DAP Contests
The Elks Drug Awareness Program offers three contests for children and teens to participate in. Each contest is an opportunity for young people to share their creativity and knowledge about drug awareness.
Teachers, parents, and youth leaders can utilize these contests as a tool to engage young people in learning about the dangers of drug abuse.
Each contest is an opportunity for young people to share their creativity and knowledge about drug abuse dangers through different mediums.
2026-2027 Theme
The theme for 2026-2027 is: “A Healthy Me Is Drug Free” Download Contest Forms
Entries Must Go Through Your State DAP Chairperson
Lodges do not submit entries directly to the National Contest. Every entry must be submitted to the Lodge’s State DAP Chairperson, who runs the contest at the District and State level and then forwards only the State’s winning entries to National.
Entries sent straight to the National contest addresses without going through a State Chairperson will not be considered for judging and are not eligible.
Entry Deadline
State Chairpersons must submit their State’s winning entries to the National Contest by April 1.
Winners will be announced at the Grand Lodge Convention.
Objectives
Section titled “Objectives”- Encourage children, schools, and parents to engage in the Elks Drug Awareness Program.
- Provide a platform for a State DAP to achieve National Recognition.
- Offer excellent publicity opportunities for Local Lodges & State Associations.
Primary Reasons for Contests
Section titled “Primary Reasons for Contests”- Posters contribute to the creation of the Elk’s Coloring Book.
- Essays feature in ENF publications and on our website.
- Videos, which showcase creativity and group participation, are displayed on our website.
Open to all students in grades 6 through 8. The contest is intended to create awareness through the written word.
Open to all students in grades 3 through 5. The contest is intended to create awareness through the visual arts.
Open to all students with categories of pre-high school & high school. The contest is intended create awareness through the visual arts and motion graphics
Submission Process
Section titled “Submission Process”Every entry must move through the same chain of custody before it can be considered for a National award:
- Student → Lodge: Students submit their poster, essay, or video to their local Elks Lodge.
- Lodge → State DAP Chairperson: The Lodge forwards its entries to the Lodge’s State DAP Chairperson.
- State Chairperson runs District & State judging: The State Chairperson organizes and judges the contest at the District level, then at the State level, selecting one winning entry per category (Poster, Essay, Pre-HS Video, HS Video).
- State Chairperson → National Contest: Only the State Chairperson submits the State’s winning entries to the National Contest, by April 1.
Direct Submissions Are Not Eligible
Individual entries mailed or sent directly to the National contest addresses—rather than through a State DAP Chairperson—will not be considered for judging and are not eligible to win.
Prizes
Section titled “Prizes”Prizes are provided to the state chairperson from the DAP directors.
The national winners for poster, essay, and up to 2 national video winners will each receive an Amazon gift card from the Drug Awareness Commission (value = $500).
The national poster winner will also be featured on the Coloring Book cover. The national essay winner will feature in the ENF Annual report and on promotional items like our comic book.
Winner Announcement
Section titled “Winner Announcement”Winners are announced at the Grand Lodge convention in July. Certificates and gift certificates will be mailed to State Chairpersons.
Winners
Section titled “Winners”View all past national winners in our Contest Winners Archive.