On January 23, the Department of Health invited first through sixth grade students in Pennsylvania to enter the 2025 Lyme Disease Student Art Contest by creating a short video or poster focusing on the theme: “Protect. Check. Remove.”     Entries are due March 14.

Finalists will be notified by mail and will be invited to an award ceremony at the State Capitol in May.

In 2024, 29 winners were recognized; the top 12 winners’ artwork was included in a 2025 calendar.  

The annual contest helps students, scout troops, and community youth programs learn how to prevent Lyme disease by educating them about ticks, including where they live, how to prevent bites, and how to remove ticks that do bite.

Pennsylvania has one of the highest annual counts of Lyme disease cases in the nation, which further emphasizes the importance of teaching children about tick awareness and prevention measures.

Officials from the Departments of Health, Education, Environmental Protection, and Conservation and Natural Resources encourage young students to participate in the contest and help raise awareness about how Pennsylvanians can protect themselves from Lyme disease.

“We encourage all Pennsylvanians to be active, get outdoors, and enjoy nature as part of a healthy lifestyle. At the same time, it is important for people to take basic precautions to protect themselves from getting bitten by ticks and potentially exposed to Lyme and other tickborne diseases,” said Secretary of Health Dr. Debra Bogen. “Through the contest, we provide students information on how ticks transmit disease, steps to prevent tick bites, how to remove ticks if found on the body, and how to seek timely medical treatment when needed to protect against Lyme and other tickborne illnesses.”

“This art contest provides students with a creative way to combine their health and science knowledge with art to help raise awareness as tick season approaches,” said Interim Acting Secretary of Education Angela Fitterer. “Learning opportunities like this one empower young Pennsylvanians to understand the world around them, and I encourage educators across the Commonwealth to get their young learners involved.”

Ticks are usually found in shrubs, weeds, leaf litter, and tall grasses, but can be found anywhere there is grass.

“Protecting against ticks is essential to enjoying the many benefits of getting outdoors,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “I am grateful to our partners at the departments of Health, Education, and Environmental Protection for supporting tick awareness and prevention through this creative initiative, which is critical in helping young people to be more responsible outdoor users.”

"DEP monitors tick populations and the spread of tick-borne diseases such as Lyme disease," said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. "Since ticks carrying Lyme disease can be found in every county across Pennsylvania, it's inspiring to see young people taking an active role in raising awareness to help fight tick bites and prevent these illnesses."

When exploring Pennsylvania’s great outdoors, it is important residents take the proper steps to protect themselves from getting bitten such as covering exposed skin, wearing light colors to help detect ticks, and using an EPA-approved insect repellent.

 Use permethrin spray on shoes, clothes, and gear as an added protection before spending time outside.

After being outside, residents should check themselves, their children, and their pets thoroughly for ticks and remove any they find. Then, shower to help remove any ticks that may be crawling on the skin.

Residents can also throw their clothes in the dryer using high heat to help kill any ticks that might still be stuck to their clothes.  

For more information on preventing Lyme disease, visit the DOH’s Tickborne Diseases webpage.

Click Here for the Department of Health’s announcement.

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[Posted: January 23, 2025]

1/27/2025