improve water quality. Residents can check if their area has a Clean Water Plan using DECInfo Locator or the agency’s Clean Water Plan page. More tips on protecting water appear on DEC’s Keep Water Clean and Water Quality Management webpages.

Featured image is Top Winner- Anna Tiudic The SEEALL Academy Grade 8

Winning posters from 2025 are available online.

This article was drafted with the aid of Grok, an AI tool by xAI, under the direction and editing of Robert Cox to ensure accuracy and adherence to journalistic standards.