COMMUNITY COLLECTION
Explore …
Our Community Collection is all about YOU. Maybe it’s your favorite memory of being on or near the river as a kid, or perhaps it’s why the river is so important to you now… it could be how the river makes you feel and why, or what purpose the river has served in your life and the lives of those around you.
We set out with a goal to gather as many stories as possible to highlight and represent the many voices of our watershed, and we are always looking for more! We hope you enjoy these personal tales by watching, listening, and reading submissions from across the James River watershed.
James River Poetry Contest
bird by great blue bird
POEM by Liza Newell, Richmond, VA When springtime comes to Richmond we wake up …
A diverse river experience
ESSAY by Daniel Leech, Richmond, VA I am passionate about the James River …
Memories and an annual tradition
ESSAY by Chris Armstrong, Richmond, VA The James has always been an integral part of my life …
From mountain waters to the James
ESSAY by John Bragg, New Kent, VA I remember those rivers I was so fortunate to live near …
A river connects us
ESSAY by Tessa Biggs, Richmond, VA … the James is where my family goes to connect …
A peaceful refuge
ESSAY by Denise Kranich, Powhatan, VA When the pandemic hit in 2020 we were all trying to get outdoors more.
The importance of mussels
ESSAY by Daphne Cole, Blackstone, VA My first encounter with the James River was at Jamestown 4-H camp …
The River Through the Year
POEM by Maggie Harrington, Richmond, VA Poem submitted on behalf of Maggie Harrington, age 9…
Growing up with the river
ESSAY by Leslie Yesbeck, Richmond, VA I’ve always been more drawn to the riverbanks …
Sort by prompt
Using these prompts, James River lovers have shared essays, videos, audio recordings, poems, photographs and drawings that capture why the James River is important to them.