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Empowering Youth & Community Through Environmental Arts & Action
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The Eco-Champion
Empowering Youth & Community Through Environmental Arts & Action
Dear 4CCF Family & Supporters,
At 4CCF, we believe that empowering young minds through creative expression is key to fostering lifelong environmental stewardship. As the autumn season unfolds, we are thrilled to bring our community together around local watershed conservation, visual storytelling, and student leadership!
Our 2nd Annual 'Art For Earth' Youth Contest
(October 1 – 31, 2026)
We’re officially launching the 2nd Annual "Art For Earth" Contest on October 1st! This October, we are asking youth across Southcoast Connecticut to explore a big question:
What kind of future are we creating between people, land, and water?
By stripping away dense academic jargon, 'Art For Earth' brings the climate conversation straight into the public square. Youth are invited to independently interpret environmental resilience—expressing their fears, hopes, and solutions through any creative medium they choose!
Why This Contest Matters:
Celebrating Youth Voices: Youth can imagine bold futures shaped by restoration, innovation, activism, equity, and hope.
High-Profile Public Festival: The contest culminates in a vibrant public exhibition and festival, moving student work out of school buildings and onto a community stage to generate regional momentum and civic awareness.
Bilingual Resources Available: Free download packets—including watershed insights, creative reflection worksheets, and registration forms—are available in both English and Español!
•Quick Updates: What’s Next for 'Art For Earth' 2026
Growing Our Local Circle: This year’s "Art For Earth" Contest is focusing deeply on young artists ages 5–19 right here in Norwich, Middletown, North Stonington, Groton, Montville, Mystic and New London-Waterford.
More Ways to Create: We are moving outside the usual school hours! Our fun STEAM activities are expanding into local museums, after-school programs, and homeschool groups so even more kids can join the fun.
Teamwork in the Classroom: We are teaming up local science and art teachers to lead super collaborative classroom sessions. Students will get to build cool 3-D art models to show exactly how our local watersheds and salt marshes work.
What happens when creativity meets the environment?
Partner With Us: Want to bring the 'Art for Earth' curriculum to your local school, museum, after-school program, or homeschool group? Let’s team up to inspire the next generation of Eco-Champions.
Call to Action
‘Art For Earth’ invites young artists, classrooms, families, educators, and community groups to explore the fragile and beautiful relationship between land and water through imagination, collaboration, science, storytelling, and art. By blending environmental education with creative expression, ‘Art for Earth’ empowers youth to build deep community connections and confidence.
Whether you are an educator, parent, or community partner, join us in bringing these youth perspectives into the spotlight!
Donate & Make an Impact:
Your support keeps our programming accessible to youth across our Connecticut communities. Choose a tier below to seed creative conservation:
$25 (Seedling): Covers eco-art supply kits for one young artist.
$100 (Sprout): Helps fund the printing and framing for a classroom's public art exhibition.
$250 (Canopy): Sponsors top-tier prizes and gift cards for an entire age group in our annual October 2026 Art Contest.
4 Conservation Charitable Foundation, Inc.
16 Jerome Road
New London, CT 06320
401.524.1638 info@4ccfoundation.org
Follow Along: Check out our website to stay updated on the official Fall 2026 call for contest entries and view our upcoming online galleries at www.4cc-foundation.org/!
Very informative! Thanks,👍