Youth artists/writers sought for annual state K-12 student Fish Art Contest

November 17, 2025  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

Poster contest art courtesy of the Vt. Fish & Wildlife Department

Entries are open in the 2026 Vermont Student Fish Art Contest run by the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department along with the nonprofit Wildlife Forever organization.

Vermont youngsters in grades K-12 are invited to choose a fish species found in Vermont waters as the subject of their entry. All participants are asked to create an illustration about their chosen species. Students in grades 4-12 are also asked to write a one-page creative essay about their fish. 

Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department Education Specialist Corey Hart explained that the Fish Art Contest is a way for Vermont students to use their creativity while learning and connecting with their environment. 

“Last year, 280 Vermont students submitted artwork of Vermont fish species. Several Vermont schools incorporated the contest into their curriculum, allowing the teachers to highlight the selected fish species in detail before the students created their masterpieces,” Hart said. 

Entries are divided among four grade categories:  K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. 

Winners will be announced in each group with those students receiving a prize and their art will be entered into a selection process to be featured in the department’s 2027 Fishing Guide and Regulations publication. 

The rules and information about the contest, including the entry form, are online. Entries to the 2026 Vermont Student Fish Art Contest must be submitted by Feb. 28. 

Direct any questions regarding the contest to Corey Hart by email at Corey.Hart@vermont.gov or call 802-505-5562.