Our Story

Conserve with Crayons started with a simple moment on Halloween night in 2025. While trick-or-treating downtown, our kids were handed a coloring contest sheet along with some candy from a local business. Our five-year-old son who absolutely loves coloring and crafts was thrilled. We told him it was a competition, and he took his time, carefully coloring every detail. Our three-year-old daughter, on the other hand, joyfully scribbled her masterpiece… and ended up winning for her age category (1–4). Our son didn’t win in his category (5–8), and although he was disappointed that his sister won a large squishmallow and a book, he immediately wanted to try again.

A few weeks later, we received another coloring sheet from a local bank, and once again our kids were buzzing with excitement. That’s when we became curious: Are there any national coloring contests out there? After searching, we realized there was almost nothing besides small contests held by shops, schools, and local businesses. Nothing big. Nothing recurring. Nothing that invited all kids to participate for a substantial prize.

As a grassland ecologist in South Dakota, I’m passionate about protecting ecosystems and inspiring the next generation. That’s when the idea hit: a free nationwide recurring coloring contest combining creativity with conservation.

Conserve with Crayons was born, a nationwide coloring contest where participants of all ages 0-18 express themselves, learn about nature, and compete for cash prizes. We are an organization that brings all conservation organizations, agencies, non-profits together to help spread valuable information about habitat, wildlife, and the outdoors to children through fun free coloring contests. Every entry supports our mission.

To make our mission more about kids and young adults a portion of proceeds from donations and sales go directly back to kids and conservation. As a fully donation-funded organization, we rely on your generosity, with funds supporting:

College scholarships in environmental science, wildlife biology, and conservation
Conservation schools and camps for hands-on ecology and sustainability education
Field trips to nature centers and reserves

Your support ensures the next generation grows up inspired, educated, and equipped to protect our natural resources.

Welcome to Conserve with Crayons.

Thank you for being part of this mission!

CEO - Luke Zilverberg

Importance of Conservation and the Next Generation

Learning about and coloring natural ecosystems, animals, and plants helps children build a meaningful connection to the world around them from an early age. These activities encourage curiosity, creativity, and appreciation for nature. By introducing environmental topics in a fun and engaging way, children begin to understand the value of living things and the importance of caring for our natural ecosystems. This early exposure lays the foundation for lifelong respect for nature and responsible environmental stewardship.