Each year, K-5 students throughout the Nisqually Watershed are invited to submit their designs for the Watershed Festival Poster Contest. The poster contest is a great opportunity for local students to learn about their watershed, flex their creativity and take pride in seeing their original artwork on display for the public. Judges choose the top five posters from each grade and these students are given a certificate and prize during a public ceremony at the Festival. Every poster entered will be displayed at the Refuge throughout the festival.
The 2026 Nisqually Watershed Festival Poster Contest Packet includes detailed rules, guidelines and background information. Please read it before starting on your poster! This year’s theme is “Birds of the Watershed”.
Best in Show 2025
Submissions
The deadline for the entries is Monday, June 1st, 2026.
To submit your poster, you can mail or hand-deliver it to:
Nisqually Watershed Festival Poster Contest
100 Brown Farm Rd
Olympia, WA 98516
Hand deliveries are accepted 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge:
- On Saturday-Sunday, drop off posters at the Norm Dicks Visitor Center.
- On Monday-Friday, drop off posters at the Administrative office (located directly across from the Norm Dicks Visitor Center).
You can also submit your entry digitally using this Google form.
Note: This method requires a Google account. If you don’t have one and don’t wish to make one, email your entry directly to julia@nisquallyriver.org. Be sure to include the relevant identifying information from page 3 of the packet!
Helpful Tips
Check out the video below- it’s from an older contest, but still has plenty of good tips. For inspiration, scroll through the slideshow of some of our favorite native Nisqually Watershed birds, or follow along with our step-by-step example! You can also check our previous contest winners from different years below!
2025 Nisqually Watershed Festival Poster Contest Winners
2024 Nisqually Watershed Festival Poster Contest Winners
2023 Nisqually Watershed Festival Poster Contest Winners
2022 Nisqually Watershed Festival Poster Contest Winners
2021 Nisqually Watershed Festival Poster Contest Winners
Good luck!
Poster Contest Help Video
Native Bird Examples
How to Draw a Bird
For Teachers
Check out this amazing lesson plan from our partners at Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually Wildlife Refuge!