The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Stillwater Publishing of Lionville, PA, this week announced the winners of their recent "Why I love My Pennsylvania State Park" essay contest.

The contest ran from August to October 31 and was open to children ages 8 to 12 who wrote 50-word-or-less essays about nature in their favorite Pennsylvania State Park. Prizes were awarded in five age categories: 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12, as well as a Grand Prize for the state.

Ashley Taylor Smith, age 8, of Levittown, PA won the Grand Prize for her essay about Tyler State Park in Newtown, PA. Ashley is a student at Walter Miller Elementary School in the Neshaminy School District.

The Grand Prize includes a set of the award-winning Take A Walk® Books for the essayist, a set for the Environmental Education Center at Tyler State Park (value $80.00) , and a pair of binoculars for the winner, compliments of Wildside Birding Tours of Exton, PA.

As part of the Grand Prize, Ashley will help lead a nature walk at her park guided by Jane Kirkland of Eagle, PA, author of Take A Walk® Books and Kevin Loughlin, naturalist, photographer, and President of Wildside Tours.

Ashley's essay, along with the other winners will appear at the Take A Walk® Books website. Ashley's essay reads as follows:

"The leaves and bees. The water and the trees. They're all a part of a day in the park. The birds in the sky and all of its peacefulness, Let's not forget all of the friendly hellos. It's mine and yours but best of all it's free."

The first place winners in each age category will receive a set of Take A Walk® books for themselves and a set for their park. All winners receive a certificate acknowledging their award. Other winners and the parks about which they wrote are:

· Age 8, Jacob Mast of Elizabethtown PA (Worlds End State Park);

· Age 9 (tie): Jackson Fuhrer of Halifax, PA (Colonel Denning State Park) and Kristina Zahan (Ridley Creek State Park);

· Age 10: John-Paul Heil of Camp Hill, PA (Colton Point State Park); and

· Age 11, Troy Bennett of Avis, PA (Bald Eagle State Park).

A special recognition prize was awarded for the age 12 category to Mrs. Kate Nekusa's sixth grade class of St. Marys Catholic Elementary School in St Marys, PA. Mrs. Nekusa turned the contest into a class assignment. The students wrote about many different Pennsylvania State Parks and for their efforts, author Kirkland has awarded the age 12 category prize to the entire class.

The school will receive a set of Take A Walk® Books for their library and Kirkland will visit the school in April to present her popular assembly program about nature.

For more information visit the Take A Walk® Books website, or the Pennsylvania State Parks website.

11/25/2005