NDEE “Nebraska: Don’t Waste It!” Calendar Contest Information

Students Can Submit Entries Through May 1, 2025

Recycling, composting, and keeping litter in its place are among the many ways we keep Nebraska clean.

The Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy is inviting students to put their talents to good use by submitting a drawing for the 2026 “Nebraska: Don’t Waste It!” calendar.

The calendar will feature the artwork of students from grades K-12.

We’re looking for drawings that demonstrate the importance of good environmental practices and tips on reducing waste, recycling, and protecting Nebraska’s air, land, and water.

The front cover and each month of the calendar features the 13 winning environmental posters.


NDEE sends invitations to all K-12 schools in Nebraska, inviting them to participate in the environmental calendar contest. A PDF of the calendar contest guidelines and entry form can be found at the bottom of this page. Information from the entry form will remain private, and will only be used by NDEE to contact the students whose artwork is selected for the calendar and their teachers.


Contest Guidelines

All Nebraska students in grades K-12 are eligible to submit their artwork. One piece of student art will be featured each month. The grand prize winner’s work will be featured on the cover.


Theme

Create a drawing or painting that shows how we can keep Nebraska clean by recycling, composting, properly disposing of household hazardous waste (like old paint and cleaning products), cleaning up litter, and any other activity that will keep our air, land, and water clean.


Deadline

Entries must be postmarked no later than May 1, 2025.


Artwork

Submit all artwork on 8 ½” x 11” unlined white paper in a landscape, or horizontal, orientation. Fill out the label that can be found in the “Entry Label.pdf” at the bottom of this page and attach to the back of your artwork. Please use tape (no staples or glue) to attach the label. Each piece of artwork must have a label! Mail your artwork flat—do not fold. Entries become the property of NDEE and will not be returned. Artwork may be used for promotional purposes.
 

Media

Markers, watercolors, tempera, oils, crayons, chalk, acrylic, or colored pencils (no pen and ink, please) are accepted.
If your artwork is chosen for the calendar, you will:

• Have your artwork, name and school’s name featured on a page of the calendar;
• Be invited to an awards presentation at the State Capitol in Lincoln;
• Receive copies of the calendar to share with family and friends; and
• Help educate others about how to protect our environment.