More than half of the food we consume – everything from fruits to grains and nuts to vegetables – is the product of pollination. For several years now, scientists have warned of significant declines in the population of bees, the most active of nature’s pollinators. Similar concern has been expressed about many species of butterflies, which are also prolific pollinators.
The Wayland Garden Club, the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts, and National Garden Clubs, Inc. are sponsoring two pollination-themed competitions to develop and creatively express environmental awareness.
The competitions are open to all area students and prizes range from the opportunity to see the winner’s work published, to $1,000 scholarships. All entries must be received by November 24, 2016.
Local entries in the two competitions are sponsored by the Wayland Garden Club on behalf of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts and must be submitted in typed, hardcopy form. Entries should be sent to Patrice Barton at patriceburnsbarton@gmail.com. For additional information call Patrice at 508-868-7226.
Poetry competition: Grades K – 9
A poetry competition for students in kindergarten through the 9th grade asks participants to write a poem with the theme, “We Three: Bees, Butterflies and Me”. The poem can be in traditional verse or any poetic form. What is important is that the poem explores the theme. The winners will have their poems published in a booklet to be created by National Garden Clubs, Inc.
Complete details are available at: http://www.gardenclub.org/
Essay Competition: Grades 9 – 12
For high school students in 9th through 12th grades, there is an essay competition on the theme, “We Need Our Pollinators.” Essays must be 600 to 700 words in length and should both explain the environmental concerns implicit in the theme and add personal ideas or solutions. There are monetary prizes for top winners at the state level and a $1,000 scholarship for the national winner.
Complete details are available at http://www.gardenclub.org/
