Children’s sensitivity can be the most beautiful way to connect art, education, and environmental awareness. With this in mind, the Hyacinth Macaw Institute announces the 2nd edition of the “Araras em Verso e Cor” (Macaws in Verse and Color) contest, aimed at children aged 6 to 12 who wish to express, through poetry or drawing, their affection and admiration for the blue-and-yellow macaws that inhabit Campo Grande.
After the success of the first edition, the contest returns in 2025 with even more enthusiasm and reinforces the Institute’s commitment to environmental education initiatives that involve schools, families, and society in valuing urban wildlife.
AN INITIATIVE FOR MUNICIPAL PARROT PROTECTION DAY
On September 22, Campo Grande celebrates Municipal Macaw Protection Day, established by Law No. 6,567 of March 19, 2021, as official recognition of the technical and scientific work carried out by the Hyacinth Macaw Institute over decades.
This date marks the commitment of the capital of Mato Grosso do Sul to the conservation of urban biodiversity, especially with emblematic species such as the blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna), the red-and-green macaw (Ara chloropterus), and the hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus).
Campo Grande was officially recognized as the Capital of Macaws, a direct result of continuous monitoring, behavioral research, environmental education, and protection programs promoted by the Institute.
The celebration on September 22 is a call to value the harmonious coexistence between people and macaws, which are now part of the city’s urban landscape. The “Araras em Verso e Cor” (Macaws in Verse and Color) contest is one of the main cultural events that are part of this celebration.
Contest categories
The contest is divided into two categories, organized by age group:
Drawing Category:
For children aged 6 to 8. Participants must create an original drawing representing the blue-and-yellow macaw (Ara ararauna), the bird symbol of the contest. The material can be made with colored pencils, paint, crayons, or any other traditional artistic resource. The drawing must be scanned and sent in JPG, JPEG, or PNJ format.
Poetry category:
For children aged 9 to 12. The challenge is to create an original poem about the blue-and-yellow macaw and the urban context of Campo Grande. The poem must be handwritten and sent as an image in JPG, JPEG, or PNJ format, with special attention to the legibility of the text.
All submissions must be sent via the online form available at this link:
Official schedule
Registration: August 22 to September 19, 2025
Assessment: September 20 and 21
Result: September 22, 2025, on Municipal Macaw Protection Day
Award ceremony: October 12, 2025, at 7 a.m., at the Hyacinth Macaw Institute headquarters
Award: an experience that goes beyond the certificate
Three children from each category will be awarded, totaling six winners. In addition to a certificate and a beautiful hyacinth macaw stuffed animal, each winner will participate in a unique experience: a morning as a Junior Researcher, closely following the work of the Hyacinth Macaw Institute.
The schedule for the awards day includes:
7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m.: Educational lecture on the Institute and conservation actions
8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.: Nest monitoring with the technical team
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Award ceremony and special picnic at Bosque das Aves
Each winning child must be accompanied by a guardian over the age of 18 and have their own means of transportation to participate in the activities.
Important: The Araras em Verso e Cor cultural contest, promoted by the Hyacinth Macaw Institute, is open exclusively to participants residing in Campo Grande, capital of Mato Grosso do Sul.
Important rules and participation criteria:
The contest is free of charge;
Participation is exclusively for children between the ages of 6 and 12;
The work must be original and made with traditional materials (no digital art);
Files must be sent in .jpg, .jpeg, or .pnj format, exclusively via the online form;
Works that do not comply with the format or are sent by other means will not be accepted.
Family’s role
Those responsible play an essential role in this process. They are the ones who register the children, scan the works, and ensure participation. In addition, the contest is a great opportunity to strengthen bonds, talk about the importance of biodiversity, and encourage artistic expression at home.
Connecting art, science, and love for nature
Araras em Verso e Cor is more than just a contest. It is a bridge between childhood, science, and caring for what is ours. By encouraging art and poetry, the Hyacinth Macaw Institute plants seeds of awareness in each participant, showing that preservation can also be a creative act.
Shall we fly together on this idea? Encourage a child to participate and help build a more colorful, poetic, and vibrant future for our urban macaws.
If you have any questions, please send a message to our WhatsApp:+55 67 9940-4063
Text by: Instituto Arara Azul
