Teaching the Hudson Valley wants kids to write about the Hudson Valley

Teaching the Hudson Valley invites K-12 students to write about places they love in the region. All entries received by Nov. 4 will be considered for publication on Teaching the Hudson Valley’s blog. Prizes, including class trips to places written about, will be awarded to at least three students–one each elementary, middle, and high school.

Students in kindergarten through 12th grade who live and/or attend school in the 11-county Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area including Westchester, Ulster, Saratoga, Rockland, Rensselaer, Putnam, Orange, Greene, Dutchess, Columbia, and Albany counties are eligible.

Students are encouraged to write about their favorite places, especially those reflecting the history, culture, and/or natural resources of the Hudson Valley. Elementary students may submit poems of any style. Secondary students are invited to send essays or creative nonfiction—middle schoolers up to 500 words and high school students up to 750 words.

All writing will be shared with the place written about. If the place has cultural, historic, or natural significance, is owned or managed by a not-for-profit or government body, and is regularly open to the public, the student will also be eligible for prizes.

Entries must be received via email by Monday, Nov. 4, 9 a.m., with writing attached as a Word document or PDF. A signed submission form, available on THV’s Web site, www.teachingthehudsonvalley.org, is also required.

At least three students’ classrooms--one each elementary, middle, and high school--will receive up to $750 toward the cost of a class trip to the place written about.