In honor of the arrival of a new boat for the environmental education fleet of Pittsburgh Voyager, the organization is holding a “name that boat” and poster contest for students throughout Western Pennsylvania.

The contests are open to students in grades 4-12. Deadline for submissions is February 28.

“Name That Boat” asks students to create a one to three-word name for the new vessel, keeping its green design in mind.

“What a Green Boat Means To Me” challenges students to create an 8.5” x 11” poster that expresses creatively the design and mission of the new vessel.

The poster contest must be entered by mail, but students are able to enter the boat-naming competition online, with the help of a parent.

Winners will be announced this spring at a special April event featuring speaker Jean-Michel Cousteau, filmmaker and founder of the Oceans Futures Society.

Prizes in the contest include 90-minute Adventure Voyages for the winning students and their classmates, and the chance to be honorary captain or crew when the new vessel sails into the Port of Pittsburgh.

At 90 feet in length, the new boat has a capacity of up to 150 people, and has been engineered according to the principals of green, environmentally friendly construction and operations.

The new craft features bio-diesel generators to power electric propulsion systems, abundant use of natural light, and other features that help to conserve resources and minimize waste production.

Pittsburgh Voyager is a non-profit river education center operating from downtown Pittsburgh.

For contest entry information, visit the Pittsburgh Voyager Contests webpage.

2/3/2006