Natural sciences museum holds dinosaur illustration contest

Here's something to keep the kids busy this summer: The N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences is holding a Dinosaur Illustration Contest through Aug. 15.

Kids ages 2 to 18 from across the state can submit their best and most realistic drawing of a dinosaur in its natural surroundings for a chance to win a prize and have their drawing displayed in the Museum Store, according to a press release. 

Of course, you might know that the museum's latest traveling exhibit is Dinosaurs in Motion, which features 14  life-size, metal dinosaur skeletons that visitors can move with lever-and-pulley systems or remote controls. We're going to have a big event at the museum as part of the exhibit next Monday, July 15. So stay tuned for details later today! 

Back to the contest: Kids can use any medium they'd like - crayons to water color. 

The rules:  Drawings must be submitted on a standard 8.5 by 11 sheet of paper. The work must be their own; copied or traced drawings will not be considered, and drawings done with the help of an adult will be excluded from the contest. The drawings will be judged by Paleontology Lab Director Lindsay Zanno, Paleontology Lab Assistant Director Paul Brinkman, Assistant Art Director Lori Belk, and N.C. State Biological Illustration Professor Jennifer Landin. Winners will be announced on August 25.