Following are details of an on-going conservation project that involves photography, has long-lasting positive effects, and for which I don’t have to spend a lot of money or travel great distances. I have partnered with the Bexar Land Trust based in San Antonio, Texas (www.bexarlandtrust.org), but you can find an active land trust where you live. Visit the Land Trust Alliance website (www.lta.org) and do a little research. A direct link for locating land trusts across the United States is www.ltanet.org/findlandtrust.

Youth Photo Contest
Tertia Emerson, my contact at the Bexar Land Trust, initially contacted me five years ago as a consultant. We discussed different options for education, awareness and fundraising, and the results have been heartwarming. Her board of directors approved starting a youth photo contest in the eight-county area the land trust serves: Bexar County and the seven surrounding counties. Tertia headed a small volunteer committee and bent to the task at hand.

The volunteers targeted youths up to 18 years-old and named the contest “Picture Your World,” which connected pictures to the land. One of the land trust’s goals was for young people to become aware of and enjoy their natural surroundings. The volunteers further hoped the young people would include their parents on outings as they spent time documenting what they observed.

Ruth Hoyt reviewing slides with participants.	Ruth Hoyt assisting by holding reflectors.

In order to reach the highest number of participants, the contest rules included both film and digital entries to be accepted. The volunteers spent the most energy on locating funds for the contest, and persistence and belief in the project made the rest possible. They contacted potential sponsors for whatever they thought the sponsor could offer, including services and non-monetary donations such as locations for events.

The role I have played merely enhances what I believe would have been a successful endeavor anyway. I offered to conduct youth photo clinics and provide ongoing advice. The San Antonio Botanical Garden agreed to host two photo clinics in spring 2003 and the committee put out the word via the newspaper, flyers at camera shops and schools and other media. We limited the clinics to 20 participants so we could provide one-on-one assistance in the field sessions. Partway through the day, Tertia’s committee collected film from the participants and brought it to a local photo lab for processing and same-day return delivery.

One non-profit organization that runs an after-school arts program, “Say Si” (www.saysi.org), participated in the clinics and the photo contest. During the clinics, Say Si staff member Claudio Aguillon provided assistance and some of his own equipment for his students who didn’t own cameras.

Another non-profit organization involved, the San Antonio Youth Center, runs a drop-out prevention program that serves at-risk students. The center partnered with the land trust and provided the use of six Canon Rebel film cameras equipped with two lenses each. The land trust hired local college photography students to teach basic camera operations to participants prior to the photo clinics.

The first two contests were held following the clinics in spring of 2003 and 2005, with very good results. Approximately 600 entries arrived from nearly 75 students enrolled in more than 20 schools. After the end of each contest, the Bexar Land Trust held an awards event on a Sunday afternoon, which was well-attended by participants and their families.

A landscape photo by contest participant Whitney Boyce, captured with a digital camera.

I presented a 20-minute program on conservation and nature photography that included a slide show accompanied by music. The local television station’s weatherman made an appearance and awarded prizes to the winning participants. Afterward, everyone who attended enjoyed refreshments and viewed the printed images on display.

For further information about conservation-oriented events, contact Ruth by email at ruthhoyt@hotmail.com or phone at (956) 845-6200. For information about the 2006 contest, visit the Bexar Land Trust’s website (www.bexarlandtrust.org) or call (210) 222-8430. Tertia Emerson will share information about her experience in starting the contest. She may be reached via email at tjemerson@earthlink.net or phone at (210) 240-9423. Ruth Hoyt is a full-time nature photographer who specializes in flora and fauna of the Rio Grande Valley.