River of Words® (ROW) is a program of The Center for Environmental Literacy and a part of the
Kalmanovitz School of Education. Acknowledged pioneers in the field of place-based education, River of
Words has been inspiring educators and their students for over seventeen years with an innovative
blend of science and the arts.
River of Words is its own watershed: a linked network of people throughout the United States and the world
who are committed to teaching the art and poetry of place to young people. Since 1995, River of Words has
encouraged young people to explore and savor the watersheds where they live and trained educators to guide
them with inspiration and passion. Through professional development and other educational services,
traveling exhibits, publications and community programs, ROW reaches thousands of educators and young
people around the world.
“Following the lead of Justice Hobbs, who was in our classroom twice to share his passion for water
conservation and his preference for documenting his insights in poetry, and studying the work that had been
previously published in a River of Words anthology, the children in our class wrote poems and created the
artwork submitted to this contest toward the end of the Water in the West unit. We first mailed the entries to
St. Mary’s College in California, and then they were sent back to Colorado for judging. The winners were
announced this week as you can see in the content below.” Gay and Kim, teachers in PGK
Poetry
Category 1 (K-3rd grade)
1st place: Willia G., “Lazy River”
2nd: Bridget B., “A Walk in the Moonlight”
3rd: Quinn L., “The River”
Honorable Mention: Elan S., “Ropes of the
Earth”
Category 2 (4th-6th grade)
2nd: Isaac B., “Wild River”
3rd: Elliott C., “Lazy River”
Honorable Mention: Ryan H., “The Purple
Tops”
Art
Category 1 (K-3rd grade)
1st Place: Willa G., “Fish of Life”
2nd: Almas E., “Journey of Water”
Category 2 (4th-6th grade)
1st Place: Isaac B., “The River's Glory”
2nd: Mia F., “Waterfall”
3rd: Blaine A., The River
Mia's Waterfall was chosen to adorn the materials for our Student Literary Awards this year,
which includes the cover of the anthology, the postcard invitation, and the program for the
celebration.