Local Young Artists Take Center Stage in OdySea Aquarium’s 6th Annual Conservation Art Challenge

Multiple Valley Children Honored for Turning Recycled Materials into Wildlife-Inspired Masterpieces

SCOTTSDALE/SALT RIVER-PIMA-MARICOPA INDIAN COMMUNITY, AZ  — OdySea Aquarium is proud to recognize the talented winners of its 6th Annual Conservation Art Challenge. The annual program encourages Valley children to combine artistic creativity with a passion for protecting wildlife through imaginative artwork made entirely from recycled and repurposed materials.

Children aged 12 and under were challenged to create sculptures of endangered animal species using recycled materials while also researching their chosen animal and the conservation issues it faces. Entries were judged on both artistic creativity and the quality of each child’s research, highlighting a thoughtful understanding of wildlife and the importance of conservation.

Selected through a blind judging process conducted by OdySea Aquarium’s Conservation Committee, this year’s winners stood out among 300+ entries submitted from across the Valley. One winner, Sam Guerrero of Queen Creek, continues to build an impressive Conservation Art Challenge legacy, earning top honors once again as a returning champion after winning multiple previous competitions.

The 2026 Conservation Art Challenge Winners

Every featured species represented by this year’s winners appears on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species™, the world’s leading scientific assessment of extinction risk. The IUCN Red List helps scientists, governments, and conservation organizations prioritize efforts to protect vulnerable wildlife around the globe.

• Sam Guerrero, 9, of Queen Creek (returning champion) created a pair of Marvelous Spatuletail Hummingbirds using amber glass, plastic and cardboard. The species is classified as Endangered.
•  Lilly Horne, 9, of Mesa sewed a Vaquita, a porpoise found off the coast of Baja, California using a special t-shirt that belonged to her late grandmother. The species is classified as Critically Endangered.
• Audrey Pedersen, 8, of San Tan Valley created an Atlantic Goliath Grouper using cardboard, plastic, tape, paper and aluminum foil. The species is classified as Vulnerable.
• Avery Sagar, 11, of Scottsdale crafted a Hawksbill Sea Turtle from a McDonald’s nugget container, a plastic blueberry container, a prescription pill bottle, paper, bubble wrap and other recycled materials. The species is classified as Critically Endangered.

The winners and their immediate families were invited to OdySea Aquarium for a special celebration honoring the young artists and their outstanding achievements. The event included a featured appearance on a FOX 10 television news segment, remarks from members of OdySea Aquarium’s Conservation Committee, and one-of-a-kind keepsakes—original paintings created by OdySea’s own animal artists, including African penguins, otters, tropical birds, and cownose rays. As an unforgettable finale, each winner enjoyed an exclusive meet-and-greet with one of OdySea Aquarium’s endangered African penguins.

** Avery Sager was unable to attend the winners’ celebration alongside the other winners, but OdySea Aquarium welcomed him and his family on a separate day for a special recognition experience. During their visit, Avery helped feed cownose stingrays, observed a zebra shark training session, and received a one-of-a-kind painting created by one of OdySea Aquarium’s animal artists.

Jess Tammen, Manager of Conservation and Dive Operations and founder of the Conservation Art Challenge, said, “When children take the time to learn about an animal and the challenges it faces, they begin to understand the important role they can play in protecting wildlife. This contest encourages creativity while fostering curiosity, compassion, and a lifelong appreciation for conservation.”

Every Young Artist Was Celebrated

Every child who participated in the 2026 Conservation Art Challenge received a complimentary child’s admission ticket to OdySea Aquarium, giving them another opportunity to discover the incredible animals and conservation stories that inspired their creations.

Now in its sixth year, OdySea Aquarium’s Conservation Art Challenge continues to inspire young artists to think creatively about protecting the natural world. OdySea Aquarium congratulates this year’s winners and applauds every participant for using art to celebrate wildlife, raise awareness and help inspire the next generation of conservationists.

By Karin Gallo

Photo: OdySea Aquarium