PIMA COUNTY, ARIZONA -- The Pima County Department of Natural Resources, Parks and Recreation and the Pima County Regional Flood Control District will recognize the winning youth poets and artists of this year’s Living River of Words Youth Art and Poetry Contest (LROW) April 13, 9 a.m. to noon, at Wheeler Taft Abbett Sr. Library, 7800 N. Schisler Dr. in Marana.
LROW participants submitted close to 1,000 entries, from which staff selected 58 for special recognition. The award-winning youth poets and artists represent 16 local schools. Their work will be displayed at the Wheeler Taft Abbett Library April 13-May 31 and will travel to several public venues throughout the year.
Living River of Words is a regional coordinator providing local support for the International River of Words 2019 Youth Poetry and Art Contest, a project of the Center for Environmental Literacy at Saint Mary’s College of California. Eight local students from the 2018 Living River of Words contest will pick up their international awards at the April 13 event.
The ceremony also will celebrate the return of the endangered Gila topminnow to the Santa Cruz River. Organizers also will recognize the Living River of Words Teacher of the Year: Annie Tanner from Anza Trail School in the Sahuarita Unified Schools.
Living River of Words introduces children ages 5 to 19 to watersheds and wetland habitats through science investigations and the practice of poetry and visual arts. Students and teachers get out of the classroom and spend a morning in the Lower Santa Cruz River conducting water quality tests, observing wildlife and plant interactions, and taking time for reflection and journaling. Back in the classroom and along the river, students work with local artists to take what they have learned and create poetry or art entries for the contest.
This year’s Living River Celebration will include fun family activities and separate award ceremonies - one for students in kindergarten to third grade and another for fourth through twelfth graders.
Activity Schedule:
- LROW Awards Ceremonies – In the Conference Room
- 10-10:45 a.m.: LROW Award Ceremony – Grades K-3
- 11-11:45 a.m.: LROW Award Ceremony and International River of Words Recognition - Grades 4-12
- Living River Celebration – In the Children’s Corner
- 9 a.m.–Noon: Family fun activities, including
- Living River of Words Youth Poetry and Art Exhibit
- Life on the River – interactive display and presentation
- Go fishing! – play a game and learn about Arizona fish diversity
- Aquatic bugs from the river – observe and take a closer look using microscopes
- The Sonoran Institute presents information about the Living River Project
- 9 a.m.–Noon: Family fun activities, including