State Parks Kayak
Kids Essay Contest
In 2013, an innovative idea was generated
from a Temporary Park Superintendent in the
Southwest Parks Region to start a kayak essay
contest. The Regional Park Superintendent
used this valuable input and assisted in
bringing the idea to life. This annual Kayak
Kids Essay Contest was created to encourage
youth to get outdoors. The competition
requires contestants to submit a 250-word
handwritten essay expressing why growing
up in the outdoors is important. They must
also take a photograph of themselves at one
of the Southwest Parks Region reservoirs.
There are two age divisions, 10-14 and 15-
18 years of age, and all essays are judged
by Nebraska Game and Parks staff from all
agency divisions. The winner from each age
division receives a grand prize package that
includes a kayak, paddles, and life jacket.
Runner-up prize packages for each age
division includes a new rod and reel combo.
The NGPC Parks Division personnel help
get donations from businesses to fund the
prize packages each year and host an annual
awards ceremony at Red Willow Reservoir
State Recreation Area. The sponsors, kids,
and their parents are all invited to participate.
This initiative has sparked a new way of
bringing youth to outdoor recreation areas
by getting them to think about why outdoor
recreation is important. The pathways of
getting youth to participate in outdoor
recreation is imperative because they are
the next generation that will conserve and
protect our natural resources. The creation
of this annual contest from grassroots efforts
is a great example of a success story where
input from staff was used to generate a great
opportunity. Through sound leadership and
collaboration, this contest has become a very
popular part of the Southwest Parks Region.
89
Winners and runners-up of
the 2018 Kayak Kids Essay
Contest at Red Willow
Reservoir State Recreation
Area. (Red Willow County)
Fishing at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. (Cass County)
SUCCESS
STORY
G U I D I N G S U C C E S S
