October 23, 1998
Contact:
Contact: Craig D'Ooge (202) 707-9189
"River of Words" Poetry and Art Contest for 1999 Announced
Former U.S. Poet Laureate (1995-97) Robert Hass, the
Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, and the
International Rivers Network have announced the procedures
and deadlines for the fourth annual "River of Words"
environmental poetry and art contest for children. Open to
children from kindergarten through the 12th grade, the
contest is free for young poets and artists from 5 to 19
years of age. The theme is "watersheds." One international
winner plus eight national grand prize winners and their
parents will win trips to Washington and will be honored
during a program at the Library of Congress on May 4, 1999.
The deadline for submissions is Feb. 15, 1999. A panel
of judges, headed by Mr. Hass, will choose the winners.
Last year, thousands of children from 44 states and 10
countries submitted poems and artwork about their natural
surroundings.
"The River of Words Project strives to give children a
sense of place and belonging," said project co-founder Mr.
Hass. "We encourage children to explore their
neighborhoods, schoolyards, creeks, and imaginations," added
project director and co-founder Pamela Michael. Using an
innovative, multidisciplinary curriculum developed by River
of Words -- called Watershed Explorer -- that combines art,
science, and language, students gain an understanding of
their ecosystems, culture, and history. Many of the state
centers affiliated with the Center for the Book in the
Library of Congress are "River of Words" participants.
For contest entry forms and guidelines, contact River
of Words, P.O. Box 4000-J, Berkeley, CA 94704, telephone
(510) 433-7020, fax (510) 848-1008, e-mail: row@irn.org,
internet: www.irn.org. The 50-page River of Words Teacher's
Guide is available from the same source for $6, including
postage and handling.
# # #
PR 98-173
10/23/98
ISSN 0731-3527