State Park Vehicle Admission Pass Design Contest

Wisconsin State Park System

Wisconsin State Park and Forest vehicle admission passes are designed by high school students chosen in a statewide contest. The design contest, sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), is open to all high school-age students attending public, private or parochial schools or homeschooled students in Wisconsin.

New for the 2024-2025 school year, the contest will feature a square template for a 12-month vehicle admission pass. Please see below for the new design template and all contest rules, Design entries can be submitted through April 30, 2025.

Design entries can be submitted through April 30, 2025. Photo credit: iStock/ArtistGNDphotography

Contest Rules, Materials and Submission Procedures

Design Contest Rules

Contest Rules

Submission materials:

Eligibility

Entrants must be enrolled in grades 9 through 12 or equivalent, attending public, private or parochial schools, or be homeschooled in Wisconsin during the 2024-2025 school year. Children of the Department of Natural Resources employees or judges are not eligible.

Each student may submit only one entry.

Contest Deadline

Entries must be received by the Bureau of Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, no later than 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2025.

Subject Matter

The design must be the artist's original creation and shall not be copied or duplicated from previously published art, including photographs, clip art or electronic graphic images. Photographs or photo manipulations will not be accepted.

Technical Requirements

Color

The design is limited to four colors maximum.
Black and white, if used, each count as a color.
All colors must be flat and solid, with no shading, blending or halftones.
There can be no colorless areas.

Shape And Size

The design must fill the interior square provided on the design template [PDF].
No other shape or size may be used.
You may change the outer frame color and the text color based on the four colors you choose for your design.

Lettering

The text that appears on the sticker is provided on the design template [PDF].
Do not alter fonts or move the location of text. You may change the outer frame color and the text color based on the four colors you choose for your design.
No other wording, including the artist's signature, may appear on the design.

Suitability For Reproduction

The Department of Natural Resources reserves the right to alter the design if necessary. This includes redrawing, resetting type, and changing colors.

Failure To Comply With Contest Rules

Any entry that fails to comply with the contest's requirements shall be disqualified and not considered by the judging panel.

Judging Of The Contest

A panel of judges will be selected to provide a representative cross-section of individuals with expertise in design and an interest in parks and forests. The contest will be judged, and the winners will be announced in a news release and on the DNR website.

Submission Procedures

Submission Procedures

Entries may be submitted in one of the two following ways:

Entries may be sent electronically via email. Scan the completed entry form [PDF] as a PDF. You may email this entry form file and the design file (accepted formats are PDF, PNG, and JPG) to DNRWisconsinParks@wisconsin.gov.
Entries may be sent via regular mail. Do not laminate the design. The entry form [PDF] must be included and either stapled to the design or securely attached to the back. Each entry submitted this way must be mailed or hand-delivered to:
Sticker Design Contest
DNR/Bureau of Parks & Recreation
101 S Webster Street, P.O. Box 7921
Madison WI 53707-7921

Each contestant must verify that they meet all eligibility requirements and enclose the completed and signed entry form with a parent's or guardian's and teacher's (if applicable) signature. All designs submitted will become the sole property of the Department of Natural Resources. The DNR will not insure any entry it receives nor assume liability for any damage, loss or theft of any entry. Each student may submit only one entry. Entries will not be returned.

Tips For A Winning Design

Tips For A Winning Design

Based on the results of previous contests, here are some tips and suggestions that you may find helpful.

Please read the rules. Each year, we receive entries that fail to comply with the rules and must be rejected.
The winning design will be reduced to 3 x 3 inches, which includes the border and text for months and Wisconsin State Parks and Forests. Fine detail disappears when the design is reduced.
Remember, shading, blending and halftones are not permitted.
The design should be appropriate for Wisconsin State Parks and Forests and all available recreation activities. Many designs are rejected because they feature snow-capped mountains, plants, and animals not native to Wisconsin.
If you portray an animal, flower, tree, etc., realistically, ensure it is accurate. Consult a good field guide. Stylized compositions will still be considered.
Take a look at the park stickers from the last several years. The DNR probably will not choose something that was featured in the recent past.

Past Winners