#07–131 May 7, 2007

Young Outdoor Communicators’ Competition Awards presented

South Carolina Wildlife Magazine has awarded the winners of the 2006-2007 Young Outdoor Communicators’ Competition (YOCC). This year’s topic was “Problems Related to Wildlife Habitat Loss.”

“South Carolina Wildlife Magazine has conducted a young writers’ competition for more than twenty years with the purpose of encouraging students to think about and write about natural resources issues,” said Caroline Foster, South Carolina Wildlife editor. “Last year we made a change to the writers’ competition, adding the technology component. Now, students can practice creative expression through use of multi-media tools on topics related to conservation in South Carolina.

Through participation in the Young Outdoor Communicators Competition experience, we hope students will become better stewards of their natural resources as well as better communicators in an increasingly high-tech world.”

Any student in grades four through 12 can participate, either individually or as a group, and teachers are encouraged to team up to sponsor one or more student projects. Schools are not limited in the number of entries they can submit.

The winners this year include:

Some of the presentations above require the Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer. If you do not have the viewer you may download the pluggin from the Microsoft Download Center.

Prize packages, including cash toward a selection of computer hardware and software items for the winning schools, are awarded in each grade category and division. Top winners also receive individual prizes such as U.S. Savings Bonds and recognition in South Carolina Wildlife magazine.

The Young Outdoor Communicators’ Competition is sponsored by the Harry R.E. Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, South Carolina Association of School Librarians, South Carolina Association for Educational Technology, S.C. Department of Education, Coalition for Natural Resource Education, South Carolina Wildlife magazine and The Joanna Foundation.