2021 Threatened Species Day – POEM FOREST Workshop (Primary)

POEM FOREST is a free nature writing prize where words make positive climate action

Created by Red Room Poetry, in partnership with The Australian Botanic Garden, POEM FOREST deepens our connection and breathes life back into the world that sustains us. For every nature poem received a tree is planted to help heal endangered habitats.

This workshop celebrates Threatened Species Day with Bundjalung-Gumbayngirr poet, Dakota Feirer, who guides primary students through writing activities from our free, curriculum-aligned learning resource to help craft nature poems and support key learning outcomes.

Here’s what you can expect:

• Welcome to the POEM FOREST with Red Room Poetry
• Threatened species and conservation activities with the Australian Botanic Garden
• Poem reading and nature writing prompts with poet Dakota Feirer
• Some time to write your own nature poem!
• Q and A with Dakota and Red Room Poetry

All POEM FOREST Prize entries will be published and in the running for $5,000 worth of prizes, including a special Threatened Species Prize, $500 cash for each category, book packs, Garden tours, seeds and more!
The 2021 Prize closes 17 September. The 2022 Prize opens in March.

Before the Workshop:
A Threatened Species Prize (F-12) will be awarded to the best poem written in response to Australia’s threatened species. If students wish to be considered for this prize category, they should choose their threatened species in advance. See the list of threatened flora, fauna and ecological communities.

After the Workshop:
We invite you to download our free curriculum-aligned learning resource, to explore the POEM FOREST Prize. If possible, allow time after the workshop to edit your poems. You can find an editing checklist on page 23 of the learning resource. When students are happy with their final poems, help students to submit to the prize using our digital Entry Form. This can be a fun digital literacy task.

About our host: Dakota Feirer is a Bundjalung-Gumbayngirr man based in Dharawal and Yuin country on the south coast. Since graduating from an honours degree at the University of Wollongong, Dakota has consulted for NITV, the Art Gallery of New South Wales and AIATSIS. He is carving a path as an independent researcher, educator and advocate for cultural sovereignty and progressive warriorhood.