Each year, in affiliation with The Library of Congress Center for the Book, Riverof Wordsconducts a free international poetry and art contest for youth on the theme of WATERSHEDS. The contest is designed to help youth explore the natural and cultural history of the place they live, and to express, through poetry and art, what they discover.
The contest is open to any child in the world, from 5-19 years of age. Older students must have not yet completed high school. There is no charge to enter.
Students may enter on their own, or as part of a group (classroom, Girl Scout troop, 4-H, etc.). All entrants receive acknowledgment in the form of a "Watershed Explorer" certificate.
Poetry submissions are judged by Riverof Words co-founders Robert Hass, who served as US Poet Laureate from 1995-1997, and writer Pamela Michael. Art entries are judged by children's book writer and illustrator, Thacher Hurd.
About 100 poems and artworks from both US and international entries are selected as finalists each year. All winners receive ribbons, books and/or art supplies, t-shirts and other prizes.
Eight Grand Prize winners—four in poetry and four in art, in four different age categories—are chosen from the US entries.
Category I — Kindergarten-Grade 2
Category II — Grades 3-6
Category III — Grades 7-9
Category IV — Grades 10-12
Winners are announced each April at a gala event at the San Francisco Library. The Grand Prize winners win an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC to attend the Riverof Words Award Ceremony at The Library of Congress.
Deadline for submissions is December 1, 2009
For more information and entry forms go to www.riverofwords.org (http://www.riverofwords.org/ ) IMPORTANT: On October 3, 2009, the Utah Center for the Book is hosting a one-day workshop in Salt Lake City with Pamela Michaels, Executive Director and co-founder of River of Words. This educator training is specially designed for classroom teachers, student teachers, 4-H, Scout leaders, librarians and others wishing to learn how to work together, often across disciplinary lines, utilizing a curriculum that integrates outdoor observation, investigation and journeying with core subjects like English, math, science and social studies, as well as the arts. To register contact:
Utah Center for the Book
Gail McCulloch
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
801-322-8165 For more information on Pamela Michaels:
http://www.riverofwords.org/about/staff.html For teacher resources:
http://www.riverofwords.org/educators/index.html
