Roots, Wings & Wild Things 2026 Youth Poetry & Photography Contest
- 13 hours ago
- 2 min read
Celebrating America's 250th Anniversary Through Nature
We're excited to share that submissions are now open for Roots, Wings & Wild Things, a free youth poetry and photography contest co-hosted by the Garden Club of Lake Ridge and the Prince William Art Society in celebration of America's 250th anniversary!
Whether you're a parent, teacher, scout leader, or homeschool this is a wonderful, free creative project for the young people in your life.
Contest at a Glance
Who: Youth in grades K–12
Categories: Original Nature Poetry (up to 24 lines) or Original Photography
Entry Fee: FREE
Judged in 4 grade divisions: K–2, 3–5, 6–8, 9–12
Awards: Ribbons/certificates for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place per division, plus a People's Choice award
Deadline: Thursday, October 15, 2026
What to Submit
Poetry: An original poem (any style — haiku, free verse, acrostic, or rhyming) inspired by nature, home, or freedom
Photography: An original nature photo taken entirely by the child of roots, wings, local wildlife, or landscapes. Basic crops/color edits are fine; no AI-generated elements or composites.
A signed parent/guardian consent form must accompany every entry
How to Submit: Email your poem and/or photograph along with the completed entry and signed consent form, to gardencluboflakeridge@gmail.com
Photography Tips
Phone Camera Settings for 8x10 Prints
Best Direct Camera Setting:
Set your camera's Aspect Ratio to 4:5 (if available) or 4:3 before taking the photo.
4:3 Aspect Ratio: Cropping to 8x10 will only slice off a tiny fraction of the top and bottom (it loses about 6% of the height). Keep your subject slightly centered to protect the edges.
4:5 Aspect Ratio: Fits an 8x10 photo perfectly with zero cropping. Some camera apps (and popular photo apps) offer 4:5 directly as a photo framing preset.
