Launching our Poetry Competition, “Is Nature Calling You?”

Published: 09 May 2016

As you may know, every year the Cape Leopard Trust Environmental Education Project hosts a creative competition. This year we are excited to announce that we are holding an Inter-school poetry competition called "Is nature calling you?" and we are now accepting entries! The deadline for submissions is Friday June 17.

THE IDEA BEHIND THE COMPETITION

At many of our camps we have noticed that experiences in the wilderness evoke poems from children and young people alike. Watching the sunset through magnificent rock formations in Stadsaal or listening to the birds or the sound of the silence naturally nurtures creative expression. This is why we want to support young people in accessing their ability to put words to the magic they experience in nature, to take a moment to deeply connect to what the environment means to them and to have the opportunity to experience the Cederberg and seeing their poetry in print!

GREAT PRIZES TO BE WON!

First Place prizes will be awarded to the top three artists in each of the four age categories. An additional 12 runners-up will be selected as well.

The poems of the winners and runners-up poets will be featured alongside renowned local writers in a coffee table book. The winners will receive a copy of the book and a free spot for themselves and a friend on a poetry themed camp in the Cederberg. Runners-up will receive a copy of the book and a leopard puzzle. Winning poems will be recited by local artists (or the young people if they like to!) at a Cape Leopard Trust auction event in 2017.

GUIDELINES

Entries must be received by the closing date, Friday 17 June 2016

Poems can be written with any structure as long as they speak in some way to the theme “Is Nature Calling you?”

Poems can be in submitted in Xhosa, English or Afrikaans.

The competition is open to children and youth ages 10-20. Age categories for judging will be 10-12, 13-14, 15-16 and 17-18.

Each poem must have a title and the name of the poet and be accompanied by an entry form.

A maximum of two entries per individual will be accepted and 20 entries per school/organisation.

Must be original work done by entrant, following all guidelines.

Judging criteria: relevance to theme, impact, strong message, genuine personal response, creativity, skill.

RULES

In entering this competition the entrant and their parent/guardian/representative agrees that the organisers have the right to print the poem in a coffee table book which will be sold and/or auctioned and that the organisers have the right to have the poem read at a Cape Leopard Trust event by the entrant or another poet or Cape Leopard Trust staff member and auction a copy of the poem. The entrant also agrees that the organisers have the right to use the poem in marketing material including social media.

Judges will be made up of high-profile poets, environmentalists, sponsors and Cape Leopard Trust staff.

All participating schools/organisations/individuals will be advised as to the results of the competition.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Submissions are accepted via email to [email protected] with "Poetry Competition Entry" in the subject line or by post (if received by 17 June) to P.O. Box Box 31139 | Tokai | 7966| Cape Town | South Africa

CONTACT DETAILS

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions!

Contact Person: Nicole le Roux
Phone: 071 642 4089
Email: [email protected]

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