This Earth Month, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) invites students in grades 4-12 to join our annual Earth Day Poster Contest and explore the mysteries of Florida’s seafloor. This year’s theme, “See the Sea Floor: Discover Florida Beneath the Waves,” highlights the Florida Seafloor Mapping Initiative, a statewide effort using advanced tools like sonar and LiDAR to reveal underwater landscapes, coral reefs and hidden geological features. Students are encouraged to let their creativity shine by illustrating what they imagine lies beneath the surface and how these discoveries guide scientists in protecting Florida’s coasts.

Contest Details:

Deadline: April 22, 2026, by 5 p.m. EDT

Submission Requirements: Students in grades 4-12 may submit original drawings, paintings or digital artwork using any medium. A completed entry form must accompany all submissions.

Winning students will be selected from each age group (grades 4-5, 6-8 and 9-12) within each of DEP’s six district regions. Regional winners will receive an Aquatic Preserves reuseable water bottle and advance to a statewide contest. From those regional winners, one grand prize winner in each grade category will receive a full-sized printed poster of their artwork. Winners will be announced on April 30, 2026. 

For contest rules, guidelines and more ways to celebrate Earth Day, visit DEP’s Earth Day webpage.