National Kids Nature Poetry Competition Closes This Weekend
UNITED KINGDOM / AGILITYPR.NEWS / May 11, 2020 / SUBMISSION DEADLINE THIS WEEKEND, SUNDAY 17 MAY, FOR SCHOOLS TO SUBMIT POEMS TO WIN AN EARTHWATCH ‘NATUREHOOD’ LEARNING BOX
Earthwatch’s Wild Days national poetry competition closes this weekend, and schools and families are encouraged to submit their poems by the deadline, Sunday 17 May.
Schools have the opportunity to win an Earthwatch ‘Naturehood’ learning box filled with outdoor education resources including games, activities, books and equipment.
Environmental charity, Earthwatch, launched the poetry competition in April inviting teachers and parents to ask their children ‘what poem does nature inspire you to write?’
The competition is part of Earthwatch’s Wild Days online programme of indoor/outdoor learning activities, which aims to support families in lockdown.
Mya-Rose Craig, the world’s top teen birder known on Twitter as @BirdgirlUK with over 14,000 followers is one of the ambassadors for the Wild Days programme for Earthwatch.
She has produced a video for Earthwatch explaining why poetry is such a great way to express yourself, and the role it has played in her life in helping to deal with anxiety:
“Wildlife poetry has helped me explain my connection to nature. Reading poetry is really important as it can light up our dark moments and writing poetry is a really powerful way to connect with your emotions. It can help to refresh and restore balance which is perfect at the moment.”
There are four categories for the poems: children aged 7 and under; aged 8 to 11; 12 to 16; and for schools. The competition is open to all those who wish to take part, whether or not they are current subscribers of the Wild Days programme.
Schools can collectively enter their poems in one submission to win a ‘Naturehood’ learning box, and there are also other lovely prizes for nature and poetry lovers.
Michaela Strachan, Earthwatch ambassador and head poetry competition judge, is donating signed copies of her children’s book, ‘Michaela Strachan’s Really Wild Adventures’, and Nick Baker who is also an ambassador and has presented content for the Wild Days programme is donating copies of ‘Bakers Bug Book’.
There will also be copies of ‘Diary of a Naturalist’ by Dara McAnulty, a 16-year-old naturalist, packets of wildflower seeds and mini-nature kits. Field guidebooks from Princeton University Press’s ‘Wild Guide’ series will also be prizes, encouraging families to explore and engage with nature again when the lock down is over.
Sarah Staunton-Lamb, Earthwatch’s Senior Engagement Manager, comments: “Poetry is a great outlet for expression, and we hope this competition encourages children to express their feelings and capture our connection with nature as lockdown continues.”
Entries will be judged by the charity’s four ambassadors, Michaela Strachan; Nick Baker, Mya-Rose Craig and Bella Lack a 17-year-old conservationist and blogger with 150K followers.
About Us
Earthwatch Europe
Earthwatch is an environmental charity with science at its heart. We drive the change needed to live within our means and in balance with nature. We do this by:
- connecting people with the natural world
- monitoring the health of our natural resources
- informing the actions that will have the greatest positive impact.
Empowering the next generation is one of the key areas we are addressing in our five-year strategy. Because one day it will be up to them to protect the natural world, and they need the knowledge and skills to do it.
Wild Days
Developed by Earthwatch environmental scientists and outdoor learning specialists, the Wild Days service provides free accessible activities every day for the next 10 weeks, with subscribers receiving a ‘daily edition’ which will include science and outdoor learning inspired videos, activities, and games.
The programme covers the themes of wildlife, food, water, soil, climate and shelter and will feature Earthwatch ambassadors including naturalist and TV presenter, Nick Baker, and Michaela Strachan, presenter of the BBC’s Springwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch programmes.
The poetry competition is part of an engaging programme of activities announced in April 2020.
Contacts