National Park Week Open House and Kids Art Contest Awards Planned at Voyageurs National Park

Date: April 7, 2011
Contact: Tawnya Schoewe, 218-283-6670

The park is hosting a National Park Week Open House at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center on Saturday, April 23, 2011 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  Visitors may view the Kids Art Contest entries, attend the award ceremony, enjoy refreshments, make a craft, and participate in a special evening of hiking into the woods.  This hike will provide an opportunity to listen to the sounds of the night and learn about adaptations of nocturnal animals.  There will also be a campfire and marshmallows for roasting for those who wish to sit and enjoy the warmth of a fire.

Scheduled Activities include:

• 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. overview
• Observe the artwork
• "How Many Stars?" door prize contest
• Make a craft designed especially to fit this year's theme: "The Park after Dark".
• Night Hike/Campfire
• Refreshments and cookies
  
• 7:30 p.m.
• Support our local kids! Join us for the award ceremony as we recognize the winners of the 8th Annual Kids Art Contest.
  
• 7:45 p.m.
• Refreshments and cookies
  
•  8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
• Announcement of door prize winner in the "How Many Stars?" contest
• Night Hike/Campfire; dress for the outdoors. In case of bad weather an indoor program will keep you entertained.

Voyageurs National Park celebrates the 8th year of the Kids Art Contest. Over 355 children entered this year's contest. This year the theme was "The Park after Dark." All are invited to view the outstanding artwork at the Rainy Lake Visitor Center through Saturday, April 23, 2011.

Prizes and refreshments for the Annual Kids Art Contest are provided by Voyageurs National Park Association (VNPA).

Voyageurs National Park is pleased to announce the winners of the 8th Annual National Park Week Kids Art Contest.

 Preschool/Kindergarten

• 1st Place, Owen Peterson, Littlefork-Big Falls Elementary School
• 2nd Place, Shay Mannausau, Falls Elementary School
• 3rd Place, Magnus Trembath, Home School

 First and Second Grade

• 1st Place, Lillian Patterson, West End Elementary School
• 2nd Place, Max Marcotte, West End Elementary School
• 3rd Place, Matthew Fuller, West End Elementary School

 Third and Fourth Grade

• 1st Place, Elly Nelson, Home School
• 2nd Place, Maria Vollum, Falls Elementary School
• 3rd Place, Sierra Rivard, Indus Elementary School

Fifth and Sixth Grade

• 1st Place, Dianica Whitehouse, Indus Elementary School
• 2nd Place, Levi Smith, Indus Elementary School
• 3rd Place, Evan Peterson, Littlefork-Big Falls Elementary School

National Park Week is proclaimed each year by the President of the United States to recognize and celebrate our national parks. America's National Park System contains living examples of some of the best things our nation has to offer—magnificent natural landscapes and places that reflect our varied, yet inter-related heritage.

The best way to celebrate National Park Week is by visiting and enjoying your national parks. Voyageurs National Park welcomes you to join us this weekend as we kick off a new season of great opportunities to enjoy the beautiful lakes, woods, and wildlife of our northern home. Looking for suggestions of what to do in the park this spring or summer? Stop by the Rainy Lake Visitor Center, open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., or call us at 218–286–5258.