Winners announced for 2023 Reflections on Nature Poetry Contest!

Theme: “Born to Be Wild”

Last year, we celebrated the 200th anniversary of Frederick Law Olmsted’s birth. In honor of this milestone and Olmsted’s enduring influence on the American landscape, we’ve selected a special theme for this year’s poetry contest: “Born to Be Wild.” Students in grades 1-12 were invited to spend time in nature, including Riverside’s national landmark landscape, and to reflect upon what it means to be “Born to Be Wild” and incorporate those ideas into their poems.

2023 Contest Winners:

1st Grade F. Bradshaw Ames Rivers
2nd Grade R. Barrs Central Riverside Has Many Creatures
Honorable Mention 2nd Grade V. Ivy Ames Riverside is born to be wild
4th Grade L. Newsome Ames Born to be Wild Like Nature
5th Grade D. Durojaye Ames Born To Be Wild
5th Grade M. Abboud Central Deep in the Wild
Honorable Mention 5th Grade M. Jayashree Ames The Wild
Jr. High – First Place C. Hull Hauser Spring in Riverside
Jr. High – Second Place E. Blomgren Hauser Our Wild
Jr. High – Third Place C. Truesdale Hauser The Way of the Wild
Jr. High – Third Place J. Hopson-Andino Hauser Individualized Frame

The Olmsted Society awards 1st place winners:

$100 in the High School division
$50 in the Junior High division (grades 6-8)
$25 at each grade level 1-5

The contest was open April 1-April 30. For entry form see: Poetry Contest Entry Grades 1-12 Entries are due April 30 via e-mail to gro.yteicosdetsmlonull@tsetnocyrteop for students in grades 1-12.

We really enjoyed reading your inspired poems!