Cover of the 2013 Kosciusko County Lakes and Streams calendar.

Area students are using a unique way to raise awareness of our lakes and streams. They’re using our local waterways to inspire their art for a new calendar. The calendar promotes good stewardship of our lakes and streams.

Young artists in fourth through 12th grades study the lakes and streams in person or through photographs and then design their work based on what they’ve learned about the waters. Those pictures are then judged by art majors and faculty at Grace College.

The calendar was produced once in the past, but this is the first year it has been made available to the public.

“I think this makes an impact a couple different ways,” said Dr. Nate Bosch, director of Kosciusko Lakes and Streams, and professor at Grace. “First, the students will be impacted. They start by doing this artwork, and by doing this they have to pay so close attention to the lake, stream, wetland, pond, that they’re learning about it. In doing so, they learn about its value and to take better care in the future.”

The Grace College art majors learn skills for furture careers, like how to judge artwork from the drawings, and the winning entries are put in the calendar, placed on display at the gallery on campus, and then in local businesses that sponsor the calendar.

“The Grace students are gaining skills for their careers in the future and what artwork can teach people,” said Bosch. “And the third benefit is the broader community where these calendars are displayed. One-thousand calendars are in classrooms, businesses, private residences and offices and people see that a student drew that and learn about water resources. The adults see and think, ‘That’s an aspect of lakes and rivers I never thought of,’ and they see the value.”

Calendars cost $5 each, with the money being raised going directly back to the students as a prize gift. The money donated by sponsors in the calendar pays for printing and logistics behind the calendar.

Calendars can be purchased online through the Grace College Tree of Life bookstore, or by clicking HERE.