08/25/2026
I am reaching out to invite our 4-H youth to participate in an upcoming Water Art Show celebrating the importance of water to our communities, environment, wildlife, agriculture, and everyday lives.
The idea for this show grew from the beautiful artwork by Violet, a student at Gulf Breeze Elementary School, featured on the attached flyer. Her piece captured the connection between art, water, and our local environment so well that it inspired us to create an opportunity for other Santa Rosa County 4-H members to share their own perspectives.
I realize this is a very quick turnaround, and I sincerely appreciate anything you can do to help your students participate. We would love to give Santa Rosa County 4-H members an opportunity to use their creativity and artistic expression to help tell the story of something that connects every one of us: water.
What can students create?
We are looking for artwork that represents any aspect of water, including:
The Bluenose Shiner and other local fish and wildlife, Florida FWC – Bluenose Shiner
The water cycle
Groundwater and aquifers
Rivers, streams, lakes, and other surface water
Freshwater and saltwater
Local fisheries and aquatic life
Wildlife that depends on water
People and communities connected to water
Agriculture and the importance of water
Conservation and protection of our water resources
We would especially love to see 4-Her's learn about and interpret the Bluenose Shiner, a small but important native fish found in our local freshwater systems. While it may not be one of the largest or most familiar fish, it plays an important role in the ecosystem. Bluenose Shiners are an important food source for wildlife, birds, and larger fish. They are a great example of how even the smallest pieces of an ecosystem are connected. Students can learn more about the Bluenose Shiner from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission:
Florida FWC – Bluenose Shiner
Why art?
Art gives young people a way to communicate ideas that sometimes cannot be expressed through words alone. A drawing, painting, photograph, sculpture, or other creative work can make someone stop, look, think, and develop a deeper appreciation for the world around them.
Water is something every one of us depends on, yet it can be easy to take it for granted. Through their artwork,4-H youth can help the rest of us see water from a different perspective. A student's artwork might show the beauty of a local river, the importance of clean groundwater, a favorite fish or wildlife species, the relationship between people and the coast, or simply what water means to them personally. We want students to have the freedom to interpret the theme creatively and make it their own.
More importantly, this gives our 4-H youth an opportunity to realize that their voices and perspectives matter. Their artwork can help educate our community and encourage others to think about the water resources that sustain us all.
Artwork Deadline
We are asking that the artwork be returned to the:
Santa Rosa County 4-H Office, 6263 Dogwood Drive, Milton, Florida by Monday, September 28, 2026.
A few items to consider:
Artwork should be easily hung and not exceed 2 x 4 ft.
Sculpture should not exceed 40 lbs.
We will have ribbons and also plan to have a “people’s choice” category.
We will also only have the students’ first names, last initials, and their schools.
You can also find information about the event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/share/14nyz9cdQRK/
Thank you for considering this opportunity and, most importantly, for encouraging your students to share their creativity with our community. Violet's artwork is what started this idea, and I would love to see where other students take it. Every student sees the world a little differently. Giving them the opportunity to express that through art not only celebrates their creativity, but can also help the rest of us appreciate something as important and interconnected as our water resources. We would love to showcase the creativity of Santa Rosa County 4-H youth and give them a chance to be part of something that celebrates our local waterways, wildlife, and communities.
