View 2025 Contest Submissions

THE VOTES ARE IN!

First Place

Impossible Island

Claire J. of Brunswick
Brunswick Jr. High – 6th Grade.
See larger at https://oshermaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25.133.jpg

Second Place

Lemur Islands

Thomas R. of Gorham
Narragansett Elementary – 4th Grade.
See larger at https://oshermaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25.119.jpg

Third Place

Heart Island

Alice G. of Brunswick
Brunswick Jr. High – 6th Grade.
See larger at https://oshermaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25.112.jpg

Judges’ Choice for 6th Grade

Crumberland

Cody L. of Brunswick
Brunswick Jr. High – 6th Grade.
See larger at https://oshermaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25.178.jpg

Judges’ Choice for 5th Grade

Isle of Friendship

Vivien Q. of Yarmouth
Yarmouth Elementary – 5th Grade.
See larger at https://oshermaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25.054.jpg

Judges’ Choice for 4th Grade

Path of a Penny

Foster B. of Montville
Homeschool – 4th Grade.
See larger at https://oshermaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25.328.jpg

Top Twelve

The Forgotten Lands

Eva G. of Falmouth
Falmouth Elementary School – 5th Grade.
See larger at https://oshermaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25.182.jpg

Top Twelve

Ghost Land

Emma R. of Old Town
Old Town Elementary School – 4th Grade.
See larger at https://oshermaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25.179.jpg

Top Twelve

Songbird Island

Mallory D. of York
York Middle School – 6th Grade.
See larger at https://oshermaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25.263.jpg

Top Twelve

Destiny Island

Jana A. of Gorham
Great Falls Elementary – 4th Grade.
See larger at https://oshermaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25.219.jpg

Top Twelve

Earth’s Geomagnetic Field

Eliana H. of Falmouth
Falmouth Elementary School – 5th Grade.
See larger at https://oshermaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25.233.jpg

Top Twelve

The Isle of Virago

Frances S. of Yarmouth
Yarmouth Elementary – 5th Grade.
See larger at https://oshermaps.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/25.058.jpg

Honorable Mentions

Osher Map Library and Smith Center for Cartographic Education Mapmaking Contest!

Inviting all Maine 4th, 5th, 6th Graders…

…to enter our Illustrated Mapmaking Contest for the chance to win a $1,000 first prize ($500 for you, $500 for your class)! Prizes will also be awarded for second and third places, as well as “Best in Grade.”

Important Dates:

• Tuesday, April 29, 2025 – maps submitted by mail should be postmarked by this date.
• Thursday, May 1, 2025 – digital submissions must be submitted by this date (if dropping off in person, do so by 4:00pm of this date).
• Thursday, May 15, 2025 – 12 finalists announced, online voting begins at 4:00pm.
• Thursday, May 22, 2025 – online voting ends at 4:00pm, and winner is revealed the next day!

*For Teachers: you may schedule a free mapmaking workshop during school hours for your students by form or by email.

Important Things to Know:

• Your map must be flat (2-dimensional) and no larger than 11×17 inches. Beware: A lot of construction paper is 18×12 inches, which is too large for our scanner.
• Your map may be created on or with a computer as long as the work is all yours.
• If you submit by mail, please make a photocopy if you would like to keep one, because the maps will not be mailed back. You may also submit a copy and keep the original, but your photocopy must be high-quality. If the quality of the photocopy isn’t good, it may hurt your chances of getting chosen for the Top Twelve.
• If you choose to submit a scan or photo of your map by form (oshermaps.org/mapmaker-form), the scan/photo must be high-quality and appropriately cropped. Please double check that scans have the entire map included before uploading. Scans are preferred over photographs. If you choose to submit a photograph, please ensure that you have even lighting and that the lens axis is exactly perpendicular to the map, otherwise the map will be distorted. If you do not have a scanner at home, but want to submit a scan, you can scan your map at Staples or FedEx for a small cost ($0.49). File extension .jpg is preferred. Please avoid .pdf as some programs try to auto-recognize text, which can distort handwritten labels.
• Your map should be original, creative, and unassisted.
• Your map may depict any real or imaginary place, but should be illustrated (in other words, use pictures).
• Your completed Entry Release Form should be taped to the back side of the map.
• If you are home-schooled, include the name of the public library that you use the most on your entry release form.
• Still have questions? Email K-12 Outreach Coordinator, Renee Keul, at renee.keul@maine.edu.

How to Submit Your Map:

Option 1 (preferred): Mail your map and Entry Release Form to:
     Osher Map Library & Smith Center for Cartographic Education
     (Attn: Mapmaking Contest)
     P.O. Box 9301
     Portland, Maine 04104

Option 2: upload a high quality scan/photo and submission information at oshermaps.org/mapmaker-form. Please note that the scan must be high-quality and appropriately cropped. Please double-check your scan before emailing. JPG is preferred. PDF not accepted. If you submit a photograph rather than a scan, please make sure you have even lighting and that the lens axis is exactly perpendicular to the map, otherwise the map will be distorted.

Frequently Asked Questions:

 
Q.      Does my map have to be of a real place?
A.      No, it can be a map of a real place or someplace or something completely imaginary! If you’re looking for inspiration or ideas, check out our Map Idea Generator.

Q.      Can I work with another student to make my map?
A.      Sorry, no. All the work needs to be your own!

Q.      How are maps judged?
A.      Every year, we bring together an independent panel of educators, artists, and cartographers to help OML staff with the judging of our annual mapmaking contest. All submissions are reviewed by the panel, and after extensive discussion, the panel selects 12 finalists to go on to the online community voting round. Maps are judged blindly; judges do not see names or schools. This year, because we have maps being sent in by 4th, 5th, and 6th Graders, we have a new prize category: “Best in Grade.” The three “Best in Grade” maps will be selected by the judging panel. It is possible that a map selected as “Best in Grade” will not be among the Top Twelve Finalists.

Q.      Which will be more likely to win: maps made on computers or hand-drawn maps?
A.      Remember that the final winner will be chosen by online voting. However, the 12 finalists will be chosen by committee based on originality (creativity and uniqueness) and aesthetics (how nice they look). Maps made on the computer can be more mathematically precise, but that will not matter for this contest. Use whatever method allows you to create the most unique map you can!

Q.      Can I use any art material to make my map, so long as it is flat?
A.      You can use any standard art medium, but if you use something that might by messy, such as chalk pastels, you need to spray it with fixative. We will be scanning the finalist maps for online voting, and we can’t risk damaging our scanner!

Q.      Can I put printed images on a hand-drawn map?
A.      You can create images on the computer, print them off, and paste them on your map if you would like. However, if you’re using images you get online, a lot of that is protected by copyright laws, and we could theoretically get in trouble for displaying it on our website. For that reason, all of the illustrations should be your own.

Q.      When you say that my map can be created on a computer, are you talking about a certain program?
A.      There are multiple programs that can be used to design maps, but we were specifically thinking of software like Adobe Photoshop or GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program). GIMP is free online (www.gimp.org), but it can be pretty tricky to use at first. If you want to try it, you will probably need to spend a few hours with the tutorials (www.gimp.org/tutorials). Pixlr.com is also a good program with great tutorials, and it requires no downloads.

Q.      Can an illustrated map use words?
A.      Yes! In fact, most illustrated maps DO use words.

See Entries from 2025
See Entries from 2024
See Entries from 2023
See Entries from 2022
See Entries from 2021
See Entries from 2020
See Entries from 2019
See Entries from 2018
See Entries from 2017
See Entries from 2016

Questions? Email K-12 Outreach Coordinator, Renee Keul, at renee.keul@maine.edu.