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Photo Contest Winner Visits Audubon

Before returning to her home in New York City, Kyra Bettwy visited the Audubon Community Nature Center to collect the prize in Audubon’s Nature Photography Contest. At left is Jennifer Schlick, Audubon program director, with the certificate and check for Bettwy, who is holding “Through the Bench,” her winning photograph.

Jennifer Schlick, Audubon Community Nature Center program director, was delighted to present a prize in person to one of Audubon’s 2017 Nature Photography Contest winners.

Kyra Bettwy, a seventh-grader who lives in New York City, spends summers with her family visiting her grandparents, John and Marie Plumb, and enjoying the outdoors in Randolph. She saw the announcement of the Photography Contest online when she was signing up to run in Audubon’s Wild 5K Run/Walk in July.

The categories for entries in the contest are Landscapes, Plants, Wildlife, and Audubon Community Nature Center, with Adult and Youth Divisions in each category.

“We love the Audubon and we visit it several times every summer,” Kyra reported. One time her grandfather, whom she describes as an amateur photographer, took her and her brothers there to take some pictures. “It was really early in the morning, and we saw lots of wildlife: chipmunks, birds, frogs, rabbits and deer. We had a lot of fun and I probably took thirty or so pictures.”

Kyra named her choice “Through the Bench” and submitted it in the Youth Nature Center category, noting, “I liked the way the bench framed the pond in the photo.”

A student at Marymount School of New York, Kyra said, “I’ve enjoyed learning about environmental science. Last year we did some really cool experiments about the effect of acid rain on plants.” She also participated in the Hudson Data Jam, a contest where students explain environmental data collected from the Hudson River.

“Our winning photographers come from far-flung places,” said Schlick, who coordinates the competition for ACNC. “It was a real treat to be able to give Kyra her prize in person.” She was even happier that Kyra said, “I’m looking forward to visiting Audubon again next year!”

Contest entries were submitted from 21 states in the United States and eight foreign countries. Winners came from across the United States, including Hawaii, as well as London and Belgium; those receiving merit recognition also came from China and Switzerland.

This year’s winning images as well as those from earlier ACNC Nature Photography Contests can be seen at acncphotocontest.com. All 2017 winners received a $100 prize, and their photographs are on exhibit at the Nature Center.

Proceeds from the contest support Audubon’s environmental education programs.

Audubon Community Nature Center is located at 1600 Riverside Road, one-quarter mile east of Route 62 between Jamestown, New York, and Warren, Pennsylvania. The Nature Center building is home to the Blue Heron Gift Shop and three floors of interactive exhibits, including live animals that inform and engage visitors of all ages. Building hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday and Sundays 1-4:30 p.m. To learn more, visit auduboncnc.org.

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