If you’ve ever been inspired by the rolling Loess Hills, a peaceful paddle on the river, or a crisp winter day on the slopes—this is your chance to turn that inspiration into something wearable. Pottawattamie Conservation is calling on artists of all ages and skill levels to submit original designs for the 2026 County Park T-Shirt Design Contest. The winning artwork will be featured on official apparel and merchandise, with proceeds supporting local conservation efforts and park improvements.
What to Design
Your design should celebrate the beauty and adventure found in Pottawattamie County parks. You can draw inspiration from one—or several—of these local favorites: Arrowhead Park, Botna Bend Park, Hitchcock Nature Center, Crescent Hill at Hitchcock, Narrows River Park, and Olde Town Park.
Designs can reflect a wide range of outdoor themes, including hiking trails, camping adventures, wildlife like bison and elk, fishing and paddling activities, the iconic Loess Hills landscape, or winter recreation like skiing, snowboarding, and sledding—whatever captures the spirit of these parks best.
What You Could Win
Winning artists will receive an annual park membership, a certificate for a one-night cabin or cottage stay, and a lift ticket for the 2026–2027 ski season. In addition, winners will be recognized across Pottawattamie Conservation’s social media, website, and e-newsletter, and will receive a t-shirt featuring their winning design.
Design Guidelines
Designs must not exceed 11” wide by 12” high and must be completely original, meaning no copyrighted material can be included. Submissions can be created digitally using platforms like Illustrator or Canva, or shared as a conceptual idea with a descriptive explanation and sketch. Preferred file formats include vector files such as EPS or SVG, though high-resolution PDFs or JPGs are also accepted. Designs should be versatile enough to appear on a variety of merchandise, including shirts, hoodies, tote bags, hats, and stickers.
All entries must be submitted via email by 11:59 PM on April 30, 2026 to [email protected]. Email subject lines should follow this format: “2026 T-shirt Design Contest + Your Name + Design Title.” Submissions must also include your name, mailing address, and telephone number.
Important Dates
- April 30, 2026: Submission deadline
- May 17, 2026: Winners announced
- Late May 2026: Apparel available online
- Summer 2026: Available at Hitchcock Nature Center
- Winter 2026–27: Available at Crescent Hill ski lodge
Why It Matters
Every purchase of contest merchandise helps fund conservation projects, improve park amenities, and preserve the natural beauty that makes Pottawattamie County such a special place to explore. So whether you’re a seasoned designer, a student artist, or just someone who loves the outdoors—this is your chance to leave your mark on the parks you love. Start sketching—your design could be the one everyone’s wearing this year.
