Published: November 18, 2008 06:50 pm         

Contest enables students to write about creek life

By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



Students across north Jefferson County again have a chance to raise awareness about the environment by using their talents.

Information about the second Five Mile Creek writing contest was recently sent to area elementary, middle and high schools. The two contest categories are poetry and a personal history essay.

A press release about the contest said subject matter for both contests must include reflections on life and work on Five Mile Creek. The contest is open to students in grades 3-12 living in the Five Mile Creek watershed.

The contest is sponsored by Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development Council and the Five Mile Creek Greenway Partnership. Francesca Gross, Five Mile Creek partnership coordinator with Cawaco RC&D, said the rules of this year’s contest are similar to last year.

However, this year’s winning entries may also be submitted to River of Words, an environmental art and poetry contest created to promote watershed awareness, literacy and the arts among students.

Gross said she was impressed with entries received last year and hopes that schools will get even more involved with this year’s effort.

“The fifth-graders were just outstanding and the high schoolers were equally as poignant,” she said. “I think the students and teachers were just thrilled to have the contest in their schools.”

More importantly, Gross said having students involved in the contest can lead them to have more interest in the ongoing conservation efforts of Five Mile Creek.

“We have had pretty good participation from a lot of the young kids that come down and clean up the creek,” she said. “It’s just another level of participation.”

Contest entries must be postmarked by Dec. 12. Cash awards and certificates will be given out in the two categories and three grade-based levels: grades 3-5; grades 6-8; and grades 9-12. Each school that participates will also receive a book of entries from the competition.

First-place entries will win a cash prize of $50. Second-place entries will receive $35 and third-place will receive $20. Non-placing entries will be awarded a certificate and a ribbon.

For more information about the contest, visit http://www.cawaco.org/fivemilecreek/