Trees: Lifeline for our Planet

Can’t We See by Vivien Sorce

Young Writers Project

In early 2022, Branch Out Burlington! teamed up with the Young Writers Project for the second time to hold a contest we call Trees: Lifeline for our Planet.  This contest was specifically for young people (~13-18 year-olds). We asked them to creatively capture their passion for trees and appreciation of the role trees play in combating climate change. We wanted the artwork to communicate the urgent need to value trees for reversing our current climate change trajectory. Entries could be in  written or visual art form, including poems, essays, photography, paintings, drawings and even songs.  The contest closed on February 28, 2022.  Prizes were awarded in two categories Writing (poetry, stories, songs, essays, etc.); and Visual Art (photography, drawing, painting, video, etc.) A panel of judges has awarded prizes to the top three in each of two categories and eight honorable mentions.  They are listed below.

Writing:

1st Place, Golden Birch Award ($150), Long Live The Queen by Amica Lansigan, Hanover, NH

2nd Place, Silver Maple Award ($100), The City Of Green by Emmett Jarvis, Montpelier, VT

3rd Place, Copper Beech Award ($75), Three Way Tie:

Genesis and Revelation by Yejun Park, Tallahassee, FL

Thank you Trees by Ben Wetherell, Montpelier, VT

You, Tree by Audrey Sioeng, Arcadia, CA

Visual Arts:

1st Place, Golden Birch Award ($150), Dying Magnificence by Sophia Guo, Lexington, MA

2nd Place, Silver Maple Award ($100),  Can’t We See by Vivien Sorce, Hinesburg, VT

3rd Place, Copper Beech Award ($75),  A Helping Hand by Caris Gaito, Burlington, VT

All visual arts entries can be seen here: Visual Arts; Trees: Lifeline for our Planet

Honorable Mentions – Writing

After the Fire by Cole Nace, Proctor VT

Without Roots We Are Alone  by Roxanne Glassenberg Wellesley MA

Leaves Will Fall by Ava Flint,   Shelburne VT

Someone by Whitney Dykstra,  Monkton VT

For Every Evergreen  by Imogen Sangha,  Hanover, NH

Why Not  by Ashleigh Provost, Hinesburg VT

Honorable Mentions -Visual Art

The Special Tree by Emma Stearns, Burlington VT

The Happy And Fun Tree by  Jesse McCray,  Shelburne, VT