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Agriculture

Arbor Day Celebration



Arbor Day History


Green tree with the words "Celebrate Arbor Day"J. Sterling Morton established the first Arbor Day in Nebraska on April 10, 1872, to urge Americans to practice conservation by planting trees. On March 31, 1822, President Warren G. Harding issued a proclamation urging all governors to set aside the last Friday in April as the Golden Anniversary of Arbor Day. In 1961, under then Governor Elbert N. Carvel and the General Assembly, the last Friday in April was formally declared as Arbor Day in Delaware.

Arbor Day was observed in Delaware on Friday, April 26, 2024.

 

Why Should We Plant Trees?


Odessa FFA Members plant a seedling during the 2023 Arbor Day Celebration at Blackbird State Forest.
Odessa FFA Members help plant seedlings during the Arbor Day Celebration at Blackbird State Forest.

Planting a tree is a fun activity we can enjoy today, knowing that the tree will continue to improve our lives over time. Trees planted throughout our communities not only provide beauty but help shade our streets and schoolyards and create habitat and food for wildlife. Awareness of the difference between tree species helps in selecting the proper tree to plant in a given location based on site conditions, temperature and soil.

Healthy forests are essential to many healthy ecosystems in Delaware and benefit everyone by combating climate change by reducing soil erosion, cutting heating and cooling costs, moderating the temperature, cleaning the air, producing life-giving oxygen, and providing habitat for wildlife. Science has found that younger trees are more efficient in sequestering carbon, and trees are a renewable resource, where carbon is permanently stored in sustainably harvested timber and wood products that we use daily, including cardboard, lumber, flooring, furniture, medicine, coffee filters, and toothpaste.

Ample data exists to document that when children and adults spend more time outdoors, they become healthier, less stressed, more connected to nature, and better stewards of the environment. There are many activities that can be enjoyed outdoors, and trees and forests can enhance the experience. At a Delaware State Forest, for instance, you can explore, camp, hike, fish, birdwatch, ride bikes, read a book, or just take time away from your busy lifestyle. Even if you don’t have access to a forest, trees can be found in so many parts of our daily lives. Trees exist in parks, schoolyards, and backyards and can serve as the central focus of many outdoor adventures!

 

Arbor Day Poster Contest


2024 Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners at Celebration at the Abbott's Mill Nature Center
2024 Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners at Celebration at the Abbott’s Mill Nature Center

In recognition of this annual celebration, the Delaware Department of Agriculture Forest Service sponsors a yearly statewide school poster contest for kindergarten to fifth-grade students in public, private, homeschool, after-school, and other organized youth groups. The annual Arbor Day Poster Contest is designed to increase appreciation and awareness of trees’ important role in our quality of life, communities, ecosystems, and state. This year’s theme, “Trees are Terrific…for Outdoor Adventures!” highlights the importance of getting outside.

Posters are judged on originality, theme use, neatness, and artistic expression. Each winner receives a gift card, a tree-themed book, and a tree planting at their school. Twelve winners are selected, one from each county in four grade categories: kindergarten, grades 1 and 2, grades 3 and 4, and grade 5. The 12 winners will be invited to the governor’s annual Statewide Arbor Day Celebration. A tree-planting ceremony will also be scheduled at each winner’s school to celebrate Arbor Day.

The theme of this year’s Arbor Day Poster Contest is “Trees are Terrific…For Outdoor Adventures!” The theme highlights the importance of getting outside. When children and adults spend more time outdoors, they become healthier, less stressed, more connected to nature, and better stewards of the environment. There are many activities that can be enjoyed outdoors and trees and forests can enhance the experience.

Melody Wang, North Star Elementary School
Melody Wang, a third-grader from North Star Elementary School in Hockessin, is the 2024 Overall State Winner.

 

Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners

New Castle County


Sayesha Withanage, Newark Charter SchoolSayesha Withanage
Newark Charter
Kindergarten

Sameera Kuricheti, North Star Elementary SchoolSameera Kuricheti
North Star Elementary
Grades 1 and 2

Melody Wang, North Star Elementary SchoolMelody Wang
North Star Elementary
Grades 3 and 4

STATE WINNER!

Ishan Goswami, Olive B Loss Elementary SchoolIshan Goswami
Olive B. Loss Elementary
Grade 5

Kent County


Johnette Maiwo, McIlvaine Early Childhood CenterJohnette Maiwo
McIlvaine Early Childhood Center
Kindergarten

Addison Conklin, Nellie H Stokes Elementary SchoolAddison Conklin
Nellie H. Stokes Elementary
Grades 1 and 2

Benaiah King, Veritas AcademyBenaiah King
Veritas Academy
Grades 3 and 4

 

Maeva Colona, The Reserve SchoolMaeva Colona
The Reserve School
Grade 5

Sussex County


Rey James, St. John's Preschool & KindergartenRey James
St. John’s Preschool & Kindergarten

Kinley Nastalski, Lord Baltimore Elementary SchoolKinley Nastalski
Lord Baltimore Elementary
Grades 1 and 2

Harper Shockley, Epworth Christian SchoolHarper Shockley
Epworth Christian School
Grades 3 and 4

Madelyn Fischinskie, Rehoboth Elementary SchoolMadelyn Fischinskie
Rehoboth Elementary
Grade 5

View 2024 Arbor Day Poster Winners

New Castle County


Susanna Sanford, Brandywine Springs ElementaryKindergarten
Susanna Sanford
Brandywine Springs Elementary

Lyla Jones, Brandywine Springs ElementaryGrades 1 and 2
Lyla Jones
Brandywine Springs Elementary

STATE WINNER!

Hillary Shen, North Star ElementaryGrades 3 and 4
Hillary Shen
North Star Elementary

Easton Parker, Heritage Elementary

Grade 5
Easton Parker
Heritage Elementary

Kent County


Zadriyan Marshall, Booker T. Washington Elementary

Kindergarten
Zadriyan Marshall
Booker T. Washington Elementary

Kylie Clark, Smyrna Elementary

Grades 1 and 2
Kylie Clark
Smyrna Elementary

Eliana Oberdick, W. B. Simpson Elementary

Grades 3 and 4
Eliana Oberdick
W. B. Simpson Elementary

Audriana F., W. B. Simpson Elementary

Grade 5
Audriana Friday
W. B. Simpson Elementary

Sussex County


Henry Hearn, St. John’s Preschool

Kindergarten
Henry Hearn
St. John’s Preschool

Julian Spitzer, Lord Baltimore Elementary

Grades 1 and 2
Julian Spitzer
Lord Baltimore Elementary

Evelyn Maloney, Epworth Christian

Grades 3 and 4
Evelyn Maloney
Epworth Christian

Sage McMahon, Rehoboth Elementary

Grade 5
Sage McMahon
Rehoboth Elementary

View 2023 Arbor Day Poster Winners

New Castle County


Isaac GustavsonKindergarten
Isaac Gustavsen
Brandywine Springs School

Nicole YuGrades 1 and 2
Nicole Yu
North Star Elementary

Gavin CheeGrades 3 and 4
Gavin Chee
North Star Elementary

Sinai Weathers

Grade 5
Sinai Weathers
Linden Hill Elementary

Kent County


Tammoni Anderson

Kindergarten
Tammoni Anderson
Booker T. Washington Elementary

Ben AustinGrades 1 and 2
Ben Austin
Allen Frear Elementary

Eliana Oberdick

Grades 3 and 4
Eliana Oberdick
W. B. Simpson Elementary

Lilly Bartlett

Grade 5
Lilly Bartlett
Allen Frear Elementary

STATE WINNER!

Sussex County


Asher DukesKindergarten
Asher Dukes
St. John’s Preschool

Lyla DeckGrades 1 and 2
Lyla Deck
Lord Baltimore Elementary

Emily Morris

Grades 3 and 4
Emily Morris
Epworth Christian

Annaleisyia Strangman

Grade 5
Annaleisyia Strangman
Rehoboth Elementary

For more information about the Arbor Day Poster Contest:

Email:
Ashley Melvin

 

Arbor Day Observances


Arbor Day observances are also an integral part of community recognition programs such as Tree Campus USA, Tree City USA, and Delaware’s Tree Friendly Community Award, as well as qualifying for a financial award from the Urban Grant Program. Past Delaware Arbor Day celebrations:

View more event photos on Flickr: Delaware Forest Service – Flickr


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