A poster contest for middle school students in New York State sponsored by NYSDEC is designed to give children the opportunity to learn about environmental and watershed issues. Photo courtesy of Forrest Fisher

Every day is a good day for all of us to become more involved in knowing more about clean water, especially our youth because it all starts with them for the future.

In partnership with the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA), the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is in its 20th year sponsoring an annual student poster contest. This year, and for the fourth year in a row, the theme is “Creating a Watershed Superhero.”

The contest is designed for middle school students across the state to inspire and challenge our youth to create their own superheroes, empower them to learn about environmental stewardship and encourage them to become stewards of their watersheds. The secondary theme is to remind all New Yorkers of the everyday actions each of us can take to protect and preserve precious water resources now and for future generations.

New York State teachers, schools and clubs are advised to visit the DEC website for information on entering the competition for the 2024-25 school year. Posters will be accepted through January 3, 2025. A total of 14 winning posters will be selected and displayed in DEC and NYWEA’s 2026 annual calendar. The poster competition can play a developmental and critical role in raising awareness of the importance of natural resources, and DEC -the programs that help manage sources of water pollution and improve water quality.

Many local lakes, streams and rivers in Chautauqua County are managed through watershed programs that plan and initiate activities to protect and restore water quality. Among them are Chautauqua Lake, Findley Lake, Bear Lake and others. DEC is one of several New York state agencies that fund projects to conserve water and protect water quality through state grant funding opportunities. There are Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Action Plans for priority water bodies sensitive to HABs and critical drinking water sources. In addition to healthy fish and clean drinking water, our waterways are important tourism drivers.

To review the poster criteria, including size, media (paper, crayons, chalk, markers, etc.), prizes and awards, and the straightforward judging criteria, educators should visit the “Create A Watershed Superhero Calendar Contest” on DEC’s web pages. The site includes lesson plan ideas for teachers and web links for students to learn more about watershed details written for their age groups. A lesson plan for We All Live in a Watershed includes a PowerPoint presentation for teachers and a worksheet for students. Visit

Gotta love being outdoors!

Outdoor calendar:

October 26: NY Muskies – Chapter 69 musky tournament, Chautauqua Lake, Prendergast Launch. Details: Contact Katia Rivers, [email protected].

October 29: Fly Fishing and Fly Tying Class, FREE, 7-8:30 p.m., with Alberto Rey, Costello Room, Rockefeller Arts Center, SUNY Fredonia. Info: email [email protected].

November 1: Leftover deer management permits go on sale; first come, first serve applies on licensor websites.

November 2-15: NYS Southern Zone crossbow big game season

Nov. 3: Bear Lake Rod & Gun, monthly meeting, 4 p.m., 4392 Cassadaga-Stockton Rd.; membership is open, $50/year; Info: [email protected], or call 716-960-9043.

Nov. 16-Dec. 8: NYS Southern Zone Regular (Firearms) Big Game Season

Dec. 9-Dec. 17 and 26 Dec-Jan. 1: NYS Southern Zone Late Bowhunting Season