Take your best shot

Annual National Wildlife Refuge Photo Contest Begins 

Trustom Pond, photo by Will Collette

 The Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of Rhode Island announce their 13^th Annual Amateur Photo Competition to highlight the beauty of the five refuges that comprise the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Photos will be accepted in the following categories: refuge wildlife, refuge flora, refuge wildlife habitat/landscape and photos taken by children age 14 and under of any subject on a refuge.

All photos must have been taken on one of the five national wildlife refuges in Rhode Island:

• Ninigret NWR, Charlestown                                   
• Trustom Pond NWR, South Kingston                     
• Sachuest Point NWR, Middletown                    
• Block Island NWR
• Chafee NWR, Pettaquamscutt Cove South Kingston  

Amateur photographers are encouraged to enter their existing refuge color photos or to take new ones. The color photos must be 8”x10” and not matted or framed. For full details and photo registration see the contest flyers which are available at each Refuge or visit our website at http://www.FriendsNWRofRI.org.

Snapping turtles at Trustom (Collette)

Photos and a $10 entry fee per photo must be received by September 6, 2013. There is a maximum limit of four (4) photos per contestant. Checks should be made payable to the Friends of NWR-RI.

Contestants can deliver their photos between 10:00AM and 4:00PM to the Friends of the NWR-RI office at the US Fish and Wildlife Service Kettle Pond Visitors Center, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown, RI, or to the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge Visitors Center in Middletown, RI. 

Photos may also be mailed to the Friends of the NWR-RI, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown, RI 02813.

All photos entered will be exhibited at Sachuest Point Visitors Center, Middletown, RI from September 15^th to September 30^th and then displayed at Kettle Pond Visitors Center, Charlestown, RI from October 1^st to 15^th. 

The photos will be judged by a panel of photographers prior to the opening reception at Sachuest Point on September 15, 2013. First, second and third place winners will be chosen in each of the four categories. The Best of Show will be awarded a $100 cash prize. Other prizes will be awarded as well.

For more information about the contest or entry forms, e-mailRThieke@cox.net or call the Friends at 401-364-9124 or visit our website www.FriendsNWRofRI.org.