Massachusetts Junior Duck Stamp Art Contest Opens for Submissions

Print Story | Email Story

BOSTON — Students in Massachusetts have the chance to showcase their artistic talents and deepen their understanding of nature through the MassWildlife's Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) art contest.

Open to students from kindergarten through grade 12, the competition invites young artists to create original artwork featuring ducks, geese, or swans in their natural wetland habitats. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 15, 2025.

The JDS contest blends art and science, encouraging participants to explore waterfowl conservation and the importance of wetlands while expressing their knowledge creatively. The program includes a curriculum designed to support educators in teaching about wildlife and conservation, making it a resource for art and science teachers, as well as homeschooling parents.

Entries are judged at the state level in four age categories, with the Best of Show advancing to the national competition. Students, teachers, and parents can find entry guidelines and educational materials on the JDS website.

For more information, contact Pam Landry at pam.landry@mass.gov.

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Growth of Girls Basketball Reflected in County Hall of Fame Inductees

By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Each year, the Berkshire County High School Girls Basketball Hall of Fame adds more chapters to the history of the game.
 
Sometimes, that history can be traced through a single family.
 
“I can go back to the days that show how far we've progressed in women's basketball,” Deborah Donovan told the crowd at Saturday’s induction ceremony at Proprietor’s Lodge. “Because when I started at St. Joe, we had pinnies -- do you know what pinnies are? They were things you threw over your head, and it was either red or yellow, and you had to tape on a number.
 
“We didn't have a league, per se. We didn't have anyone go out and follow us.”
 
Donovan and her sisters, Patricia Donovan and Laura Donovan-Najimy, all graduates of St. Joseph Central High School, joined the county Hall of Fame on Saturday afternoon, along with Donovan-Najimy’s daughter, Alice Najimy, a graduate of Lenox Memorial, Hoosac Valley’s Alie Mendel, Wahconah’s Maria Gamberoni, Lee’s Karli Retzel, Drury’s Bonnie Eichorn and Mount Everett’s Gwendolyn Carpenter.
 
Coach Ron Wojcik, who led Hoosac Valley to six state finals and two state titles, and Peter Arment, the long-time president of the Lenox Youth Basketball Association, rounded out the 11-member Class of 2026.
 
Patricia Donovan, in her remarks, noted that her sister Deborah played high school basketball in the days when teams played six on a side and players were not allowed to cross half court.
 
View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories