2015 Program Review. Connect Create Celebrate

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1 2015 Program Review Connect Create Celebrate

2 ABOUT US Allan Brook Nature Center BioBlitz Vernon, B.C 2015 International Unconference Calgary, AB ABOUT US SPREADING ROOTS Get to Know has been inspiring connections between children and nature in the outdoors for over a decade. The organization was founded in 1999 by renowned wildlife painter Robert Bateman and current director Mary Krupa-Clark in Kelowna, B.C. with the dream that children would have opportunities to get to know the names of their wild neighbours. Through the Get to Know Contest, we encourage young people of all ages to spend more time outdoors, connecting with nature and sharing their experiences through the creative arts. This is increasingly critical as children today continue to abandon outdoor activities for those they can participate in from within the home. Our program takes an innovative approach to environmental education using the creative arts, technology and healthy activity to provide kids with life-changing experiences in the outdoors that will shape them into the environmental stewards of tomorrow. Since our launch in Kelowna, B.C. we have been working to expand the Get to Know Contest to more and more youth each year. The contest has steadily spread its roots across Canada, engaging thousands of youth from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland. With the support of the USDA Forest Service, the contest was successfully launched in the United States in Today the contest is accessible to youth all across America, with themed galleries for the City of Los Angeles, Baltimore, Louisiana, Texas State Parks, National Park Service, Prince George s County and the International Migratory Bird Day. We are proud to say the Get to Know Contest has become one of North America s most widely celebrated environmental arts contests. In 2015, the program directly reached 91,000 people, with over 371,000 visits to the Contest Galleries.

3 On Guard Entry by Eric Wang (Age 13) 2014 Highlights: Canada For its 15th year in Canada, the Get to Know Contest launched in several cities across the country with kick-off events in Kelowna, Calgary, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Regina, Burlington and Toronto. The Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto Galleries With support from the Cities of Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto we provided urban youth with meaningful opportunities to get outdoors and connect nature in their city parks and green spaces. The Pollinator Gallery From birds and bats to bees and butterflies, this themed gallery showcased youth art and creative work inspired by nature s ecological superheroes: pollinators. The Fairmont Waterfront Hotel in Vancouver provided a grand prize package of a weekend family getaway, and hosted a congratulations ceremony for Vancouver area contest winners Highlights: Canada Connecting youth with Rotary In 2015, Get to Know worked closely with several clubs in Vancouver and the Okanagan with great success, using the contest as a gateway experience for young people to discover Rotary and have a positive impact in their community. The Rotary Club of Vancouver was title sponsor of the Vancouver Gallery and the Rotary Clubs of Kelowna Capri, Peachland and Lake Country helped launch our inaugural Central Okanagan Gallery. In British Columbia, Rotary District 5060 has adopted the contest as a 2015 District Recommended Program.

4 Flowing Rock Photo entry by Elizabeth R. (Age 14) from Texas 2015 Highlights: United States International Migratory Bird Exhibit Pepco Edison Place Gallery, Washington, DC 2015 Highlights: United States For its fifth year running in the United States, the Get to Know Contest launched at locations across the country in locations including: Los Angeles, Houston, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. The National Park Service Gallery In 2015 Get to Know launched a new gallery to showcase art entries inspired by America s National Parks. We worked with the National Park Service to spread the word about the contest and engage their parks staff through a series of webinars. Our partners at Binders Art Supplies kindly donated support and materials to kick start Art in the Park events across the nation. Working with Electric Utilities Electric utility companies across America are finding the Get to Know Contest to be an innovative tool to enhance their investments in environmental education. Through the support of the Edison Electric Institute we are building new partnerships with energy utility companies like: Pepco Holdings Inc., Baltimore Gas & Electric and Entergy Corporation. Get to Know was also invited to present at the 25th Anniversary Celebration of the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee. The celebration was followed by an exhibit of youth art work submitted to the International Migratory Bird Day Gallery. Texas State Parks For itsthird year running, the Texas State Parks Contest had over 1,000 people participate in the Arts in the Park program for the Texas State Parks Get to Know Contest. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department hosted a total of 53 programs at park sites like Galveston Island, Port Aransas and Rockport.

5 Youth delegates at the Unconference Kelowna, B.C Highlights: International Unconference Lake Superior BioBlitz Lake Superior, Ontario 2015 Highlights: BioBlitz Twelve passionate young artists took the stage to share powerful messages of sustainability and environmental conservation, and through their creative voices, captured the minds and hearts of the audience. Youth from across North America participated in the three day conference that aimed to spark discussion on how youth can spend more time outdoors, connecting with nature. The event was hosted at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, and welcomed delegates from California, Texas, Florida, Ontario, Alberta and B.C. Three winning presentations were selected by a panel of judges and the winners received exclusive media interviews with Shaw television. Click here to view. From April to August the Get to Know Program helped organize a number of BioBlitz events at natural sites across Canada. At each BioBlitz youth observed the diverse plants and animals that share their local ecosystems, identifying as many species possible. Participants also had opportunities to participate in creative arts activities inspired by the creatures they discovered. Over 1200 youth participated in Get to Know BioBlitz activities at locations like: Cap Tourmente National Wildlife Area, QC The Toronto Zoo, ON Allen Brooks Nature Centre, Vernon, BC Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area, Calgary, AB Ellis Bird Farm, Lacombe, AB Mission Island Marsh Conservation Area, Thunder Bay, ON The John Janzen Nature Centre, Edmonton, AB

6 Texas State Parks Calendar Pepco Holdings Inc. Calendar Scientific name: Carduelis tristis 2015 Highlights: Calendars To celebrate the outstanding work of our contest winners, we featured their work in a 2016 contest calendar. This professional, glossy publication showcases nature inspired art, photography and writing inspired by nature and wildlife in Canada, and gives the young artists another reason to feel proud of their work and for exploring the outdoors. There were 2,000 copies of the 2015 Contest Calendar printed and distributed to friends and partners across the country.

7 Unconference participants Calgary, AB Panasonic Lumix Camera Prize 2014 Highlights: Media Thanks to support and interest from the media, the Get to Know Contest enjoys a high level of in-kind media coverage. Every year a Contest Public Service Announcement is professionally produced by Shaw and aired on television stations from coast to coast. In 2014 the Get to Know Contest PSA aired for six months on the extensive community television networks of Rogers TV, EastLink TV and Shaw who aired 87,601 spots. A PSA was also produced for our U.S. partners, and aired by ABC Television affiliates in Los Angeles, Texas, Louisiana and Washington, DC. To view all media coverage for the 2014 Get to Know Contest, click here. Thank You Partners! 2015 Canadian partners include Cities of Calgary, Vancouver & Toronto Dow Chemical Co. Ontario Power Generation Rotary Districts 5060 & 5040 Sitka Foundation Bushnell Outdoors Products Bow Habitat Station Encyclopedia of Life Living City Foundation The Toronto Zoo Kelowna Art Gallery Long & McQuade Magnetic Hill Zoo SaskOutdoors National Park Service US Forest Service US Fish & Wildlife Service Pepco Holdings Inc. Prince George s County Texas Parks & Wildlife Department National Wildlife Federation Environment for the Americas City of Los Angeles Maryland Zoo Panasonic Coca-Cola Clif Bar Binders Art Supplies 2014 U.S. partners include Baltimore Gas & Electric Company Entergy Corporation

8 CONNECT WITH US Online Facebook Smile Photo entry by Brenda M, age 17, from CA 2015 Contest: Looking Ahead Our goal this year is to reach more youth than ever before. To achieve this, we continue to work with diverse partners to provide local and themed galleries, events and prizes for youth across North America. Visit our events page to find contest events and activities in your area. Phone (CAN) (US) Headquarters # Springfield Road, Kelowna, British Columbia Canada V1Y 9N7 We will also give participants an exciting opportunity to take their art to the next level the 2015 Get to Know International Unconference, taking place in Calgary, Alberta from October 2-4, The three day conference will gather young artists from across Canada and the United States to Calgary, Alberta where they can share their passion for the environment and turn their art into action. Click here to learn more. Cover Images: Sunflowers in the Canyon by Kate H, age 17, from TX (top left) Racoon at Night by Ruibing F, age 12, from LA (top right) Allen Brooks Nature Centre BioBlitz, June 7 (bottom left) Attack! by Davey W, age 13, from MA (bottom right)