1. What is the Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Contest?
The Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Contest was established by the Rachel Carson Landmark Alliance (RCLA) to honor the legacy of the renowned biologist and writer, Rachel Carson. The competition invites teams comprised of members from at least two different generations to submit creative entries celebrating humanity’s deep and enduring connection with nature.
This essay and poetry contest encourages participants to reflect on their experiences in nature and express those encounters in a thoughtful, expressive, and scientifically-informed way. Whether through a simple walk in the woods or a more complex exploration of an ecosystem, this contest highlights how nature inspires curiosity and the shared responsibility for its preservation across generations.
Competition winners will receive a certificate from the RCLA. Their names and titles, along with some of the winning entries, will be posted on the organization’s website.
2. Who is Eligible for the Contest?
To participate in the 2025 contest, you must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Team Composition: All entries must be submitted by a team of two or more individuals from at least two different generations. This could be a parent and student, a student and teacher, or a teen and a senior, relatives or not.
- International Participation: Team members can be located inside or outside the U.S.
- Multiple Teams: An individual may participate in more than one team.
- Teachers: Educators can be team members.
- Rights: The team will retain the right to use their submission for other purposes.
- Entry Form: All teams must include the names and ages of each member on the Official 2025 Entry Form.
3. Contest Themes
For the 2025 competition, there are two themes that participants can choose from:
- Sense of Wonder Theme: Inspired by Carson’s book The Sense of Wonder (1965), this theme celebrates positive moments of joy and curiosity during outdoor nature experiences. Entries should capture the emotional and sensory aspects of these encounters.
- Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Theme: This theme merges emotional appreciation with ecological knowledge, highlighting how wild species and ecosystems provide humans with essential benefits (also known as ecosystem services).
To explore these themes and express their feelings and opinions, the teams must decide on either a poem or an essay. The teams can also add photos to their submissions.
By combining the themes and categories, your submission will fit into one of the following options:
- Sense of Wonder Theme, Poem Category
- Sense of Wonder Theme, Essay Category
- Sense of Wonder Theme, Poem with Photograph Category
- Sense of Wonder Theme, Essay with Photograph Category
- Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Theme, Poem Category
- Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Theme, Essay Category
- Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Theme, Poem with Photograph Category
- Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Theme, Essay with Photograph Category
4. Submission Guidelines
All submissions must follow the specifications below:
- Poem: 500 words maximum (approx. two pages)
- Essay: 500 words maximum (approx. two pages)
- Poem with Photograph: 500 words maximum (approx. two pages). One photograph per team in .jpg format, 300 ppi, and 100% size. Identify the photographer in your entry
- Essay with Photograph: 500 words maximum (approx. two pages). One photograph per team in .jpg format, 300 ppi, and 100% size. Identify the photographer in your entry
Entry Form & Submission
Teams need to fill in this entry form and send it to the competition via email or mailing address:
- Email: rachelcarsonlandmark@verizon.net
- Mailing Address:
Rachel Carson Landmark Alliance
11701 Berwick Road
Silver Spring, MD, 20904
Deadline: November 16, 2025, by 5:00 p.m. EST
5. What are the Judging Criteria for the Contest?
The primary judging criteria of the contest will look at how well the theme of choice is explored and reflected in the submission. Judges will also examine the quality of writing based on the key elements from Rachel Carson’s writing:
- Expressiveness: Engaging the senses through descriptive language
- Thoughtfulness: Reflecting on nature’s impact on our perceptions and values
- Accuracy: Using scientifically reliable sources, especially for ecosystem services
Besides the primary items, submissions will also be evaluated based on the following:
- Team Dynamics: Consideration will be given to how the intergenerational team collaborated and delivered the submission.
- Team Experience: As one of the competition’s goals is for participating teams to experience connections with nature, judges will look at how the project brought the team in touch with nature and the ecosystem around them.
6. Tips for Creating a Successful Submission
Themes Breakdown
To fully engage with the contest’s themes, participants, regardless of age, should take time to reflect on the deep and vital connection between humans and the natural world. As highlighted in the RCLA’s contest introduction, there are two key aspects to this connection: why we need nature and why nature needs us.
- Why We Need Nature: From the beginning of human history, nature has been a fundamental source of life, providing light, oxygen, food, shelter, and a sense of place. Beyond survival, nature also nourishes our emotional and mental well-being. It inspires wonder, offers peace, and brings joy and healing to those who spend time in it.
- Why Nature Needs Us: While we coexist with countless other species, humans are also responsible for significant environmental damage. According to the RCLA, more than one million species are at risk of extinction due to human-caused threats. Although we have contributed to this crisis, we also hold the power to reverse it. Protecting the environment and preserving biodiversity depends on our willingness to act.
Teams are encouraged to explore and express these themes in their contest entries, both the benefits we receive from nature and the responsibilities we bear.
Sense of Wonder Theme:
Focus on the “emotional and sensory” experience of connecting with nature. Outdoor experiences are not only inspirational, but they also have proven mental health benefits. Studies confirm that nature exposure can reduce teen depression and increase cognitive performance and ethical behavior.
Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Theme:
Blend emotional experience with factual evidence of ecosystem services. For example:
- Dragonflies controlling pests
- Oysters purifying water
- Trees hosting wildlife and absorbing CO₂
- Pollinators supporting agriculture
Teams are encouraged to combine personal reflection with researched examples demonstrating how nature provides essential benefits to humans.
Once you’ve selected the theme you want to explore, begin your creative journey by connecting with nature through a personal experience. For example, if you choose the Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild theme, you might focus on a favorite part of the natural world—a tree in a nearby park, a river that runs through your hometown, or a bird that visits your garden. Describe how this experience made you feel, then explain the ecological importance of that element of nature. Finally, consider how you and others can take steps to protect it.
Helpful Resources
Rachel Carson’s books:
The Sense of Wonder by Rachel Carson (1965)
Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962)
Research Articles and References:
- “The Benefits of Nature Experience” – Bratman et al., Landscape and Urban Planning, 2015
- “Wildlife Facing Extinction Risk” – The New York Times, May 7, 2019
- The Work of Nature by Yvonne Baskin (1997)
Previous winning entries:
You can see the winning submission here.
7. Contest Checklist
You can use the checklist below as a step-by-step guide to help you successfully enter the Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Contest 2025:
Task | |
| Form an intergenerational team (members from 2+ generations) |
| Confirm team members have read the background info (Part C) |
| Select a theme: Sense of Wonder or Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild |
| Choose a category: Poem, Essay, Poem + Photo, Essay + Photo |
| Choose a nature subject/topic for your entry and start your journey |
| Write your entry (max. 500 words) and follow all guidelines |
| Download, fill out, and save the 2025 Entry Form with a new name |
| Confirm that your entry includes the completed entry form and title |
| For email, ensure the file name includes the last name of the first team member |
| If including a photo, confirm it’s original, properly formatted, and has the photographer’s ID |
| Submit your entry by November 16, 2025, 5:00 p.m. EST |
| Contact RCLA with questions via email (rachelcarsonlandmark@verizon.net) or phone (301-593-4900) |
More than just a competition, the Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Contest is a chance to create a lasting, meaningful experience. By partnering with someone from a different generation, you’ll explore the beauty of nature together and use your creativity and writing skills to inspire others.
Creative Writing with Aralia
Introduction to Creative Writing
This course will focus on three genres: poetry, fiction, and personal narrative. In each 90-minute session, students will complete creative writing exercises, read, short anchor texts, and write their own original work.
