Center for Environmental Literacy Mission
![Students talk on a bench](/sites/default/files/styles/header_desktop/public/2022-08/SMC_WhySMC_Hero_0.jpg?itok=77aZzkNI)
CEL's mission is to provide “education for sustainability” by empowering educators to adopt a cross disciplinary approach that integrates inquiry-based learning, the arts, and environmental literacy.
Vision
The River of Words Art and Poetry Contest fosters environmental stewardship and conservation and helps teachers integrate the arts in the classroom.
- CEL's professional development programs provide support for teachers.
- CEL generates resources like the Watershed Explorer Curriculum to integrate the arts into science lessons in line with the Common Core State Standards for writing (CCSS), Next generation Science Standards (NGSS), and National Core Art Standards (NCAS).
History
Founded in 1995 by former US Poet Laureate Robert Hass and writer Pamela Michael.
In 2011, River of Words Collection of Children’s Environmental Art and Poetry became a part of the new Center for Environmental Literacy in the Kalmanovitz School of Education at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, California.
The River of Words Collection of Children’s Art and Poetry, one of the largest in the world, now resides at Saint Mary’s and is available for scholarly research.
2022 Winning Artwork
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Chen, Ally, Grade 10 - Awaken](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/chen_ally_10th_grade_awaken.jpg?h=ca6c953b&itok=yLyg2UFR)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; David Jeong, Grade 2](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/davidjeonggr2.jpg?itok=R82YHXeQ)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Hao, Sophie, Grade 11](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/hao_sophie_11th_unnamed1.jpg?h=a97b3668&itok=jZRgtTzU)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; a penguin with images of environmental destruction reflected in its eyes](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/screen_shot_2022-05-02_at_9.52.42_am.png?itok=vCmbtPWv)
![ROW Art Winner 2022; a whale emerging from the depths of the ocean, surrounded by debris](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/vc.jpg?h=f627b697&itok=W6HDYsHy)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Yu, Chenxi, Grade 8 - Lost Wilds](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/yu_chenxi_8th_grade_lost_wilds.jpg?itok=gklDfd1e)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Chan Po Chi Angelo, Grade 1 - Let's Cross the River](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/chan_po_chi_angelo_gr1_lets_cross_the_river.jpg?h=1fb69547&itok=54YsH2yE)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Chen, Ally, Grade 10 - Awaken](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/chen_ally_10th_grade_awaken.jpg?h=ca6c953b&itok=yLyg2UFR)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; David Jeong, Grade 2](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/davidjeonggr2.jpg?itok=R82YHXeQ)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Hao, Sophie, Grade 11](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/hao_sophie_11th_unnamed1.jpg?h=a97b3668&itok=jZRgtTzU)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Lestyk, Zoey, Grade 9 - Carefree in a Clean Watershed](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/lestyk_zoey_9th_grade_carefreeinacleanwatershed_digitalart.jpg?h=40bb3b45&itok=qLKg7nLz)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Poletti, Liliana, Grade 6 - The Flip Side](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/poletti_liliana_6_grade_the_flip_side.jpg?itok=tfYtzTke)
![ROW Art Winner 2022- colorful fish being watched as they swim in a river](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/screen_shot_2022-05-02_at_9.21.04_am.png?h=bcc8da5c&itok=QZey9sIv)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; a sea turtle swimming through a reef](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/screen_shot_2022-05-02_at_9.51.33_am.png?itok=DF8NuTYF)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; a penguin with images of environmental destruction reflected in its eyes](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/screen_shot_2022-05-02_at_9.52.42_am.png?itok=vCmbtPWv)
![ROW Art Winner 2022; a whale emerging from the depths of the ocean, surrounded by debris](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/vc.jpg?h=f627b697&itok=W6HDYsHy)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Yajima Yui, Grade 5 - Life On Earth](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/yajima_yui_5th_life_on_earth_1.jpg?h=f70d3f4b&itok=NaBeKChl)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Yang, Sarah, Grade 7 - Life](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/yang_sarah_grd7_life.jpg?itok=X1PZcsK8)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Yu, Chenxi, Grade 8 - Lost Wilds](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/yu_chenxi_8th_grade_lost_wilds.jpg?itok=gklDfd1e)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Chan Po Chi Angelo, Grade 1 - Let's Cross the River](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/chan_po_chi_angelo_gr1_lets_cross_the_river.jpg?h=1fb69547&itok=54YsH2yE)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Lestyk, Zoey, Grade 9 - Carefree in a Clean Watershed](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/lestyk_zoey_9th_grade_carefreeinacleanwatershed_digitalart.jpg?h=40bb3b45&itok=qLKg7nLz)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Poletti, Liliana, Grade 6 - The Flip Side](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/poletti_liliana_6_grade_the_flip_side.jpg?itok=tfYtzTke)
![ROW Art Winner 2022- colorful fish being watched as they swim in a river](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/screen_shot_2022-05-02_at_9.21.04_am.png?h=bcc8da5c&itok=QZey9sIv)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; a sea turtle swimming through a reef](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/screen_shot_2022-05-02_at_9.51.33_am.png?itok=DF8NuTYF)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Yajima Yui, Grade 5 - Life On Earth](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/yajima_yui_5th_life_on_earth_1.jpg?h=f70d3f4b&itok=NaBeKChl)
![ROW Art Winner 2022 ; Yang, Sarah, Grade 7 - Life](/sites/default/files/styles/scatter_gallery/public/2023-01/yang_sarah_grd7_life.jpg?itok=X1PZcsK8)