Nature boys and girls – here's your chance to get published in the Guardian

"Calling All Young Naturalists: Share Your Outdoor Adventures with The Guardian"

The Guardian is once again calling on young people aged 8-14 to share their love of nature through a written submission as part of the popular Young Country Diary series. Each quarter, the journal invites children to write about an exciting encounter they've had with the natural world – whether it's observing a rare bird species, discovering a unique insect, or simply enjoying a beautiful sunset.

The submission deadline for winter entries is November 2nd, and four successful articles will be published in both print and online. Winning writers will not only see their work in print but also receive payment on behalf of the child author.

To take part, children must submit an article between 200-250 words that describes what they saw, heard, smelled, and felt during their outdoor adventure. The article should include any relevant details or insights gained from the experience, such as interesting facts about the species encountered or how it made them think about the world around them.

Tips for budding Young Country Diary writers are provided to help get them started, including using sensory language to describe their experiences and researching additional information about what they've observed. The Guardian also offers inspiration from previous winners, showcasing articles on topics such as discovering a rare fungus, spotting a majestic bird species, or exploring an intriguing insect.

Parents and guardians are asked to fill in the submission form themselves, ensuring that all necessary details are included. The journalist handling the submissions will be in contact with parents prior to publication to obtain their contact information.

This opportunity is open to children aged 8-14 based in the UK, making it a great way for young people to develop their writing skills and share their passion for nature with others.
 
I'm so stoked The Guardian is still supporting our next gen's love of nature! 🌿 It's amazing how this project can inspire young minds to care about the world around them, and who knows, maybe we'll see some future conservationists or scientists among us 🤓. I wish I was 8 again to take part in this awesome opportunity – can you imagine getting paid for sharing your outdoor adventures with a wider audience? 💸 The tips provided by The Guardian are super helpful too, especially the idea of using sensory language... it's like, don't just tell us what happened, show us how you felt about that majestic bird species 🐦!
 
omg I'm so down for this! 🤩 I was on a hike last summer and saw this gorgeous owl perched in a tree, its feathers all fluffy and white. It was so still that I could've sworn it was frozen in time... I wrote about it last year and actually got to see my article printed out in the Young Country Diary 😍. This time I'm thinking of writing about the weird fungus I found on a mushroom hunt with my school group 🍄. Anyone else have any crazy nature encounters they could share? 💬
 
omg this is so amazing 🤩! I'm totally down to help spread the word about this incredible chance for young naturalists to share their outdoor adventures 💚🌿. I mean, who wouldn't want to write about their favorite animal or plant species and see it in print? 📚 It's such a great way for kids to develop their writing skills while sharing their passion for nature with others 🌸. And the fact that they'll be paid for their work is just awesome 💸! I'm sure this will inspire so many young minds to get outside and explore the amazing world around us 🌳. Let's give it up for The Guardian for making this happen 👏
 
I think this is a pretty cool initiative 🌳💡. It's awesome that The Guardian is encouraging kids to get outdoors and appreciate nature. I mean, we've been warned about the importance of climate change and conservation, so it's great that they're giving young people a platform to share their experiences. But, at the same time, I'm not sure if this will really make a huge impact 🤔. I mean, are kids just going to write some generic article about seeing a bird or something? Or can they really dig deep and share something really meaningful?

And what's with the deadline being in November? That's like, right before winter breaks 😩. I know The Guardian wants to get these articles out before the school year ends, but it might be tough for kids to find time to write about their outdoor adventures amidst all the other holiday prep.

Anyway, if you're a kid who loves nature and writing, this could be a pretty cool opportunity 🌟. Just don't expect too much pressure from your parents when it comes to meeting that deadline 😉!
 
🌳 so cool that The Guardian is still promoting this kind of thing! I mean, who doesn't love sharing stories about being out in nature? 🌴 i'm sure the articles from last year were amazing... the payment is a nice touch too, gotta give it to The Guardian for supporting young writers and encouraging them to develop their skills. maybe we'll see some future scientists or conservationists come out of this program? 🤔
 
🌿💡 I think this is such an awesome idea! Kids who love nature have so much to share with the world 🌎, but sometimes they need a little push to get their thoughts down on paper or screen 📱. The fact that they're getting paid for it? Genius 💸. It's also great that it's not just about writing – they get to share all their senses and experiences, which is so cool 😊. My niece is into bug hunting right now, I'm totally going to encourage her to give this a shot 🐜. Who knows, maybe one of them will be the next David Attenborough 🌟!
 
man i love this idea 🌳📚 but gotta say its kinda weird that its mainly targeting uk kids only 🤔 i mean whats wrong with us americans or europeans alike just sharing our own outdoor adventures 🏞️, isnt the world big enough for everyone to join in on the fun 🌎
 
I'm low-key obsessed with kids who can write about being outdoors 🌳😍 The thing is, have you ever seen a kid try to describe what they saw in the forest? It's like watching them conjure up a whole world from thin air! "I felt the sun on my face and it was warm and stuff" 😂🌞 I'm sure some tiny writer out there has come up with something way more poetic than that. Anyway, if you're an 8-14 year old and love nature (and can spell), The Guardian is calling your name!
 
I just love this initiative by The Guardian 🌳📚! It's so important that we encourage kids to get outdoors and appreciate the beauty of nature. I remember when I was a kid, my grandfather used to take me on these amazing walks in the woods and teach me all about the different plants and animals we'd encounter. Those were some of the best days of my life, and I think it's fantastic that The Guardian is giving kids the chance to share their own experiences with others.

It's not just about the writing itself, either – it's also about developing a sense of wonder and curiosity about the world around us. As we get older, it's easy to lose touch with that sense of awe and excitement, but I think this project is a great way for kids to tap back into that spark.

I've got no doubt that some of these articles are going to be absolutely fantastic – I just wish I was 8 again so I could submit my own entry! 😉
 
Ugh, I just saw that climate change is causing more frequent and severe droughts in Africa 🌪️... like, what's next? Anyway, back to this Young Country Diary thing... it's kinda cool that The Guardian is promoting outdoor adventures among kids, but can you imagine if they're just writing about stuff for the sake of publishing? It's all just a way to get more readers... and we already have enough environmental issues to deal with 🌎...
 
OMG you guys I think this is such a great initiative 🌿📚! Young people are literally growing up surrounded by some of the most incredible natural wonders on our planet and The Guardian is giving them the chance to share their experiences with the world 💬. It's not just about writing a pretty story, it's also about learning new things and developing those important skills like observation and critical thinking 🤔.

I think it's so cool that they're offering prizes for the winners too, because let's be real who doesn't love a good incentive? 😊 But seriously, this is such a great way to encourage young people to get outside and appreciate nature. We need more of these types of initiatives in our lives, trust me! 🌸
 
OMG I'm so down for this! 🌳😍 They're like super encouraging kids to get outside and explore nature, which is literally what we all need more of these days. I love that they're not just focusing on the big animals or plants, but also on smaller creatures like insects - it's so cool to learn about them too!

I'm totally going to check out those tips for writing a diary entry... using sensory language and researching stuff is always helpful, right? 🤔 And yay for payment and publication! It's great that The Guardian is supporting young writers and sharing their passion with others. I've got some kiddos in my life who would love this, gotta spread the word! 👍
 
omg did u know that lots of kids r getting paid 4 writin about nature? its like they got a prize or sumthin lol. i mean dont get me wrong its cool 2 see these kids get excited bout nature but isnt it kinda weird dat they gotta have permission from their parents to submit? sounds like theyre the ones who should b writin not the kids lol. also wot about all the other countries havin this same thing? r they just missin out cuz they dont speak english?
 
omg I think this is such a cool idea 🤩! Kids getting to share their love of nature through writing is literally the best way to inspire others & encourage them to appreciate our amazing planet. And who doesn't love getting published in a real magazine? 💡 Plus, winning would be an awesome confidence booster for young writers, it's like a big ol' high-five from The Guardian 🎉!
 
Omg u guys! 🤩 I'm literally so down for this! 🌿📝 The idea of sharing ur love 4 nature thru writin is such a dope way 2 connect w/ others & express yurself! 🎨 And winnin a cash prize ain't bad either 😜. It's like, the perfect combination of gettin ur creative juices flowin & givin back to society. Plus, who doesn't love seein their name in print? 📰 I'm definitely gonna share this w/ all my young peeps & encourage 'em 2 submit! 💪
 
omg u guys i am SOOO excited about this!!! 🤩 The Guardian is calling on all young naturalists out there to share their outdoor adventures and it's literally the perfect opportunity for kids to express themselves and show off their love for nature! 🌿 I mean, who doesn't love writing about birds, insects, or just basking in that gorgeous winter sun? 😎 And can you even imagine getting your work published and seeing it in print?! 💸 That's like, totally a dream come true! The tips they're giving out are also super helpful, I'm thinking of entering myself lol...
 
🤔 I'm not sure how reliable The Guardian's reporting is when it comes to these types of contests. Anyone can submit an article, and it's not like there's any rigorous vetting process in place. What's to stop a kid from copying something they found online or submitting some fluffy piece about watching birds without actually experiencing anything groundbreaking? 🦆

I also find it weird that parents have to fill out the submission form themselves. Shouldn't the child be getting the credit for their work, especially since The Guardian is offering payment on behalf of the author? 🤑
 
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