GA River of Words

Looking For: 

• Contest Entry Forms
• Contest Guidelines
• Galleries of Georgia Winners

2026 Georgia and National River of Words Winners 

Congratulations to this year's winners from Georgia!  We are so proud to recognize and celebrate each of these students' creativity surrounding the science and beauty of our watersheds.  You can find the list of winners posted at the link below, and we will soon follow up with an online image gallery of the winning pieces of art and poetry.  Thank you to all of the students who took the time to learn something new about the natural environment and the teachers who help encourage so many students each year to engage in that learning.

Sincerely, 

The Georgia River of Words Team

2026 Georgia River of Words Winners Announcement  (PDF, 232.22 KB)

Caption

A Child's First Aquarium Olivia Land, 11th Grade, Oil Pastels, Rockdale County High School, Conyers, Teacher: Tara Thieleke

About River of Words

The River of Words Project (ROW) is a FREE program designed to help preK-12 students understand their sense of place by studying the natural world in their own environment then expressing what they discover through poetry and art. The art and poetry can then be entered into a state-wide contest.

Georgia entries are judged by the Georgia Center for the Book and by the GA Environmental Protection Division.

Approximately 50 poems and pieces of artwork are selected as winners each year in Georgia. We celebrate with the student winners, their families and teachers in an awards ceremony held in Decatur each spring. All original artwork and poetry from Georgia participants is returned to the students.

River of Words Winning Art and Poetry Journal

The ROW Winning Art and Poetry Journal, a full-color printed booklet, is produced to showcase Georgia honorees. The winning works are also published on our website and may be available for display at libraries, schools, nature centers, conference, water festivals, parks and State buildings.