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Webheads, head to the woods

Young web wizards could win a computer, a mountain bike or a digital camera by using their skills to showcase natural resource issues.

The 2002 “Nature Greets Technology” contest is sponsored by the state department of natural resources (DNR), department of information services (DIS) and office of superintendent of public instruction (OSPI).

Now in its fifth year, the contest offers Washington students enrolled in public, private and home school programs between the ages of 9 and 19 the opportunity to build their own Web site based on one of two themes: “Forest Fire Prevention is Everyone’s Responsibility” or “Conserving Washington’s Water.”

The DNR first piloted this contest to promote fire prevention awareness among teenagers.

“Wildland fires scorched more than 200,000 acres last summer, and this contest is a way for students to become teachers and educate everyone about how to prevent and protect ourselves from these fires,” said commissioner of public lands Doug Sutherland. “This contest combines our mandate to provide funding for schools, with our work to fight wildland fires and manage state trust lands for healthy forests and clean water. I look forward to seeing the creative work done by the students.”

Entries will be accepted until April 19, 2002. A panel of judges assembled by DNR, DIS and OSPI will evaluate each submission, and winners will be notified in mid-May. There are two age groups (9-12, 13-19) and the entries will be judged against others using the same theme. Awards will be handed out at a ceremony on May 31 in Olympia.

Specific contest details will be posted to the OSPI Web site Tuesday, January 8 at www.k12.wa.us/webcontest..

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