MILLEDGEVILLE — Georgia Military Prep School sixth-grader Macy Watkins’ insight on conservation and watersheds have earned her a place among state winners in the 15th annual River of Words, on display through today at the Mary Vinson Memorial Library.

All youth around the world are encouraged to participate in the contest to compete for prizes determined by the entries that best give voice to the importance of conservation.

ROW, in affiliation with The Library of Congress Center for the Book, conducts a free international poetry and art contest for youth ages 5 to 19 on the theme of watersheds each year. The contest is designed to help youth explore the natural and cultural history of the place they live and to express what they discover through poetry and art.  

The winning works are reproduced to become part of a traveling exhibit, which move to libraries throughout the state, hosted by the Georgia Center for the Book. Twin Lakes Library System Director Barry Reese said today is the last day the exhibit will be up for display before traveling to Manchester. Among the 54 state poetry and art winners from Atlanta, Marietta, Alpharetta, Roswell and Lilburn, Watkins represents Milledgeville-Baldwin County with her “Conserve and Preserve,” poem.

“ROW encourages people to think about their watershed, through poetry and art, to reflect how they feel about the river, [ocean, streams and creeks],” Reese said. “It’s a great opportunity to be creative to share your work with other people throughout the state of Georgia.”

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can enter on their own or as part of a group — Scout troops, 4-H clubs, schools, nature centers, libraries, youth clubs, after-school groups and other organizations. Poetry submissions are judged by ROW co-founders Robert Hass, who served as U.S. Poet Laureate from 1995 to 1997, and writer Pamela Michael. Art entries are judged by Thacher Hurd, a children’s book writer and illustrator. All entrants receive acknowledgment in the form of a “Watershed Explorer” certificate from the national organization.

“Desert people, for example, sing different songs than forest people, draw different pictures and often use different materials to create their artwork. The connection between landscape and the human imagination is reciprocal,” states the ROW Web site. “River of Words’ multidisciplinary, hands-on approach to education nurtures students’ creative voices ... through instruction and practice in art and poetry. And through the universal language of art ... students learn not only about their home-grounds, but, in sharing their work with each other, about other bioregions and cultures as well.”

According to the Georgia Project WET Web site, about 100 poems and artworks from the U.S. and international entries are selected as finalists each year. Eight winners are chosen from the U.S. entries, four in poetry and four in art in four different age categories, along with one international winner and a “ROW Teacher of the Year” are honored at an Award Ceremony at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Currently, 17 states award ROW prizes.

Judging is currently under way, and winners will be announced at the ROW Announcement of Winners Ceremony at the San Francisco Public Library Saturday, April 17. The annual deadline is Dec. 1, and entries can be mailed late, which will be entered in next year’s contest.

“Georgia has been doing ROW for several years. [Mary Vinson Library] hosted it three or four times, and we’re very proud to be hosting it this year,” Reese said. “We’re hoping kids will learn about the importance of taking care of their environment.”

For more information about ROW, contest rules, entry forms, galleries and past state winners, visit www.gaprojectwet.org or www.riverofwords.org.