APPLE RIVER - Teachers and students have until Oct. 20 to enter the Bald Eagle Essay Contest or the Nature Art Contest sponsored by the Eagle Nature Foundation, Apple River, as part of the Fall Eagle Festival on Nov. 1 at the Galena Convention Center. Contests are open to students in all schools within 150 miles of Galena. Each contest has a senior high school division and a junior high school division. Each school is limited to two entries in each contest in each division. There is no charge to enter either contest. All entries in both contests will be prejudged on the Oct. 25 weekend to determine four finalists in each division. All finalists in each division and each contest will receive a T-shirt to wear on Nov. 1 during Eagle Fest.

The essays are to be 500 words or less and titled "Should Bald Eagle Habitat be Preserved?" To be eligible for one of the finalist prizes the students must orally present their essay for final judging at 1 p.m. during Eagle Fest.

The school art contest is open to any nature art using a crayon, pencil or watercolor medium . For more information, contact Terrence Ingram at the Eagle Nature Foundation, (815) 594-2306.