Imagine, Inspire, Impact
Art For Earth: 4CCF's Environmental Innovation Mentorship Incubator
The Heartbeat of Coastal Resilience
At 4CCF, we don’t just protect the marsh where it is today; we protect the space where the marsh needs to be tomorrow.
'Art For Earth' is our signature STEAM-based initiative designed to transform "climate anxiety" into purpose-driven action. By blending high-level creative production with environmental science, we empower middle and high school students to visualize and solve the complex conservation challenges facing the Southeastern Connecticut and Rhode Island shorelines.
Impact & Engagement
Art For Earth is a field-tested program with a proven track record of high-level engagement:
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Youth Climate Summit: Our 2026 pilot engaged hundreds of students and educators from New London, Groton, and Mystic, transitioning environmental data into interactive modeling.
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Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed: Join us on May 2nd at Coogan Farm for the 3rd Annual Springfest Celebration, where we will be facilitating a live "Marsh Migration" laboratory.
Our Focus: Marsh Migration & Watershed Kinship
Our current curriculum centers on the critical phenomenon of Marsh Migration. As sea levels rise, our coastal wetlands must "migrate" inland to survive. Through our gallery-ready Resilience Specimen Boxes, students model this movement in real-time, using tactile materials to understand the "Land-to-Water" connectivity that sustains our regional biodiversity.
The Road Ahead: Tier 2 Development
We are currently expanding Art For Earth into a standardized Tier 2 Curriculum.
This evolution includes:
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Professional Educator Toolkits: NGSS-aligned study guides and lesson extensions.
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Multilingual Accessibility: Comprehensive resources translated into Spanish and Portuguese.
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Regional Residencies: We are actively partnering with schools, museums, and festivals to bring these underwritten mentorship appearances directly to the community, ensuring that "Innovation Incubators" are accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic status.
As sea levels rise, our coastal wetlands must "migrate" inland to survive.
“At 4CCF, we don’t just protect the marsh where it is today; we protect the space where the marsh needs to be tomorrow. With our current 'Art For Earth' Marsh Migration Project, we're helping our neighbors understand that land and water are one single pulse. By clearing the path for the marsh, we are clearing the path for the Alewife, the Pequot legacy, and the future of the Mystic River.”
-- Everett Hoag, Executive Director, 4CCF
Project 01
Project 02
Project 03
Project 04
4CCF's Annual “Art For Earth” Contest
Calling All Young Artists
Our second Environmental Art Contest is coming! The overall quality of submissions for the "Art For Earth" contest last year were truly encouraging, and the thoughtful work proved that the future of environmental stewardship is bright. As we knew, the student artists were awesome—their creativity and dedication to the contest theme truly stood out!
Who Joins
This is an exciting opportunity for young artists 5–19 years of age in Connecticut and Rhode Island to showcase their creativity while promoting environmental awareness. Your voice matters. Your art has power. It's more than just an art contest; it's a chance for kids to become Eco-Champions!
Use your imagination to speak up for the planet!
About the Contest
With the theme "Art For Earth – Imagine, Inspire, Impact," this Contest goes beyond creativity; it aims to inspire change and deepen connections with our planet. Your artwork is more than just a picture; it's an idea… a solution… a call to action!
Be an Eco-Champion!
What does a hero for the planet look like? It could be you! This theme is all about celebrating the everyday actions that protect our planet. Show us how you and your community are champions for a healthier Earth! Imagine new technologies and innovative ways to protect our planet...ensuring young people's voices are heard can turn unpleasant concerns for the future into realistic plans of hope.
Contest Details
Important Dates
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Call for Entries: Fall 2026
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Submission Period: October 1-30, 2026
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Winners Announced: November 15, 2026
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Award Ceremony Dinner: December 2026
Prizes & Recognition
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1st, 2nd, and Honorable Mention Prizes per Age Group
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Gift Cards (for Art Supplies or Eco Store)
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Eco-Champion Art Award Certificate & Online Gallery Feature
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Featured on the 4CCF website, social media, and in print
Judging Criteria
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Creativity & Originality
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Connection to Theme
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Visual Impact
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Craftsmanship
Why Students Should Participate
The “Art For Earth” Contest is a powerful way to engage students in real-world environmental issues. The Contest encourages a student-driven approach that fosters creativity, mindful collaboration, and critical thinking.
As students navigate the artistic process, they’ll develop a deeper understanding of the environment and discover how their voices can make a real difference.
This project offers a seamless way to integrate art, science, and social responsibility into your classroom. It aligns with key educational standards, including Visual Arts, Next Generation Environmental Science, and Common Core. Students engage in a collaborative, research-based project that builds advocacy skills and promotes experiential STEAM learning.
The goal is to give students a chance to start important conversations and connect with their community and nature.
"Art For Earth" is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate imagination while promoting conservation efforts and showing kids that their voices—and their creativity—can make a real difference… Becoming advocates for a healthier world.
“Art For Earth” Themes by Age Level
Students can enter individual artwork or collaborate with up to five classmates.
To make the Contest more engaging, we’ve divided the themes by age level. Each theme sparks conversation and collaboration among young artists. Inspire others with your ideas!
5–8-Year-Olds: "I Love Nature Because…"
What do you love most about the outdoors? Use your art to show us what makes you happy in nature—fluffy clouds, a perfect flower, a bright red ladybug, or the sound of a bird singing. Your picture will help us all remember why it's so important to protect our planet.
9–11-Year-Olds: "My Actions Protect Our Planet!"
You have the power to protect our planet! Show us the small, everyday actions that make a big difference. Illustrate how you recycle at home, help clean up a local park, or plant flowers in a community garden. Your art can show your friends and family how easy it is to be a planet protector.
12–15-Year-Olds: "Partnering with the Earth"
How can we work with our planet to create a healthier future? The change starts right in your own backyard! Your art can show us what it looks and feels like to "Think Global, Act Local." Show us how your community, school, or neighborhood can team up with nature to solve big problems.
16–19-Year-Olds: "Cultivating a Sustainable Future”
Dream Big—create art that highlights bold solutions for a sustainable future. What are the inventions and ideas that will help us build a better world? Show us your dreams for the future—from big ideas to small, powerful changes—that will help us create a sustainable world.
How to Enter
"Art For Earth" Contest Guidelines
Entering “Art For Earth” Contest is straightforward!
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Create Your Artwork: Choose a theme for your age group and start creating!
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Follow the Guidelines: Make sure your artwork follows the Contest guidelines for size and format (JPEG or PNG, max 10MB).
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Submit Your Entry: Once your masterpiece is complete, submit it according to the Contest rules. Include your name, age, a brief description of your artwork, and a signed Parent/Guardian Consent Form.
Type of Art Media Allowed:
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Traditional: Pencil, marker, crayon, watercolor, acrylic, charcoal, collage, ink, and photography.
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Digital: Procreate, Adobe apps, or similar (must be original).
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Please note: No AI-generated images, traced artwork, copyrighted characters/logos, or stock images.
"Art For Earth" Group Submission Waiver and Consent
This statement is for schools, libraries, museums, and other organizations that submit artwork on behalf of a group of students. The institution should sign a waiver confirming they have successfully obtained consent from the parents/guardians of all participants in their group submission.
How to Submit - Two Options
Option 1: Digital (Preferred)
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Scan or photograph of finished artwork (JPEG or PNG, max 10MB)
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Video or scanned photos of the process – start to finish
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Email to: info@4cc-foundation.org
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Subject: "Art For Earth” Contest – [Participant or Team Name + Ages]"
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Include in email:
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Participant or Team Name, ages, organization, city/state
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Title of artwork & short connection to theme description
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Parent/guardian/teacher contact info
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Parental/Guardian Consent Form: For any minor participating in the Art Contest and/or featured in a photo or video, 4CCF must get a signed consent form from their parent or legal guardian.
Option 2: Mail of Hand Deliver (Originals only – returned on request)
4CCF Art Contest
16 Jerome Road
New London, CT 06320 401.524.1638
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Parental/Guardian Consent Form: For any minor participating in the Art Contest and/or featured in a photo or video, 4CCF must get a signed consent form from their parent or legal guardian.
Optional Submissions
Photos and/or Video Journals of the Creative Process - Submitting four or five photos and/or a video journal of your creative process is an optional but an encouraged component of the Contest. It's an exciting way to share the journey behind your artwork, from initial ideas to the final touches.
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What to Submit: A series of photos showing the different stages of creation or a short video (no more than 3 minutes) that documents your artistic process.
Use of Submitted Artwork
By submitting your artwork, you are releasing it to 4CCF. All submitted work becomes the property of 4CCF and may be displayed on our website, in our promotional literature, and on other materials, including clothing and items for resale. This allows us to celebrate the artists and their work while also generating support for our community and environmental programs.