FREDERICTON - The Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, NB Chapter (CPAWS NB) is pleased to announce that a class from the Liverpool Street School in Fredericton has won the “Watch Your Paws Club” Challenge for 2009. The Challenge involved having classes undertake stewardship activities in their school or community to raise awareness of the need for environmentally-friendly recreation in nature.

“We are really impressed with the quality of the Watch Your Paws submissions this year. Elementary school students submitted brochures, posters, and dioramas to show how to help conserve special habitats and wildlife. The winning class of Ms. Chisholm’s Grade 3 and 4 from Liverpool Street School in Fredericton sent in an engaging photo report of their wildlife habitat science fair, where they taught other students and teachers about New Brunswick wildlife and natural areas,” said Roberta Clowater, Executive Director of CPAWS NB.

Sarah MacMillan, one of the program’s Conservation Educators from project partner Cogent Consortium, said, "After taking our Watch Your Paws presentations and activities to over 900 students this year, we are so excited to have received the creative and inspiring submissions from all of the students. We are awarding an honourable mention to the Grade 4 Literacy class from Stanley Elementary School, who showed lots of thought and artistic flair in the biodiversity conservation brochures they designed.”  Pictures from this year's winning class are posted at  http://cpawsnb.org/work/education/class2009.php .

Roberta Clowater added, “We want to thank the children who entered the contest for showing us what an impressive group of future community leaders we have in our schools. We’re looking forward to taking the pizza party prize to the Liverpool Street School class on June 16 and showing our appreciation in person.” 

CPAWS established the “Watch Your Paws Club” to encourage environmentally-responsible behaviour in nature, and to recognize the role of children in helping with wildlife and wilderness conservation. This project and the “Watch Your Paws Club” Challenge have been made possible through the generosity of the New Brunswick Environmental Trust Fund, the New Brunswick Wildlife Trust Fund and the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.