Students’ Environmental Art Featured on Water Resource Calendars
The popular Kids’ Clean Water Calendar Contest has resulted in another year of great work being submitted by local fourth and fifth grade student artists. The 2021 calendar features the artwork of 12-monthly winners, in addition to 12 “honorable mention” and 24 “special acknowledgement” selections representing the calendar’s theme: “We Can All Help to Keep Oakland County’s Lakes, Rivers, Streams and Watersheds Clean!” Each young artist’s work showcases ideas on how to keep our waterways and the environment pollution-free. Drawing topics focused on how we can all prevent water pollution, how to conserve water and how we use and enjoy our vast water resources.
Out of nearly 200 art submissions by fourth and fifth grade students in Oakland County, 12 finalists were selected with grand prize winner, Aditya Yogesh, a fourth grader from Troy’s Barnard Elementary School, whose artwork titled, “Save Water, Save Nature” is featured on the cover of the 2021 Kids’ Clean Water Calendar.
“The Kids Clean Water Calendar Contest is one of my favorite annual projects. The fourth and fifth graders put great effort into their art and they learn a lot about how they can protectthe environment and our water resources now and when they grow up,” said Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash.
Judges from the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s office, Oakland County Economic Development and Community Affairs, Oakland County’s Facilities Management and  Operations, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, the Road Commission for Oakland County, the City of Auburn Hills, Cranbrook Institute of Science, the Clinton River Watershed Council and the host of Detroit Public Television/PBS’s Great Lakes Now, Ward Detwiler, judged the art contest.
“It is exciting to see the enthusiasm that these young students have for protecting the lakes and recognizing how everyday actions can have an impact. Our work at Great Lakes Now is focused on raising awareness around the important issues facing our lakes. It is a real pleasure to judge the Kids’ Clean Water Calendar Contest for the second year,” said Ward Detwiler, the show’s host.
For the first time, the Kids’ Clean Water Calendar artwork is featured as part of an online art gallery and can be viewed at here. The Kids’ Clean Water Calendars can be obtained at many Oakland County local libraries and the Pontiac Regional Business Chamber has joined the effort as community partners. For the first-time a commercial announcing the Kids’ Clean Water Calendar Contest Winner has been created in collaboration with Detroit Public Television’s PBS’s Kids Club.
Calendars are available to order online at www.oakgov.com/water, on Facebook at waterresourceOC or may be requested at local libraries listed on WRC’s website. Please check with your local library as supplies are limited.  For more calendar information, please contact WRC’s Environmental Planner II, Jacy Garrison, at 248-858-5264 or by email at garrisonj@oakgov.com. Each year, Pure Oakland Water (POW), a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, provides funding to print the 5,500 calendars and prizes for the 12 contest winners.