Write Outside Your Door

Go Outside. Be Inspired. Be Creative. Write. Submit.

Write Outside Your Door is a free writing competition co-sponsored by the Missouri Botanical Garden and Gateway Writing Project that authentically integrates creative writing into the science and English language curriculums.  Write Outside Your Door invites students from grades K - 12 and teacher writers to write about their experiences outside, with nature, and as stewards of the environment. 

The contest opens in March and runs through May, inviting writers to get outdoors and write!

2024 Information     &   2024 Submission Form

Guidelines:  writers may submit stories, essays, or poems that creatively address the theme 

• a special place in nature and why it is meaningful
• Describes an author’s specific experience in nature
• a piece that reflects your experience with the changing climate
• a piece that reflects conservation, stewardship, or sustainability

Entries are judged based on:

• content (how well the theme has been addressed)
• voice (word choice and style)
• merits of composition (grammar and organization)
• Stories and essays should be 1,000 words or less
• poetry should be 3 - 30 lines

Learn More about our badging program for writing outdoors in 2022 - 2023

Congratulations to our 2023 Winners!  Each is recognized at the Missouri Botanical Garden Green Living Festival with a prize pack including a family membership to the Missouri Botanical Garden.   

	Zariah Goff,  Tree Blow  Haiku (K-2 category) from Kratz Elementary, Ritenour
	Roxy Cheek, Trees (3-5 category) from City Garden Montessori
	Keyshawn McGee,  Nature's Fate (6-8 category) from Confluence Academy Old North
	Ethan Sanders,   Natural Order (9  -12 category) from Webster Groves High School
	Bethany Oesterle,   Native Beauties (adult  category)

Congratulations to our 2022 Winners! Each is recognized with a prize pack including a family membership to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Our high school category winner is awarded a scholarship to OneCity Stories.  

	Matthew Scott,  Beautiful Spring (K-2 category) from Stanton Elementary, Rockwood
	Rosalie Allen, Nature (3-5 category) from Webster Groves
	Claire Fuhr,  Nature Poem (6-8 category) from St. Raphael the Archangel
	Kailynn Stiff,   Pondering Rain (9  -12 category) from  Fort Zumwalt South High School
	Zachary Oesterle,   St. Louis Pastoral (adult  category) Honorable Mention:  Amanda Bramley, A Few Feet Away (adult category)

Congratulations to our 2021 Winners! Each was recognized at the Virtual Missouri Botanical Garden Green Living Festival and wpm a prize pack including a family membership to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Our high school category winner was awarded a scholarship to OneCity Stories.  

	Prenisha Prasai,  Nature (K-2 category) from Sappington Elementary, Lindbergh
	Vada Kinworthy, Why I Like Lone Elk Park (3-5 category) from Murphy Elementary, Northwest
	Bethany Butryn,  Three Steps to Green (6-8 category) from Fort Zumwalt Middle

Congratulations to our 2020 Winners! Each is recognized at the Virtual Missouri Botanical Garden Green Living Festival and wins a prize pack including a family membership to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Our high school category winner is awarded a scholarship to OneCity Stories.  

	Rosario Kelley,  Spring Bliss to Summer Beaches (K-2 category) from Kennard Classical Junior Academy, SLPS
	Ben Kettleson, My Gardens (3-5 category) from Fairway Elementary, Rockwood
	Samantha Horn,  A Day in St. Louis (6-8 category) from Wentzville School District
	Maria Adamitis,   It Is Everything (9  -12 category) from  Villa Duchesne
	Stephanie Pisani,   It's Gonna Be O.K. (adult  category)

Congratulations to our 2019 Winners! Each were recognized at the Missouri Botanical Garden Green Living Festival and won a prize pack including a family membership to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Our high school category winner was also awarded a scholarship to OneCity Stories.  

	Clara Hick,  Spring Haiku (K-2 category) from Wilkinson E Childhood Center, SLPS
	Paula Sun, Spring (3-5 category) from Fairway Elementary, Rockwood
	Sierra Boehm,  Right Outside My Door (6-8 category) from Hancock Place Middle School, HPSD
	Claire Adams,   The Adventurer's Spirit (9  -12 category) from Fox Senior High School, Fox C6
	Aria Thompson, Getting Back to Nature (Judge's Choice) from Metro Academic and Classical High School, SLPS

Congratulations to our 2018 Winners! Each were recognized at the Missouri Botanical Garden Green Living Festival and won a prize pack including a family membership to the Missouri Botanical Garden. Our high school category winner was also awarded a scholarship to OneCity Stories.  

	Jack Skaggs, Hiking (K-2 category) from Geggie Elementary, Rockwood School District
	Shravanya Shrinivas, Magical Nature (3-5 category) from Lakeview Elementary, Wentzville School District
	Devan Ellison, The Two Sides to My House (6-8 category) from Rockwood School District
	Anna Forget, A Letter of Deep Apology to the Botanical Gardens of Saint Louis from Cor Jesu (9-12 category)