01/11/15

Winners of the 2014 Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest

Thank you so much for your outpouring of “frog and environmental” love. The 5th Annual Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest with 973 diverse artworks from 32 countries was the widest global reach yet! I want to thank my judges: Laura Skolar, Christine Wiltanger, Greg Spalenka, Greg Brickey, Derek May, Mark T. Smith, and Emma Lam.

Each 1st place WINNER in the age group categories: (3-6, 7-9, 10-12, and 13-15) win a prize, so please contact us. Other winners receive an official certificate by email, detailing where they placed, so contact us for that as well. All other children will be able to download a participation certificate via this website soon.

And now… for the Winners!

Age Group 3-6

1st Place Winner, Kardelen Koc, Turkey; 2nd Place Winner, Liam Cheng, New York; 3rd Place Winner Vinci Chan Wing Chi, Hong Kong.

Honorable Mentions: Jessen Whelchel, California; Lucy Krimmel, California; Liam Malinsky, Hoboken, New Jersey; Liu Tsz Chun, Hong Kong; Stephen Lu, South Brunswick, NJ.

1st Place Winner, Kardelen Koc, Turkey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest 2014, age 3-6 group

2nd Place Winner, Liam Cheng, New York, USA, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest 2014, age 3-6 group

3rd Place Winner Vinci Chan Wing Chi, Hong Kong, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest 2014, age 3-6 group

Honorable Mention Jessen Whelchel, California, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest 2014, age 3-6 group

Honorable Mention, Lucy Krimmel, California, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest 2014, age 3-6 group

Honorable Mention, Liam Malinsky, Hoboken, New Jersey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest 2014, age 3-6 group

Honorable Mention, Liu Tsz Chun, Hong Kong, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest 2014, age 3-6 group

Honorable Mention, Stephen Lu, South Brunswick, NJ, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest 2014, age 3-6 group

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Age Group 7-9

1st Place Winner, Justin Hou, New Mexico; 2nd Place Winner, Mofan Qu, South Brunswick, New Jersey; 3rd Place Winner, Grace Demarest, California.

Honorable Mentions: Aditri Chauhan, Piscataway, New Jersey; Csenge Markus, Hungary; Dhanvi Sayani, Dubai, UAE.

1st Place Winner, Justin Hou, New Mexico, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest - Ages 7-9

2nd Place Winner, Mofan Qu, South Brunswick, New Jersey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest - Ages 7-9

3rd Place Winner, Grace Demarest, California, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest - Ages 7-9

Honorable Mention, Aditri Chauhan, Piscataway, New Jersey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest - Ages 7-9

Honorable Mention, Csenge Markus, Hungary, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest - Ages 7-9

Honorable Mention, Dhanvi Sayani, Dubai, UAE, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest - Ages 7-9

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Age Group 10-12

1st Place Winner, Roshni K.R., India; 2nd Place Winner, Doga Tansug, Turkey; 3rd Place Winner, Ada Zeylan, Turkey; 4th Place Winner, Rana Taki, Turkey.

Honorable Mentions: Elif Ersoz, Turkey; Fatahillah Faisal Rizqiawan, Indonesia; Joshua Lim Kah Lok, Malaysia; Mercen Turkmen, Turkey; Zakiyah Hasanah, Indonesia.

1st Place Winner, Roshni K.R., India, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest ages 10-12

2nd Place Winner, Doga Tansug, Turkey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest ages 10-12

3rd Place Winner, Ada Zeylan, Turkey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest ages 10-12

4th Place Winner, Rana Taki, Turkey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest ages 10-12

Honorable Mention, Elif Ersoz, Turkey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest ages 10-12

Honorable Mention, Fatahillah Faisal Rizqiawan, Indonesia, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest ages 10-12

Honorable Mention, Joshua Lim Kah Lok, Malaysia, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest ages 10-12

Honorable Mention, Mercen Turkmen, Turkey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest ages 10-12

Honorable Mention, Zakiyah Hasanah, Indonesia, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest ages 10-12

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Age Group 13-16

1st Place Winner, Irene Qiao, USA; 2nd Place Winner, Arushi Aggarwal, India; 3rd Place Winner, Dayanna Franco, Liberty HS, New Jersey.

Honorable Mentions: Cristina Maria Simion, Romania; Lena Sutanti, Indonesia; Lily Liu, Canada; Marian Patrisia, Romania.

1st Place Winner, Irene Qiao, USA, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Ages 13-16

2nd Place Winner, Arushi Aggarwal, India, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Ages 13-16

3rd Place Winner, Dayanna Franco, Liberty HS, New Jersey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Ages 13-16

Honorable Mention, Cristina Maria Simion, Romania, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Ages 13-16

Honorable Mention, Lena Sutanti, Indonesia, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Ages 13-16

Honorable Mention, Lily Liu, Canada, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Ages 13-16

Honorable Mention, Marian Patrisia, Romania, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Ages 13-16

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Best Environmental Art

1st Place Winner, Olivia Xu, New Jersey, USA; 2nd Place Winner, Irene Qiao, USA; 3rd Place Winner, Cynthia Cao, USA.

Honorable Mention: Lena Sutanti, Indonesia.

1st Place Winner, Olivia Xu, New Jersey, USA, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best Environmental Art

2nd Place Winner, Irene Qiao, USA, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best Environmental Art

3rd Place Winner, Cynthia Cao, USA, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best Environmental Art

Honorable Mention, Lena Sutanti, Indonesia, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best Environmental Art

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Best Black and White Art

1st Place Winner, Sude Dogan, Turkey; 2nd Place Winner, Lee Xin Yee, Malaysia; 3rd Place Winner, Oliver Perrone, Hungary.

1st Place Winner, Sude Dogan, Turkey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best Black and White

2nd Place Winner, Lee Xin Yee, Malaysia, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best Black and White

3rd Place Winner, Oliver Perrone, Hungary, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best Black and White

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Best 3D Art

1st Place Winner, Ioana Vallimarescu, Romania; 2nd Place Winner, Margaret Chen, Michigan, USA; 3rd Place Winner, Alexander Franco, Jersey City, NJ.

Honorable Mentions: Dilan Sendan, Turkey; Elizabeth Manthey, Plymouth, Wisconsin; Niamh Ni Iceadha, Ireland; Trisha Sayani, Dubai, UAE.

1st Place Winner, Ioana Vallimarescu, Romania, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best 3D Art

2nd Place Winner, Margaret Chen, Michigan, USA, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best 3D Art

3rd Place Winner, Alexander Franco, Jersey City, NJ, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best 3D Art

Honorable Mention, Dilan Sendan, Turkey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best 3D Art

Honorable Mention, Elizabeth Manthey, Plymouth, Wisconsin, USA, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best 3D Art

Honorable Mention, Niamh Ni Iceadha, Ireland, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best 3D Art

Honorable Mention, Trisha Sayani, Dubai, UAE, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best 3D Art

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Best Typographic “Frogs Are Green”

1st Place Winner, Afreen Kapoor, India; 2nd Place Winner, Dhanayra Lara, MS #7, Jersey City, NJ, USA.

Honorable Mentions: Angel Sealtiel S. Munoz, Philippines; Pranav Vijay Chhatbar, India.

1st Place Winner, Afreen Kapoor, India, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best Typography

2nd Place Winner, Dhanayra Lara, MS #7, Jersey City, NJ, USA, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best Typography

Honorable Mention, Angel Sealtiel S. Munoz, Philippines, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best Typography

Honorable Mention, Pranav Vijay Chhatbar, India, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best Typography

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Best of Jersey City

1st Place Winner, Reshma Modi; 2nd Place Winner, Amir Shadkam; 3rd Place Winner, Rachel Shneberg; all from Jersey City, New Jersey, USA.

Honorable Mentions: Giancarlo Quesda; Nishat Poppy; Sarah Mongare; Shane Meledathu, from Jersey City, NJ.

1st Place Winner, Reshma Modi, New Jersey, USA, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best of Jersey City

2nd Place Winner, Amir Shadkam, New Jersey, USA, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best of Jersey City

3rd Place Winner, Rachel Shneberg, New Jersey, USA, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best of Jersey City

Honorable Mention, Giancarlo Quesda, New Jersey, USA, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best of Jersey City

Honorable Mention, Nishat Poppy, New Jersey, USA, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best of Jersey City

Honorable Mention, Sarah Mongare, New Jersey, USA, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best of Jersey City

Honorable Mention, Shane Meledathu, New Jersey, Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, Best of Jersey City

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– Susan Newman, founder, Frogs Are Green, Inc. A NJ nonprofit organization.

01/6/15

Winners of the 2014 Frogs in the Wild Photography Contest

Announcing the winners of the 2014 Frogs in the Wild Photography Contest hosted by Frogs Are Green!

I want to thank this year’s judges: Sigrid Shreeve, Christine Guhl, Megan Maloy, Sam Skolnik Mullane, Alyssa Bredin, Keith Gisser, and Andy Levine.

1st Place Winner: 2014 Frogs in the Wild by Wes Deyton of North Carolina.

2nd Place Winner: 2014 Frogs in the Wild, Beni Arisandi with “KONG,” Sumedang, West Java, Indonesia.

3rd Place Winner: 2014 Frogs in the Wild Golden Droplet Frog by Christian Spencer. Taken in Itatiaia National Park rio de Janerio Brasil. Brachycephalus ephippium, one of the smallest frogs in the world measuring 12mm makes signals with its arms to mark territory.

Honorable Mention: 2014 Frogs in the Wild, Frog by Matthew Pastick, Minnesota, USA.

Honorable Mention: 2014 Frogs in the Wild, Devin DePamphilis, age 13 with Seeing Green at Wildwood Park, Harrisburg, PA.

Honorable Mention: 2014 Frogs in the Wild, green and golden bell frog by Chad Beranek, Australia.

To see the 56 fabulous entries visit: 2014 Frogs in the Wild Photo Contest on Flickr.

– Susan Newman, founder and administrator of Frogs Are Green

12/28/14

Frog Photography and Frog Art from Around the World

The 14 judges are currently reviewing the entries submitted for the 2014 contests. There are so many incredible entries from across Jersey City, New Jersey, the United States and 32 countries around the world. The winners will be announced in January, 2015.

Here is the collected data for the 2014 Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest: 973 Entries

32 Countries entered the 2014 Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest

Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, England, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Japan, Latvia, Malaysia, Morocco, Philippines, Romania, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirate, and USA.

17 States from across the USA entered the 2014 Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest

Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

5 Cities in New Jersey entered the 2014 Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest

Hoboken, Jersey City, Montclair, Piscataway, and South Brunswick.

16 Schools in Jersey City and Hoboken entered the 2014 Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest

McNair Academic High School, PS #5, PS #23, MS #4, PS #3, PS #33, PS #28, MS #38, Golden Door Charter School, PS #25, PS #21, MS #7, Liberty High School, PS #31, Hoboken Catholic Academy, and the Hoboken Charter School.

Here is the collected data for the 2014 Frogs Are Green Photography Contests:

16 Countries entered the two 2014 Photography contests “Backyard Frogs” (34 entries) and “Frogs in the Wild” (56 entries)

Australia (NSW), Belize, Brazil, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, England, Germany, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Sri Lanka, and USA.

9 States in the USA entered the 2014 Frogs Are Green photography contests: “Backyard Frogs” and “Frogs in the Wild”

Arizona, Florida, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.

Below are the links to the 3 Flickr galleries, if you would like to see the imagery.

2014 Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest

2014 Backyard Frogs Photo Contest

2014 Frogs in the Wild Contest

Thank you so much for your participation and good luck to all who entered! We would love to hear from the teachers and students! Tell us what you learned about frogs and amphibians! Tell us about the art mediums and techniques you used. If you’d like to post a video to the Frogs Are Green Facebook wall, we’d love to hear from you!

– Susan Newman, founder, Frogs Are Green, Inc. – A New Jersey nonprofit organization

12/4/14

Building Reach, Near and Far

We know that if we build a web presence with the right SEO (search engine optimization) over time we will reach those who are searching for what we are offering.

But what if your target audience isn’t looking for what you’re doing? How can we reach them?

This is the 5th year of the Frogs Are Green Kids Art Contest, so naturally those who have entered in the past are aware and may enter again. In addition, some parents and kids in countries around the world may be watching what other countries are doing and then get into the action as well. In the past 5 years we have received thousands of entries from more than 27 countries! When people are looking for something specific on the web and the right SEO is in place, those pages are found.

For example, Hong Kong has entered many beautiful artworks over the past few years, but this year in addition to the entries from China, we received entries from Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia. Last year we received some amazing art from Estonia, and this year from England, Ireland, Denmark, and Romania. Information can spread to new areas when we consistently push it out there and when the public is actively looking for it and then shares it, pushing it even further.

But the question today is how do we reach the ones nearby?

The answer is by introducing people to real-time situations where they are learning new things. If we want children who live in urban areas to understand nature and why saving frogs is important, we need to bring them to the source, yes bring them to nature. How can we expect children who live in urban environments to care about wildlife when it is somewhat foreign to them? This is why many classrooms today have class pets. So children can be directly involved in the health and well-being of those animals. But there is nothing better than showing them the animals’ true habitat.

Last Spring, Frogs Are Green made a presentation to 60 first-graders at the Learning Community Charter School in Jersey City, showing them both frog art from around the world and a slideshow of some of the most unusual frogs. They learn about frogs and amphibians as part of their school curriculum and they already knew quite a bit and were very enthusiastic about the topic.

During 2014 we developed a new six-week curriculum, “Frogs, Amphibians and their Threatened Environment – Discovery and Expression through Art” which is available for download, under the education tab on our website.

During the summer and early fall, we had set up tables at quite a few community fairs and events so children could stop by, sit down and draw frogs with the art supplies we laid out. Children love to create and don’t need that much encouragement once engaged. They just need the right guidance from teachers and parents. We also know that children love animals. Many have pets at home, but it’s not the same as seeing those animals in nature.

If we want children to care about nature, we must show it to them, through field trips and when they see the real thing it will lead them to care what happens in the future.

What’s cool is that even in urban areas there are parks, such as our own Liberty State Park. Imagine the fantastic discovery students might have by seeing everything from frogs to birds, and more if they just went there with an educator.

We see a sharing cycle of teachers educating children, who bring that information home and tell their parents, who then share that with other parents, who share it with their kids and on to community leaders.

The key is getting those sparks of information and creativity started in the right places and making sure the people you want to reach are receiving it.

by Susan Newman, founder

11/30/14

Green Cyber Monday

This time of year most are busy running around collecting this and that for their loved ones. I want to take this opportunity to express my thanks for all the frog loving fans who have read, shared and posted photos, artworks and interesting news items.

The contest entries are flying in from all over the globe. Artworks have come in from: South Korea, Bahrain, Slovakia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Japan, Russian Federation, Morocco, England, Ireland, Australia, Denmark, Romania, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica and USA. There are just two weeks left to submit yours! The deadline is Dec. 15, 2014.

2014 Kids Art Contest hosted by Frogs Are Green
2014 Photo Contest hosted by Frogs Are Green

Frogs Are Green is a New Jersey nonprofit organization and we depend on the modest donations and sales from tee shirts, posters and calendars. Please purchase our NEW 2015 Frogs and Dragonflies calendar with exceptional photography by Wes Deyton, wildlife photographer in North Carolina, or one of our magnificent conservation posters showcasing collaborations from some of the most well known artists and photographers!

If you are looking for a winter project to do with your children, download the FREE “Frogs, Amphibians and their Threatened Environment – Discovery and Expression Through Art,” 6 week curriculum!

I also wish to mention that I am enrolled in NJ Learns (a partnership between The Cloud Institute and Sustainable Jersey, thanks to my advocate, Sustainable JC, and through this education on sustainability, I am seeing more clearly, new educational ways to reach children and the general public. Look for expanded offerings as we move into 2015!

Wishing you all a very happy holiday season!
– Susan Newman, founder, Frogs Are Green

04/27/14

Save The Frogs Day Event with Mayor Steven Fulop

We all have something we’re passionate about, and it’s not always easy to get others to share our enthusiasm, but yesterday, Jersey City came out to learn about frogs, amphibians and enjoy the Earth Day / Save The Frogs Day event.

As the event began, we set out all the delicious, healthy food (some came from vegan, organic, gluten-free baker Chef Camillo Sabella), the wine and beverages, and the day’s musical guests, The Gully Hubbards began to play. People started streaming in. Artists, nature-lovers, neighbors, parents and children (some who take Saturday morning art classes at the Distillery Gallery) and everybody would say how great the space was, the music sounded, and how amazing the art was.

At about 5 pm, a reporter from Jersey City 1 TV (JC1TV) arrived and interviewed me about Frogs Are Green, what the Green Dream is about, and why it’s so important to save frogs. Then Mayor Steven Fulop arrived and we took some photos, and talked together about frogs. He was quite informed on the topic, so the discussion was very good. Then the reporter captured the Mayor and I discussing frogs and why we must save them. The Mayor moved around the gallery looking at the art, talking with others and the children also. Then we moved to the back end of gallery along with the two curators, Kristin DeAngelis and Gabriel Pacheco and the Mayor spoke to the crowd about frogs and amphibians, and the three of us spoke as well. The Mayor gave us proclamations, and we gave the Mayor gifts. A painted flowerpot (with flowering plant) by one of the children who is enrolled in the Saturday classes at the gallery, a Green Dream t-shirt, and one of the most recent Earth Day posters from Frogs Are Green, illustrated by Sylvie Daigneault. It was so fantastic to see a crowd so into this.

Afterward, there were two environmental speakers, Michelle Anne Luebke, an instructor at CUNY and an environmentalist and Laura Skolar of the Jersey City Parks Coalition, who spoke. There were so many children at yesterday’s event, some who sat on the floor in a circle and were drawing with chalk and crayons. We did the drawing of the raffle contest and the winner was announced, but wasn’t there, so he will be notified. One lucky child receives a year of art classes at the gallery for free!

The overall harmony of the event was perfect. The people, music, food, and excitement with photographers and TV, made the event a thrill for me and everybody had a fabulous time. There will be many more photos to come (from the official photographer, Danny Chong) as well as video of course, but here are a few, so you share in the event’s success.

— Susan Newman, founder, Frogs Are Green

Susan Newman and Mayor Steven Fulop talk about saving frogs and their importance to our ecosystem.

The Gully Hubbards play at Green Dream for Save The Frogs day.

Gary Van Miert, Susan Newman, Dave Ace Case

Thomas Tyburski and John Crittenden at Green Dream.

Children gather to draw pictures, maybe of frogs!

Kristin DeAngelis, Susan Newman, Mayor Steven Fulop, Gabriel Pacheco at Green Dream in Jersey City.

Proclamation to Frogs Are Green and Distillery Gallery for Green Dream.

Jersey City 1 TV films, Frogs Are Green founder Susan Newman and Mayor Steven Fulop with Distillery Gallery curators, Kristin DeAngelis and Gabriel Pacheco.