River of Words

Who
Students (and their teachers) in grades K-12

What
An international poetry and art competition for students on the theme of watersheds and the environment designed to help youth explore the natural and cultural history of the place they live, and to express what they discover in poetry and visual art. Each year Colorado Center for the Book, in affiliation with The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, implements River of Words in Colorado. The Center receives River of Words entries from the national office, administers the Colorado judging, and coordinates the Student Literary Awards for the winners in the spring.

Why
Colorado winners of River of Words are published in the annual Student Literary Awards Anthology and receive prizes from local businesses. River of Words winners are also published in the Colorado Foundation for Water Education publication, Headwaters. National winners of River of Words win a trip to Washington, D.C. with a parent or guardian and are recognized by the Library of Congress.

Where
Students throughout Colorado are encouraged to enter. The Colorado winners of River of Words winners are recognized each spring at the annual award ceremony, the Student Literary Awards.

How Much
All events are free to participate, enter, and win.

When
Entry deadline was December 1, 2009. The Student Literary Awards celebrating the Colorado winners of River of Words will be held in May of 2010.

Start Here
River of Words Video
River of Words Guidelines and Entry Form
Facilitator Entry Form
Group Entry Form
Individual Entry Form
Teaching the Poetry of Rivers Curriculum
2009 Student Literary Awards Press Release
2009 Student Literary Awards Anthology
2009 Student Literary Awards Postcard
2009 Student Literary Awards Poster
2008 Student Literary Awards Press Release
2008 River of Words National Winners from Colorado Press Release
2008 Student Literary Awards Anthology

For more information contact Jennifer Long, 303.894.7951 x21, Fax 303.864.9361, info@coloradohumanities.org.