MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that Delavan-Darien High School graduated senior Jaelyn Logterman is the winner of the 2026 Wisconsin State Park and Forest vehicle admission pass design contest.
The design, inspired by Logterman’s own adventures with her dog, depicts a beloved memory of friends enjoying time on the water.
“Ultimately, chasing him around throughout his adventures has helped keep my feet wet throughout my childhood,” Logterman said.
With more than 15,000 inland lakes, 43,000 miles of rivers and 659 miles of Great Lakes shoreline, Wisconsin offers plenty of water-based recreation opportunities.
The DNR-sponsored design contest is open to artwork submissions from high school-age students attending Wisconsin’s public, private or parochial schools or homeschools. The annual contest, now in its 35th year, received more than 150 submissions for the 2026 pass design.
The second-place winner is Adalynn Zahurance of Rice Lake High School, and the third-place recipient is Elizabeth Bornick of Princeton High School.
The 2026 Honorable Mentions are:
- Addison Strobel, Watertown High School
- Aubrey Musil, Rice Lake High School
- Declan Bednar, Rice Lake High School
- Ella Kanzelberger, Preble High School
- Evelyn Strimple, Catholic Central High School
- Kaitlyn Harrison, Hortonville High School
- Lily Baetz, Madison West High School
View previous years’ winning pass designs on the DNR website.
Buy Your 12-Month State Park Vehicle Admission Pass
Vehicle admission passes provide access to more than 60 state park, forest and recreation area properties across Wisconsin. A 12-month admission pass or a daily admission pass is required on all motor vehicles entering state parks and recreation areas. Some state forest and trail parking areas also require a vehicle pass.
A 12-month vehicle admission pass to Wisconsin state parks and forests is valid for 12 months from the time of purchase and costs $28 for Wisconsin residents and $50 for nonresidents. A senior citizen annual pass for $13 is available for Wisconsin residents aged 65 or older.
A family with more than one vehicle registered to the same household may purchase additional state park passes for $15.50 for residents and $32.50 for nonresidents. Additional vehicle passes will be punched for the same month as the original full-price pass, regardless of when in the year they are purchased.
The 12-month admission passes with the new 2026 design will go on sale Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. All passes purchased through the remainder of 2025 will feature the 2025 pass design; however, these passes will still be valid for a full 12 months. Passes purchased in November 2025 will expire on Nov. 30, 2026, and passes purchased in December 2025 will expire on Dec. 31, 2026.
Passes are available for purchase online, at state park system properties and at DNR service centers. Admission revenues fund Wisconsin State Park System operations.
More information on how to purchase vehicle admission passes and other frequently asked questions can be found on the DNR’s Vehicle Admission Passes webpage.
DNR Accepting Entries For 2027 State Park And Forest 12-Month Vehicle Admission Pass
The DNR is accepting artwork entries from high school students for the 2027 12-month Wisconsin state park and forest vehicle admission pass. Artwork entries should focus on outdoor recreation, animals or plants in Wisconsin.
“Each year the students really impress us with their creativity,” said Steve Schmelzer, Parks and Recreation Management Bureau Director. “The DNR has been hosting this contest for more than 30 years, and we still see something new each time.”
Materials for the 2027 pass design contest are now available, and students can submit entries through April 30, 2026.
Rules, submission guidelines, tips for a winning design and past winning designs are available on the DNR’s State Park Pass Design Contest webpage.
