Students in the ninth through 12th grades of Carson and Douglas high schools and Carson Valley and Pau-Wa-Lu middle schools are invited to create a one- to three-minute video or animated slide show exploring the importance of riparian areas of the Carson River.
The "Keep Streamsides Greener, Keep Water Cleaner" contest is sponsored by the Carson River Coalition Education Working Group, which includes the Carson Water Subconservancy District, the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and River Wranglers.
A prize of $500 will be awarded in each of four categories - individual video, team video, individual animated slide show and team animated slide show. Also, each winning entry's sponsoring teacher will earn $100.
Each entrant or team must have a sponsoring teacher whose role is to encourage participation and provide general guidance on planning an entry. Students must be solely responsible for developing the concept and creating the entry. Any teacher can serve as a sponsor, but those with science, media technology, photography or English backgrounds would be ideal.
The entries should explore how Carson River riparian areas benefit the student and his or her community, and how the public can participate in protecting these environmentally sensitive areas.
Dr. Susan Donaldson, a water quality expert with Cooperative Extension and a contest organizer, said riparian areas provide important wildlife habitat and help keep the river clean by filtering runoff.
"We're looking for videos and slide shows that creatively show how you would help your community understand why riparian areas of the Carson River are important to protect, and what they can do to help," Donaldson said.
"Healthy, diverse riparian areas store water and help reduce floods, filter water and keep it cool and provide a place for recreation. They add to our quality of life."
Students may enter individually or as a team entry of no more than four students.
In addition to the cash prizes, winning entries will be showcased online at www.cwsd.org and www.unce.unr.edu/nemo and at a film festival on Jan. 28, 2010. The winning presentations also will be featured on a local television show and will be recognized in a press release to local media.
"We'll also recognize entries that received the most views in YouTube, so students should be sure to tell their friends to view their entry," Donaldson said.
Entries will be judged on creativity, effectiveness, quality of execution and compliance with contest rules and specifications. Winning students and their sponsoring teachers will be notified by phone in January. For more details on contest rules and requirements, go to www.unce.unr.edu/nemo.
Entry deadline is Dec. 11. No late entries will be accepted.
• Jim Sloan is a communications specialist with the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.