SAVANNAH — All third, fourth and fifth grade Georgia students are invited to help show why protecting Georgia’s rock outcrops is important by submitting personal artwork to the Georgia Conservancy’s 8th Annual Home Sweet Home Habitat Art Contest.

Applicants should create bright, colorful designs to illustrate the value of Georgia’s rock outcrops and the habitats they provide for various species of plants and animals, including fairy shrimp, salamanders and various skinks.

More background information on rock outcrops and an entry form are available on the Georgia Conservancy Web site at www.georgiaconservancy.org, and all entries must be postmarked no later than March 3.  The winners will be announced in honor of Earth Day on April 21.

First-place artwork will be converted into handheld-fans and appear in upcoming issues of Teaching Conservation, the Georgia Conservancy’s educator newsletter, and Panorama, the organization’s semiannual membership magazine, as well as on the Georgia Conservancy Web site. The winning artist also will receive a goodie bag filled with fun and educational nature items.

For more details about the contest and to obtain an entry form, please visit www.georgiaconservancy.org or contact Georgia Conservancy environmental education manager Karen Garland at (404) 876-2900 x113 or kgarland@gaconservancy.org.

Founded in 1967, the Georgia Conservancy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting Georgia’s air, water, and natural areas.

The Conservancy, through its focus on clean air and water, land conservation, coastal protection, responsible growth and environmental education, continues to balance the demands of social and economic progress with a commitment to protecting the environment and promoting the stewardship of Georgia’s vital natural resources.