THOMASVILLE- The Learning Center at Pebble Hill Plantation, with local artist and educator, Jessica Dell, recently held two “Quail Pastels” workshops for elementary, middle school, and high school students. Twenty-four students participated in the workshops, learning techniques of the pastel medium through Dell’s instruction, for their renderings of the Bobwhite Quail.

The artwork was exhibited at the Learning Center January 28th through the 31st and is now being sent to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources to be judged in the 2025 Youth Birding T-shirt Art Contest.

Students from throughout the state of Georgia will submit artwork for the competition. Participants are to draw or paint birds that are native to Georgia or migrate through the state. The importance of the Bobwhite Quail to this region of Georgia led to the decision to have the students at Pebble Hill produce artwork featuring this beautiful species.

“These students impressed us so much with their artwork,” said Pebble Hill Plantation’s Program Coordinator, Kitty Spivey. “All of the submissions are outstanding and we are excited to send them to the statewide competition.”

In addition to having their entry printed on T-shirts, the 2025 Youth Birding Competition Grand Prize Winner will receive a $100 Amazon gift card. Three other winners will each receive a $60 Amazon gift card.

A winner will be selected from each of the following age categories:

• Primary (Pre-K–2nd Grade)
• Elementary (3rd–5th Grade)
• Middle School (6th–8th Grade)
• High School (9th–12th Grade)

The Grand Prize Winner will be determined from those four age category winners. The runner-up in each age division will receive a $40 Amazon gift card! A surprise award also will be given to the best artwork by a birding participant. To learn more about the Youth Birding T-shirt program visit https://georgiawildlife.com/sign-opens-2025-youth-birding-competition and to view past winners of the contest visit https://georgiawildlife.smugmug.com/Events/Competitions-and-Contests/n-TtVj54/Youth-Birding-Competition-T-shirt-Art-Contest.

Pebble Hill Plantation is a 3,000-acre 20th century sporting estate and museum that offers educational opportunities in art, history, science, and conservation for adults and children. The site includes the 30,000 square foot Main House, Elisabeth Ireland Poe Gallery, several historic outbuildings and structures, and 70 acres of grounds and gardens to tour. Visit https://pebblehill.com/ for information on tours, events, and programs.