Watching Our Water Ways

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced the winners of the third annual Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Contest, which is designed to recognize intergenerational creativity.

Winning photo in the Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder contest. This photo was offered by Isabel L., age 16, and Isabel M., age 42.

The winners are not identified specifically, but you can review the photos, essays, poems and dances named as winners and honorable mentions by going to the EPA’s Web site. It doesn’t appear we have any winners from Washington state, but I hope local folks are entering this contest. Maybe we’ll have a winner or two next year. (See EPA site for entry details.)

The first-place photo at right is by Isabel L., age 16, and Isabel M., age 42. Here’s the description: “My mom and I were in the beach at Acapulco watching the sunset and while we talked about time and growing up. We took a picture of the sea and the sunset but we also captured a small boy playing in the sand enjoying the beach.”

Click here for the three photo winners and an honorable mention.

The winning poem was a combined effort of three generations of women: Katie, 21; MaryKate, 53; and Kate, 92.

Place of Peace
By: Katie, MaryKate and Kate

Knee-deep in purple asters, where maples gaily spill,
Unwept living crimson on our firm New England hill,
Our little half-built house awaits you, serene and still.
Such peace is here
And quiet dreaming.
No din of fear
Like sirens screaming
Or brass bells tolling, no dark hate rolling
That troubles the wind-washed silence under
These white clouds flying.
Only the crying of a far bird calling
Like a feather falling
That flutters earthward from above.
Warm as the sun that softly spills
Its life-giving light across the hills,
Kindling the crimson apples for the day of your returning.
When sunwashed sky turns crimson gold
And cool breezes fall from top of hill
Bringing clouds of bat food buzzing still

After the day’s chores done. Memories wash over
Of small children laughing in silver drops of water,

Blushing under other’s gazes peeking through clover.
My family founded in elder days
Continues the call that Nature makes
For our souls returning to this place of peace,
Where time stands still until we say
Who we are and where we are from.

From black olives and candy flowers made on Sunday’s
I am from the Lake (wet, warm, natural)
I am from the lily, dogwood, earth, planted in the front yard.
My mother’s earth. I’m from long trips and dark features.
From the long line of Kate’s and of Robert.
I’m from the stubborn and matriarchal.

I’m from tall altars and winding passages with spires from the sky.
I’m from Europe, France, England, Germany, Ireland, Scotland,
A mutt all around.
From the broken butt to being my rock and storms.
The stubborn women through and through
I am from the old, dust, moths, mold.
I am from mothers and lakes and lots of people,
With love.

Click here for the other winning poems.

The first-place essay is an illustrated story by Logan, age 6. It’s called “Fish with a Crab.” His kindergarten teacher, Linda, age 61, had this to say:

“I was amazed when Logan handed me his first story. It was two months ago. In one school year, he was gone from a total nonreader/writer, to a storyteller/illustrator. Equally amazing is his wealth of information about the natural world. He loves his fish tank, his tarantula, and all of the creatures that fill his life with joy… I see his pure delight in observing nature. He sees nature for what it is, an interaction between the living and nonliving world. His love of the wonder of nature fills him with stories and they flow freely from his heart and mind.”

The essays, including Logan’s can be found by clicking here.

Mixed media include both written creations and poetry.

This year, the EPA included a category of dance for the first time. I thought the Winged Migration dance — the second one below — was creative.

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Tags: Environmental Protection Agency, Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder Contest

This entry was posted on Monday, November 2nd, 2009 at 6:00 am by cdunagan and is filed under Education, Humor, On writing. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.