Poster by Barret’s pupil sent to contest

The Garden Club of Rosemark took this year’s annual Smokey Bear and Woodsy Owl poster contest to the fourth-grade students of Barret’s Chapel Elementary School.

The National Garden Clubs Inc., along with the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service have sponsored this event for decades. The contest’s goal is to educate and inspire children to be enthusiastic caretakers of our planet.

Margie Densford, education chairwoman of The Garden Club of Rosemark, presented the environmental program to about 50 students anxious to ask questions and share ideas.

The merits of recycling, reusing, and reducing waste were discussed as well as ways to put a stop to wildfires.

This curriculum gives children the opportunity to create unique drawings of Smokey Bear using his motto of “Only YOU Can Prevent Wildfires!” or Woodsy Owl with his slogan of “Lend a Hand, Help the Land!” The objective is for the students to demonstrate an understanding of wildfire prevention and basic environmental conservation principles in their posters.

Lilly Gillespie, a student from Cristin Muston’s fourth-grade class, is the poster contest winner for 2013. Lilly’s poster depicted Woodsy Owl watering flowers with a watering can and the logo of “Lend a Hand, Help the Land!” clearly displayed.

Margie Densford presented Lilly Gillespie with a $15 Wal-Mart gift card on behalf of The Garden Club of Rosemark. Also present at the award ceremony was Barret Chapel’s principal, Barbara Hodge.

The winning poster will be sent on to the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs Inc. to be entered into the state competition.

Barretís Chapel fourth- grade teachers Heather Carpenter (far left) and Cristin Muston (far right) were on hand to congratulate fourth- graders Kaitlin Smith, Kayleigh Harvey, and Lilly Gillespie on their winning posters. The students participated in...