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<p class="xxxxxmsonormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;margin:0in;line-height:11.65pt;background:white">
<i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">Do you have children or work with children interested in plants, art, and creative writing? We need your
help to design a commemorative coin that honors iconic plants native to the United States!</span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
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<i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">Plants play an important role in our nation’s ecosystems while also being symbols of local cultural heritage,
defining the character of places, and influencing our experiences with the natural world where we live, work, and play<a>.
<o:p> </o:p></a></span></i></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk83395197"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></p>
<p class="xxxxxmsonormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;margin:0in;line-height:11.65pt;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk83395197"><a><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">To celebrate 25 years of
</span></i></a></span><span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk83395197"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">advancing plant conservation and promoting
native plant community restoration, the Plant Conservation Alliance has teamed up with the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden on a national artwork competition as part of this year’s 2021-2022 Fairchild Challenge!
<o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk83395197"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></span></p>
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<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk83395197"><b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">The National Challenge American Icons Commemorative Coin Competition:<o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></span></p>
<p class="xxxxxmsonormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;margin:0in;line-height:11.65pt;background:white">
<span style="mso-bookmark:_Hlk83395197"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">School-age children will nominate a plant that symbolizes the
uniqueness of America’s landscapes by creating an illustration that showcases your plant.
</span></i></span><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">The selection should not be limited to the region in which the entrant lives but must
be native to anywhere in the United States or its Territories. Drawings must include a written description explaining why you selected this plant and how it is representative of the region’s cultural and natural heritage. Regional champions will undergo a
national runoff to select the plant image we will use on a 2-inch commemorative coin!<o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
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<i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
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<b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">Who can participate?</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">
<o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="xxxxxmsonormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;margin:0in;line-height:11.65pt;background:white">
<i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">Any child in a private, public or homeschool may participate. The challenge is
aimed at school-age learners (preK-12<sup>th</sup> grade) and can be completed as an individual or as a group (up to 5 people). Teachers or the supervising adult must submit the entry and are encouraged to review the complete entry requirements as well as
the evaluation sheet to assist in guiding the development of the submission.</span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="xxxxxmsonormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;margin:0in;line-height:11.65pt;background:white">
<i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">SEE COMPLETE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS on our
</span></i><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><a href="https://fairchildgarden.org/science-and-education/learn/the-fairchild-challenge/national-challenge/"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">National
Challenge Portal</span></i></a></span><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="xxxxxmsonormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;margin:0in;line-height:11.65pt;background:white">
<i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
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<b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">Deadline:<o:p> </o:p></span></i></b></p>
<p class="xxxxxmsonormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;margin:0in;line-height:11.65pt;background:white">
<i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">The entry for this challenge must be submitted by a supervising adult to through our
</span></i><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><a href="https://fairchildgarden.org/science-and-education/learn/the-fairchild-challenge/national-challenge/"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">National
Challenge Portal</span></i></a></span><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"> by Wednesday, December 15, 2021 by 5:00 pm.</span></i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:#201F1E"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="xxxxmsonormal" style="margin-right:0in;margin-left:0in;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman", serif;margin:0in;background:white">
<i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></p>
<ul style="margin-bottom:0in">
<li><b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;font-variant:small-caps;color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">About the PCA:
</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">A collaboration among U.S. federal agencies and nonfederal partners
who share the common goal to protect, conserve, and restore our national plant heritage for generations to come. Learn
</span></i><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><a href="https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/native-plant-communities/national-seed-strategy/pca"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">more</span></i></a></span><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in"><o:p> </o:p></span></i></li><li><b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;font-variant:small-caps;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">About the Fairchild Challenge:
</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">The Fairchild Challenge is an award-winning environmental science competition designed
to engage PreK – 12th grade students with the natural world. Learn </span></i><span style="color:black;mso-color-alt:windowtext"><a href="https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffairchildgarden.org%2Fscience-and-education%2Flearn%2Fthe-fairchild-challenge%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cmargaret_park%40fws.gov%7C23b7baa657ed4da758f308d97e8f8558%7C0693b5ba4b184d7b9341f32f400a5494%7C0%7C0%7C637679977155520193%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=IuJgFePZaiDgso5bBqeAm3XrnSi0u4EiYIjMevTjxnc%3D&reserved=0"><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">more</span></i></a></span><i><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black;border:none windowtext 1.0pt;mso-border-alt:none windowtext 0in;padding:0in">
<o:p> </o:p></span></i></li></ul>
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