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Recently, my children participated in a writing contest called Find Your Voice!, a letter writing contest run by their elementary school and Seymour Osman Community Center (SOCC). The objective was to find a social topic to research, then write a letter to someone in an authoritative position who would have some sort of experience or knowledge or influence regarding that chosen topic. Riley, my 7-year-old son, wrote to President Obama about saving the rainforests.
Riley was one of the top 3 finalists. (My daughter, Maddy, also won! I’ll write about her in another post.)
The award for winning was a $25.00 donation to a charity that supports his cause. Riley’s money will be donated to Kids Saving the Rainforests, a non-profit organization that was founded by kids.
I did not know about this organization before Riley had decided that he wanted to write to President Obama. In Riley’s online research, he had discovered the website and almost forgot to continue with writing his letter because he had become so absorbed in reading what other kids had to say about the rainforests. There is a lot of useful facts and information, plus neat photos and stories shared by kids. There is an online store, games, activities, and suggestions on ways anyone can help protect one of the world’s most amazing places.
Here is Riley’s letter:
President Obama,
My name is Riley, a first grader in New Hampshire. I am writing to you because I want to save the rainforests. I believe you can help me because you are the President of the United States.
The rainforests are important to me because I love all the animals who live there, especially the gorillas, bats, and snakes. I don’t want them to vanish from the earth. Trees give us oxygen. Did you know that if a tree lives 50 years, it exhales 10,000 pounds of oxygen in its life (about 120 pounds a year). Without trees, our planet is in trouble.
Will you please make people stop cutting down the rainforest. You could talk to all the loggers and farmers and settlers who are destroying the rainforest. You could show them pictures of the animals that live there. You could help them understand that we need the rainforest on our planet.
Thank you so much for reading my letter and thinking about how you can help make a difference. I’m depending on you. And so are the rainforest animals.
Best Regards, Riley
Great letter, made me feel a bit emotional! And well done to your daughter too!
Hi Vanessa,
Thank you. I know what you mean. Anytime kids band together in a positive way, I get a little emotional too.
Kathryn, congrats to both your kids. My favourite part is: I’m depending on you
Hi Kathryn,
haha. yes, I loved that ‘depending on you’. Says it all. Thanks for commenting.
Wow, if he can write like this at 7, imagine what he’ll be like at 17! I know I didn’t write that well at that age.
It looks like both children inherited some skills and talent from their mother!
Did his letter actually get sent to the president? Or was the contest simply to prepare a letter to a chosen person? Either way, he did a great job!
Hey JM, Well, I know they had a form letter to go by, so I’m sure there was a bit of help there. Otherwise, the personal stuff is how he speaks anyway, and he loves rattling off obscure facts.
I know they are displaying the letters in a public area. I figure if they don’t actually send it, I just might do it and see what happens. I think it would be neat to get a “response” with the presidential seal.
Awesome! Both writing and environmental consciousness–kudos! Good work, Riley.
Hi Anne,
Contests like this are a wonderful way to inspire kids. Thanks for stopping by.
What a great way to instill a spirit of social responsibility in kids. Getting them interested and active early in what matters to them.
Hey there! I agree. I really love it when organizations get together to help kids learn that they can make a difference. Thanks for stopping by.
Another budding writer in the family?
Terrific letter. Congrats. Looking forward to your daughter’s letter too.
Thanks, Kourtney! They had a lot of fun writing the letters and seeing the positive results.
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Thanks for letting me camp out in your blog for a little while today. I had a great time and tried to leave my campsite as good as when I arrived. I’ll be back!
Well, thank you so much for visiting! Come back soon.
Reblogged this on and commented:
This post by 4amWriter spoke to me. I hope you will especially enjoy the letter from a boy to President Obama.
Thanks, Susan! Riley will be tickled.
Tickling children is my specialty.
Tell Riley “Hi!” For me and that I’m very proud of him for writing a letter to the President of the U.S.
Will do!
Nope no pizza I ate it!Wow talk about a parent being proud..I bet your busting buttons if not you should be. I can just imagine what high school will be like when more of the social ills will be brought to their attention. As ‘they’ say the apple doesn’t fall to far from the tree. Great job!
Hello! Too bad about the pizza, but I’ll try to get over it.
I am so proud of him. When kids think outside their own four walls and want to see changes occur in a broader scope I am always amazed. I really think schools and adults at home should do all they can to tap into the natural sense of giving in children.
Thanks so much for swinging by.