Riverside County Office of Education

Are you a young adult? Do you live and breathe poetry? We want to hear from you! Teens ages 13–19 who reside in Riverside County may submit up to ten pages of original poetry demonstrating their commitment to the mastery of the art and craft of poetry.

Teen Poet Laureate Competition Rules:

• Poems may be in any style or form but may not exceed a total of ten pages.
• Poems must be the original creative work of the poet. Plagiarism will result in immediate disqualification from this and all future Teen Poet Laureate opportunities.
• Single or double spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman preferred unless the poem’s form dictates the format (example: blackout poetry, erasures, visual poetry, etc.).
• No gratuitous violent or sexual content. No hate speech. No slander. If you must ask, you probably already know the answer. (But if you’re not sure, do ask.)

If Selected, Poet:

• Must be available for up to four public appearances throughout the county. (Transportation available upon request.)
• Must be enrolled in high school at time of submission.
• Must attest that their work is solely their own original creative work.

Jane Block Prize for Environmentalist Teen Poetry:

Additional prize consideration will be extended for submitted poems that engage with environmentalist themes. Jane Block Prize winners will be invited to read an annual gala hosted by Rivers and Lands Conservancy and other opportunities, in collaboration with the Environmental Education Collaborative, two organizations with which Jane Block was deeply involved.

Jane Block has been recognized by many institutions for her work as an environmentalist, feminist, and children’s services activist. She is associated with the adoption of the Western Riverside County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan, the preservation of the Santa Rosa Plateau, Box Springs Mountain Park, and Sycamore Canyon Park. 

Inlandia Institute and the Riverside County Office of Education are pleased to present this additional prize opportunity for teens engaging with nature and the environment through their original poetry.

Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Top Finalists

The top five finalists, including the Riverside County Teen Poet Laureate, were announced at the reception and poetry reading on November 20, 2024.

Finalists

Finalists will be published and receive a Certificate of Recognition.

Honorable Mentions

Honorable Mentions will receive a Certificate of Recognition.

Here's what participants had to say about their 2023 Riverside County Teen Poet Laureate experience:

“The process is almost effortless, and you'll be glad you tried it.”

“This was an amazing and uplifting experience, and I would 100% recommend you participate.”

“Poetry is a universal language, being able to share and be acknowledged