Georgia Project WET 4220 International Pkwy Suite 101 Atlanta, GA 30354 404-675-6240 Email

Don't forget!

Annual deadline is FEBRUARY 15 Entries can be mailed late and will be entered into the next year's contest.

All about ROW
Each year, in affiliation with The Library of Congress Center for the Book, River of Words conducts 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.     

International River of Words

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. (See entry form.)

Students may enter on their own, or as part of a group (classroom, Girl Scout troop, 4-H, etc.). All entrants are receive acknowledgement in the form of a "Watershed Explorer" certificate. (See complete National rules.)

Please send all Georgia entries by February 15 to:

Poetry submissions are judged by River of 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.

Category I — Kindergarten-Grade 2
Category II — Grades 3-6
Category III — Grades 7-9
Category IV — Grades 10-12

Eight Grand Prize winners—four in poetry and four in art, in four different age categories—are chosen from the US entries.

Winners are announced each April at a gala event at the San Francisco Library. The Grand Prize and International winners win an all-expense paid trip to Washington, DC to attend the ROW Award Ceremony at The Library of Congress.

Following the International contest, Georgia Project WET selects state ROW winners.  In May a ceremony is held to honor the National Finalists and Winners, the State level winners, the Project WET Teacher of the Year, and the Project WET School of the Year. 

 

The ROW Journal, a full-color printed booklet, is produced to showcase Georgia honorees. The winning works are also reproduced to become part of a traveling exhibit, hosted by the Georgia Center for the Book, which moves to libraries throughout the state.  Another exhibit is also available for checkout to schools, nature centers, and other educational facilities.  All original artwork and poetry from Georgia participants is returned to the students.

 

Email for details about the exhibit.

Email to receive a ROW Teacher's Packet which includes the Row Journal,  Georgia Teacher's Guide, bookmarks and more.

Visit the Galleries of Georgia River of Words Winners by Year:

2000 2001	2002 2003 2004	2005 2006 2007	2008