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.

ROW was co-founded in 1995 by writer and activist Pamela Michael and then-US Poet Laureate (and SMC alumnus) Robert Hass. One of the program’s most noteworthy events, conducted in affiliation with The Library of Congress Center for the Book, is a free, annual international poetry and art contest for children in kindergarten through twelfth grade. ROW, as a program of Saint Mary's College of California, has made its collection of children's art - the largest in the world - available through the Saint Mary's Museum of Art for exhibit and scholarly research. There are many opportunities available for SMC faculty to collaborate with this innovative and dynamic program through the Center for Environmental Literacy.

All U.S. entries must be postmarked by December 1. Students living in the states of Georgia and Arizona are exempt from this deadline as they are participating in their state's own River of Words program. 

International entries must be received by February 1.

1. All poems must be original work.
   1. Physical poetry submissions must be either typed or legibly written in ink (not pencil) and mailed with a completed Paper Entry Form.
   2. Poems should not exceed 32 lines in length.
   3. Collaborative poems are accepted, but only one student (chosen as the group representative) will be eligible for any prizes awarded.
   4. At this time, we are able to accept poems only in English and Spanish.
2. All artwork must be original work.
   1. Artwork should not exceed 11” by 17” in size-no exceptions.
   2. Acceptable media are paint, pencil, markers, ink, crayon, chalk or pastel (fixed), photography, cloth, collage and computer art. (Photo entries must be at least 8x10 inches.)
   3. All art entries must be mailed. All entries must have the student’s name, school, city and state on the back — do not use a marker or anything that will show through!
   4. We do not accept color copies—all entries must be original work.
   5. Art entries must be done on paper that will allow for duplication, display or framing. Please, no notebook or typing paper, and do not mat, mount, laminate, frame or fold artwork.
   6. Entries must be mailed flat or rolled in a tube — no folding, please!

Website: https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/center-for-environmental-literacy/river-of-words

Managing Organization: Saint Mary's College of California Center for Environmental Literacy

Contact:
Maureen Esty
rowinfo@stmarys-ca.edu
925-631-4289

Eligibility:
The contest is open to K through 12th grade students, ages 5-20. Students must be enrolled in school to be eligible.  <strong>All entries must be submitted by a parent, guardian, educator, or facilitator unless the student is 18 years old or older.</strong>

Registration Opens: January 1, 1970

Registration Closes: December 1, 2019

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.

ROW was co-founded in 1995 by writer and activist Pamela Michael and then-US Poet Laureate (and SMC alumnus) Robert Hass. One of the program’s most noteworthy events, conducted in affiliation with The Library of Congress Center for the Book, is a free, annual international poetry and art contest for children in kindergarten through twelfth grade. ROW, as a program of Saint Mary's College of California, has made its collection of children's art - the largest in the world - available through the Saint Mary's Museum of Art for exhibit and scholarly research. There are many opportunities available for SMC faculty to collaborate with this innovative and dynamic program through the Center for Environmental Literacy.

All U.S. entries must be postmarked by December 1. Students living in the states of Georgia and Arizona are exempt from this deadline as they are participating in their state's own River of Words program. 

International entries must be received by February 1.

1. All poems must be original work.
   1. Physical poetry submissions must be either typed or legibly written in ink (not pencil) and mailed with a completed Paper Entry Form.
   2. Poems should not exceed 32 lines in length.
   3. Collaborative poems are accepted, but only one student (chosen as the group representative) will be eligible for any prizes awarded.
   4. At this time, we are able to accept poems only in English and Spanish.
2. All artwork must be original work.
   1. Artwork should not exceed 11” by 17” in size-no exceptions.
   2. Acceptable media are paint, pencil, markers, ink, crayon, chalk or pastel (fixed), photography, cloth, collage and computer art. (Photo entries must be at least 8x10 inches.)
   3. All art entries must be mailed. All entries must have the student’s name, school, city and state on the back — do not use a marker or anything that will show through!
   4. We do not accept color copies—all entries must be original work.
   5. Art entries must be done on paper that will allow for duplication, display or framing. Please, no notebook or typing paper, and do not mat, mount, laminate, frame or fold artwork.
   6. Entries must be mailed flat or rolled in a tube — no folding, please!

Website: https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/center-for-environmental-literacy/river-of-words

Managing Organization: Saint Mary's College of California Center for Environmental Literacy

Contact:
Maureen Esty
rowinfo@stmarys-ca.edu
925-631-4289

Entry Fee:

Eligibility:
The contest is open to K through 12th grade students, ages 5-20. Students must be enrolled in school to be eligible.  <strong>All entries must be submitted by a parent, guardian, educator, or facilitator unless the student is 18 years old or older.</strong>

Registration Opens: January 1, 1970

Registration Closes: December 1, 2019