Childrens’ art and story contest celebrates “Champ” the Lake Champlain “Lake Monster.” The event is hosted by the authors of the bestselling book “Lucy & the Lake Monster.”
PORT HENRY, N.Y. — The hosts of ‘Lucy’s Champs For Champ,’ Kelly Tabor and Richard Rossi, today announced that the arts and research contest related to their bestselling book and upcoming film, “Lucy & the Lake Monster,” is open for submissions from now through the end of May, 2024.
The book, movie, and contest are all based on the search for “Champ” the legendary “Lake Monster” that hundreds of people have spotted in Lake Champlain. It is America’s version of Scotland’s Loch Ness Monster. The contest is not only limited to Lake Champlain’s local children but is open to children in every part of the world.
Public School Teacher of the Year Kelly Tabor, lead actress Emma Pearson who plays Lucy in the film, and Hollywood filmmaker Richard Rossi encourage young explorers from the Lake Champlain region of New York, Vermont, and all over the globe, to join ‘Lucy’s Champs For Champ.’
The contest is a research and art project for Loch Ness and cryptozoology enthusiasts to search, create, and learn as they search for Champ. All grade school-age children, kindergarten through 8th grade, who create and send their original art, songs, poems, photos, or stories about Champ before the end of the exploration period, are eligible.
Entrants are eligible to win prizes, including premiere screening tickets of the movie, a meet-and-greet with cast and crew in person or by Zoom, a Champ toy plush and a copy of the novel “Lucy & the Lake Monster.”
“Children from all around the world are participating in the contest,” said Tabor and Rossi. “Kids who live locally to Lake Champlain or who visit the Port Henry, NY area, can look for Champ in person, just like Lucy & Papa do in our story.”
The writer and filmmaker continued, “Lucy & the Lake Monster” brings us into the universe of 9-year-old Lucy Lago, who searches for Champ the Lake Monster. We encourage kids to send their art and pictures about the search and research of Champ.”
When submitting material, please provide the name of the student, their grade, school and teacher name, and the name, phone number, and email of their parent or guardian. Winning submissions chosen for prizes and exhibition will be sent a release form for a parent or guardian to sign on behalf of their child.
“Lucy and the Lake Monster” is about a 9-year-old orphan and her grandfather as they embark on a spiritual journey for a sea serpent in Lake Champlain, located in the heart of New York and Vermont’s Adirondack Mountains. They battle bullies and others who seek to exploit them. The book carries a strong anti-bullying message.
But “Lucy’s Champs For Champ’ isn’t just about sparking creativity – it also aims to foster cooperation and understanding between researchers of the Loch Ness monster in Scotland and Champ researchers in Lake Champlain.
“By coming together and sharing knowledge and insights, researchers in both the Lake Champlain region and Loch Ness hope to uncover the truth behind these legendary creatures,” Richard Rossi said. Rossi is co-author of the book and director of the upcoming film “Lucy & the Lake Monster.”
“The contest celebrates Champ’s “cousin,” the Loch Ness Monster and goodwill between American and Scottish explorers,” Tabor added.
The discussion of Champ has made its way into both theological and scientific discussions. The Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky has a new “Dragons” exhibit featuring Champ and postulates legendary lake creatures like Champ and Nessie may be described in the Book of Job.
“Another aspect to the “Lucy & the Lake Monster” book series is its underlying allegorical connections to the search for God, much like the work of C.S. Lewis,” Tracy Morton, liaison for the Christian Homeschoolers Association said.
“Just as Champ is a mysterious and elusive figure, so too is the search for God often shrouded in mystery and wonder. By exploring the biblical and religious parallels within the Champ legend, children are encouraged to embark on a spiritual journey of discovery.”
“We believe that Champ is more than just a mythical creature – it is a symbol of our quest for meaning and purpose in life,” says parochial school teacher Sarah Phillips. “By bringing together children from around the world to explore Champ through a spiritual lens, we hope to inspire a sense of wonder and awe in the next generation.”
“Lucy and the Lake Monster” is available on Amazon.com in paperback, hard copy, Kindle and wherever books are sold.
For more information on ‘Lucy’s Champs For Champ’ visit: lucyandthelakemonster.com/lucy-s-champs
Submissions should be sent to the filmmaker, [email protected]
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