“River of Words” Promoting Environmental Literacy through the Arts and Cultural Exchange

1. “River of Words” Promoting Environmental Literacy through the Arts and Cultural Exchange 2010 FinalistNutchanan Ratchakul, age 10Bangkok, ThailandDemonstration School (Primary)Teacher: Pichai Niyomtham

2. “River of Words” • River of Words is a network of teachers, parents, grandparents, troop leaders and others in the United States -- and the world who are committed to teaching the art and poetry of place to young people. • River of Words has been inspiring educators and their students for over seventeen years with an innovative blend of science and the arts. Shyann Caliph, 10, Onalaska Jhee-Young, Shin ,17, Bothell

3. Through this contest youth from around the world are encouraged to learn new ways to explore and “connect” with their own backyards, schoolyards, neighborhoods, parks, watershed and other wild places. Then express and “create” works of art and/or poetry inspired by what they have learned, felt and observed.

4. Kindergarten through grade twelve youth are invited to enter the poetry and art contest. The deadline for submitting entries to the international contest is December 1.

5. Celebrate! About 100 poems and art work from both U.S. 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 2Category II — Grades 3-6Category III — Grades 7-9Category IV — Grades 10-12

6. Grand prize winners of the 2013 River of Words contest will win a trip to San Francisco for the April 21st Youth Creativity Awards at the San Francisco Public Library. All winners and finalists will be invited to the May 7th Library of Congress Youth Creativity Awards in Washington, DC.

7. Grand prize winners of the 2013 River of Words contest will win a trip to San Francisco for the April 21st Youth Creativity Awards at the San Francisco Public Library. All winners and finalists will be invited to the May 7th Library of Congress Youth Creativity Awards in Washington, DC.

8. Generally, each year, more than 1,000 art and poetry entries from WA State students are submitted into the international ROW contest. Moon Mysterious Opal Over onyx Night Sam Long, 8th Grade Rochester Middle School Teacher: Martin Woodruff International River of Words “Autumn Drops” Annie Miller, age 8, Rochester, WA

9. For entry forms, guidelines, visit the “River of Words” Web site at: www.stmarys-ca.edu/center-for-environmental-literacy/river-of-words and/or tnl.esd113.org/cbec

10. All non ROW International grand prize or finalists from Washington State are returned to the ESD 113/Chehalis Basin Education Consortium and entered in our regional “Words and Images from the Watershed: Washington’s River of Words” contest. Moving Life Taylor Salazar, 4th Grade Simpson Elementary School Teacher: Julie Aldrich 3rd Place Category II

11. Celebrate! All WA State ROW entrants receive certificates of appreciation. Winners will receive art supplies, books and other prizes. ROW winners will also be recognized on April 26, 2013 in a special ceremony at the WA State Dept. of Ecology headquarters. Winning entries will be featured in ROW publications.

12. International 2012 ROW Poetry Winners

13. An Elk’s Home 2012 National Finalist An Elk’s Home Deep dark forestWhere streams startOld trees live hereThe scent of pine fills the airBig strong bullThe bull walksTwigs snapA mud wallowRack thick and wideFur tough like leatherThe fog falls inThis is an elk’s home Hayden Williams, age 8Rochester, WashingtonGrand Mound Elementary School

14. Pickleweed Grows and Ducklings Fly 2012 National Finalist Pickleweed Grows and Ducklings Fly In California beautiful landscapes are nothing new—Redwood trees, rose gardens, and silky sands—But the real beauty lies in the sloughsAnd the murky waters of the Baylands. There is a serenity here today.Under the deep azure skyIn the beauty of the bayWhere pickleweed grows and ducklings fly. The wind caresses the golden grassThat grows along the riverbanksWhere birds chirp a daily massStirring noise from amongst their ranks. With my back against a palm tree tallI breathe in the sweet and salty airAnd for all my trying can’t recallA place more serene or a place more fair. Jessica Feinberg, age 14Palo Alto, CaliforniaGirl Scouts Nor Cal Troop 60656Girl Scout Leader: Susan Mittmann

15. The Changing River 2012 Grand Prize Category II (Grades 3-6) The Changing River River silver howit glitters in the night.The river is the sun when themorning comes. It is time going slow andwaiting to move again. River silver howit slithers in the night. Xavier Mendoza, age 9Lancaster, PennsylvaniaBurrowes Elementary School

16. Creek 2012 National Finalist Creek Gurgling and splashingShimmering and flashingIt runs and dancesWalks and prancesIt playfully flowsAnd tickles my toesIt’s cold and clearReflects like a mirrorAs it swirls around rocksIt gurgles and talksSitting by the creekI feel it playing around my feet. Alicia Buchter, age 10Santa Cruz, CaliforniaHappy Valley Elementary SchoolTeacher: Lynn Guenther

17. The Guards 2012 Grand PrizeCategory I(Kindergarten-2nd grade) The Guards The sun guards the daytimetreasure,while the moon stands watchover heaven’s darkness.The stars help the moonuntil the puffy whiteclouds come back. Blakely Berryhill, age 7Vestavia Hills, Alabama

18. River Be 2012 National Finalist River Be River be riverBe chillBe freeBe flowGo!ErodeBe changeNo exchangeMoving forwardNo looking backPast is goneSwim along toThis future songFreeze!Thrown to my kneesNow I believeThis is meClear asThe water I seeThisIsMe. River be riverAnd river be me Jill Mitchell, age 18Lafayette, ColoradoPeak to Peak Charter SchoolTeacher: Kristie Letter

19. A Peaceful? Day in the Woods 2012 National Finalist A Peaceful? Day in the Woods As the squirrel pawsThe snowy groundSearching for hidden acornsThe fox plansHis next move Max Schindel, age 12New York, New York

20. 2012 National Finalist Damaged Autumn There was a hurricane in mid Augustand that is where the disease hid itself,in elaborate shrouds, seasonal fog,monsoon after monsoon untilwe almost believed there was neverand sickness to begin with. How is it that the watercolorsfade and dilute with the cinnamon breathof half-heaviness inside Madison’sOctober afternoons, where is thetransition through bareness,that in-between which heaves thenpants in desire(the fiercest of human weeks) whyis our earth not purging itsdyes, its burnt orange skin, lemon peels,kaleidoscope song, broken apple-sun,its color, can it hear that the peopleneed sacrifice now and not later. Cathy Guo, age 15Madison, Connecticut

21. Desert Water 2012 National Finalist Desert Water Desert water is silent.It is far, far, away from my houseIt is waiting quietlyFor me to visit. Eli Chavez, age 6Windsor, ColoradoTozer Primary SchoolTeacher: Linda Orlich

22. The Waters 2012 National Finalist The Waters The waters flee the shore in Sendai, Japan.The waters rise over the city in Sendai, Japan.The waters roll into the buildings flooding the streets.The waters roar crashing boats against cars,cars against buildings. The waters tower over the housesas the waters break through like a cracked dam.The waters flow far away from the sea, far away. The waters howl back into the oceantaking everything with them.The waters wipe the last of our city.The waters destroy everything but our hope. The waters flee the shore in Sendai, Japan.The waters rise over the city in Sendai, Japan. Matthew Yamamoto, age 11San Francisco, CaliforniaMonroe Elementary School / Poetry Inside OutTeacher: Tehmina Khan

23. Detached 2012 National Finalist Detached It’s just another Japanese mapleIn just another backyardBut behind the curtain of spindly, nearly-violet leavesThe ethereal thrivesAn alluring earthy scentSettles near the dependable trunkLulling the velvety shadows to sleepBut as they slumberSoft molten droplets of sunlightTimidly slip through the silky fabricOf branches and leavesDappling this separate world Kristy Carpenter, age 13Seattle, WashingtonLakeside Middle SchoolTeacher: Alicia Hokanson

24. 2010 and 2012 Astounding Art! Grand Prize Winners and Finalists from around the world.

25. “Born to be Wild” Alison, age 15, CA “Fish” Jerrika, age 15, the Philippines

26. “Fishing with My Dad” Morgan, age 13, Alabama

27. “Whitewolf by the River” Jason, age 9, Georgia

28. “Harmony” 2010 FinalistLucy Xu, age 17Lilburn, GeorgiaShijun Art StudioTeacher: Shijun Munns

29. Gone Fish’ Jessica, age 17, CA

30. Rohullah Hassani, age 16 Robullah is an Afgan living in a refuge camp in Pakistan.

31. Winning Art from our 2012 WA State ROW Contest

32. “Sister Shrooms” Natalie Sanchez, 8th Grade, Rochester Middle School Teacher: Martin Woodruff 1st Place Category III WA

33. “Robin Nest “ Mylina Parker, 4th Grade Simpson Elementary School Teacher: Cori Plato 1st Place Category II WA State

34. “Lone Wolf” Zoe Johnson, 7th Grade Oakville Middle School Teacher: Kristen Maring 4th Place Category III Chehalis

35. “Waiting for the Freeze” Leela Berman, 5th Grade Seattle, WA 4th Place Category II WA

36. 4 Seasons Vivian Morales, 7th Grade McCleary School Teacher: Stephanie Parson 4th Place Category III WA

37. Winning Poetry from our 2012 WA ROW Contest

38. A New Day Night falls in November, A blistering barrage of brutal black, Bringing with it, Sheer, empty cold, And the warm smell of wintry charcoal smoke. A distant murder of crows, Cawing and cackling, Flutters up from bare branches, Like vultures, Leaving a flesh-stripped carcass, Delighted, Carrying the lightless tendrils of night, · On their black tipped, Feathers. I look into the distant horizon, As the last drop, Of glittering, glowing, golden, Sunlight, Lights the tip of Mt. Rainier, And bursts across the forested peninsula, Spilling across the estuaries, A lighthouse, In those last moments, A fleeting dream. The crows have gone, And the sun is gone, It is night, cold and full. But as I look, I think, “Well, A new day has begun.” Lucas Du, 7th Grade Lakeside Middle School Teacher: Andrew Law 1st Place Category III WA

39. Bird's Song Listen to the bird's song chirping through the air I just wish I could fly just once. Listen to the bird's song. Jacob Fink, 4th Grade “Bird’s Song” Washington Elementary School Teacher: Joe Mano Honorable Mention Category II WA

40. I Frolic I frolic. The forest is green with mystery. I feel wet, cold and euphoric, But it warms my heart. I adventure as the water trickles. I find companionship in the woods. Molly Spiller, 12th Grade “I Frolic” Olympia High School Teacher: Heidi Kirk 1st Place Category IV WA

41. Nature's Worth I enjoyed the natural pull towards the trees. Nature is so worth my time. I love this farm. I could feel the moisturized grass. And smell the sweet autumn air. And most of all, I was free to look at and observe nature. I could hear the birds chirping, I could taste the sweet oxygen. I can see the dark clouds rolling in. But I can also feel the exquisite sun pushing through it. I can see the glorious autumn colors sparkle, I can see the great evergreen towering over me. This is nature's worth. Gavin Elliott, 5th Grade “Nature’s Worth” Onalaska Elementary School Teacher: Cheryl Smaciarz Honorable Mention Category II WA

42. THE OCEAN  The Ocean Massive, rolling, sweeping expanses Covered with islands, small footholds of civilization The ocean Ever watchful, aware of all from the smallest fish to the biggest whale The ocean Peaceful, full of natural creatures and life Those on land looked out in wonder Then men came Ships were built and cleaved the waters The saw, the clang of swords and roar of canon The ocean Calm and warm or cold and furious like the storm racked waters south of Cape Horn The ocean Powerful, watchful, beautiful The ocean Cylas Belknap, 7th Grade “Ocean” Rochester Middle School Teacher: Pat Mott 3rd Place Category III Chehalis

43. Fall Fall Yesterday, I wish I was still in the forest Hearing the crunching when I walk along the ground Hearing the swaying branches as it picks up a rhythm I hear a leaf while it crashes to the ground I’m sitting on a log waiting for fall to appear While I wait, I see a cow yonder in the meadow grazing On the grass. Stephen Sheets, 8th Grade “Fall” Oakville Middle School Teacher: Kristen Marring Honorable Mention Category II WA

44. Ocean I smell the salty air and hear the roaring of the tide coming in, and feel the wind hit my face. I stare at the cool mist gleaming in the sun. I gaze over the tide pools on the beach and all the colorful sea stars like a rainbow under the water. As the sunset appears and turns the sky yellow, orange and red. The moon appears shining its light and making a brilliant picture on the water. Micah Schlueter, 6th Grade “Ocean” Adna Middle School Teacher: Amy Dunnagan Honorable Mention Category II Chehalis

45. Want to get involved in ROW? Gather up your children, grandchildren, neighborhood kids, and put on those boots, rain gear and go outside!

46. Fall is an amazing time to be outside!

47. Venture out to McLane or Kennedy Creek and experience the return of Chum Salmon!

48. Head out to the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge and walk the new boardwalk trail over the restored estuary!

49. Go hiking and exploring in one of our local state parks like Rainbow Falls, Millersylvania, or Lake Sylvia!

50. As a family activity, plant a tree in your yard or join your local stream team and plant a tree along a local stream! You may make some unexpected discoveries!