BOYDS, MD—Black Hill Regional Park Visitor’s Center, 20926 Lake Ridge Drive in Boyds, will host the exhibit of this year’s winning entries to the Maryland Junior Duck Stamp contest from Monday, July 23 – Monday, August 6, 2007.
“We are pleased to be selected as one of the host site locations for this year’s display,” said Montgomery County Department of Parks Black Hill Regional Park Manager Jim McMahon.
The display of contest winners rotates throughout the state, from May through April. Organizers estimate that nearly 40,000 people will view the winning entries over the course of the tour. Black Hill Regional Park joins a list of host locations, which include museums, wildlife refuges and outdoor festivals throughout the state of Maryland.
The Junior Duck Stamp Program is sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and teaches children about the importance of wetlands and waterfowl conservation. This year’s “Best of Show” winner in the Maryland competition is 15-year-old Richard Zhao, student of Mr. Rulei Bu at AA Studio, Inc. in Boyds. Zhao’s oil painting of a Canada goose, entitled “Peaceful Goose on a Lake,” was selected from more than 680 entries statewide. His entry will go on to compete with other state winners in the national competition, which will determine the print for the official collectible Federal Junior Duck Stamp.
“As folks head out to check out the display, we invite them to stick around the park,” added McMahon, “to see in nature what these very talented young people’s illustrations are helping to protect.”
Black Hill Regional Park boasts the 505-acre Little Seneca Lake where rowboats, canoes and kayaks are available for rent at hourly or daily rates and fishing is also available. The park also features the Black Hill Visitor’s Center, which offers park naturalist-led programs, interpretive wildlife exhibits and special events. There is a half acre enclosed dog park, picnic shelters and tables, playgrounds and nearly 15 miles of paved and natural surface trails for exploration at Black Hill.
For more on Black Hill Regional Park and other parks in Montgomery County, see www.MontgomeryParks.org and for more about the Maryland Junior Duck Stamp Program, visit www.fws.gov/duckstamps/junior/JDprogram/Maryland.htm.
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Contact:
Kelli Holsendolph
Media Relations Manager
Montgomery County Department of Parks
301-650-2866