Special to The T&D

If you hide poetry in your heart -- or your school notebooks -- then consider entering the international River of Words Environmental Poetry & Art Project.

River of Words, a nonprofit arts and environmental education program, is seeking works from students in kindergarten through 12th grade to compete in the annual contest.

Each April, eight U.S. winners, one international winner, and a "ROW Teacher of the Year" are honored (during National Poetry Month) at a ceremony at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. River of Words was founded in 1995 by then-U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Hass and writer Pamela Michael.

The program publishes an annual poetry book of winning submissions, selected by Hass. Winning artwork is exhibited at museums, libraries, conferences and other venues around the world.

Through the Web site -- www.riverofwords.org -- and many workshops and presentations around the country, the project provides students, teachers and their communities with tools, inspiration and incentive to begin exploring the natural and cultural history of their own homegrounds.

The contest is free, and every entry is acknowledged with a personalized "Watershed Explorer" ce.jpgicate. Students can enter on their own or through schools, nature centers, libraries, youth clubs and other organizations. Girl Scouts can earn their "Water Drop" patch by entering the contest and fulfilling other requirements (www.epa.gov/adopt/patch/).

The contest deadline is: North American entries -- postmarked by Feb. 15; international entries -- received by March 1.

A brief informational video is available at www.sccenterforthebook.org. For more information, visit www.riverofwords.org.

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