Introducing Our Nature Haiku Contest

Nature is the best

Inspires words of happiness

Let me share my joy

The Japanese art of Haiku requires a creative mind, and nature can provide one of the best sources of inspiration to get the creative juices flowing. Writing Haikus about the wonders of nature can be a great way to ease young minds from vacation mode to back-to-school mode. It’s a wonderful creative outlet for adults too. That’s why the National Wildlife Federation is sponsoring a Haiku contest for people of all ages.

Writing haikus is easy, fun and a wonderful way to connect you and the kids in your life with the great outdoors. We’re looking for any and all nature-themed haiku poems, whether it’s about a summer vacation at the lake, or bird-watching in the backyard, we want to hear about it. My son’s haikus were always about worms and other creepy crawly critters!

Just like the one above, a Haiku is three lines. And it doesn’t even need to rhyme – it just needs to follow the following rules:

•    First line =  five syllables
•    Second line = seven syllables
•    Third line =  five syllables

Winners will be featured on the National Wildlife Federation website and in the September issue of the “Be Out There” newsletter.

Entries can be submitted at www.nwf.org/haiku. You must be 18 or older to enter, but you can also enter on behalf of a child. Entry deadline is August 31, 2010. If you are looking for some fun activities loaded with ideas for Haikus, check out www.beoutthere.org/activities.