U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges Complex and their Friends group FAVOR announce their second annual photography contest, aimed to celebrate the four refuges and the wildlife within them. The free-entry contest is open to any amateur photographer; categories are “Landscape,” “Birds,” and “Other Nature/Wildlife,” in both adult and children divisions, with awards in all three categories.

Images must be taken within the boundaries of the Florida Keys National Wildlife Refuges during the past 18 months; deadline for the contest is March 1. All entries will be on display in a pop-up photography exhibition at the National Key Deer Refuge Visitor Center on Big Pine Key through May 2017, with a special opening reception from 5:30pm -7:30pm on Wednesday, March 15th with light refreshments served.

The contest is part of the second annual Outdoor Fest—a week of action-packed days filled with family-friendly, mostly free outdoor adventures and hands-on activities—set for Saturday, March 11th through Saturday, March 18th, featuring expert-guided birding, nature walks, and boat trips; evening wildlife programs; nature sketching, nature photography workshops; two family-fun wildlife fairs; kayak excursions, a natural history bike ride, and the 3nd Annual Run With Deer 5K on Big Pine Key.

For more information about the contest and the Outdoor Fest, visit www.favorfloridakeys.org/outdoor-fest or contact Kristie Killam at 305.304.9625 or email Nancy or Jan at [email protected]. Brought to you in part by the Monroe County Tourist Development Council.