Children are required to do school projects, writing assignments and mandatory homework, and many teachers around the region incorporate the Great Adirondack Young People’s Poetry Contest into their curriculum.

For those that can’t, the contest is free and open to all students living in the Adirondack Park.

According to Board member Mara Jayne Miller, the Words from the Woods annual poetry contest is designed to foster literacy and the experience of writing, reading and speaking poetry for school children in grades 1-12.

Part of each contest winners’ reward is publication in the Words From the Woods chapbook. Also, the young poets and their families are invited to an award reception at Northwoods Inn on May 30th to receive a copy of the chapbook and hear poems of special merit read by their authors.

The deadline for the Great Adirondack Young People’s Poetry Contest is April 24th. Students can take advantage of their upcoming spring “mud season” break and submit two poems in any length and style. Members of the Lake Placid Poets’ Guild will judge the entries.

I always feel that poetry gives children another way to express themselves. Not being bound by the traditional rules of writing, poetry gives young people a chance to appreciate simple acts or delve into difficult issues. Last year’s winning poets chose a variety of topics from pets and outdoor activities to nature and Adirondack themes.

April is also National Poetry Month. Since 1996, the Academy of American Poets has provided resources and programming to encourage the celebration of poetry. Opportunities such as Poem in Your Pocket Day, Poem-A-Day and the Dear Poet Project give children and adults a chance to let more poetry into their lives.