Sunday hunting is prohibited on all State Forest property Learn more about this alert.
Sunday hunting is prohibited on all State Forest property Learn more about this alert.
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 will be observed in Delaware on Friday, April 25, 2025.
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!
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.
This year’s poster theme, “Trees are Terrific…for People and Places!”
Trees are terrific for people and places because they provide a wide range of benefits that support healthier, happier communities. Trees give people important resources like fresh oxygen to breathe, fruit to eat, and wood for a multitude of products. Trees also offer emotional and social benefits, being around them can reduce stress, improve mood, and create peaceful spaces for communities to enjoy. Their shade helps cool streets, homes, and parks, reducing energy use and creating comfortable spaces for people to gather. Trees also support wildlife, prevent soil erosion, and manage stormwater by soaking up excess rain. People and trees are deeply connected because they rely on each other in many important ways. People care for trees by planting them, watering them, and protecting forests and green spaces. This mutual relationship shows that healthy trees help create healthy people, and caring for trees helps ensure a better environment for everyone. In every setting, from busy urban areas to quiet community forests, trees help create stronger, greener, and more enjoyable places to live.
Saanvi Komatineni – Cedar Lane Early Childhood Center, Middletown
Kindergarten
Jishnu Shankar
North Star Elementary
Grades 1 and 2
Miki Thantharanont
Lancashire Elementary
Grades 3 and 4
Shuvam Kaity
North Star Elementary
Grade 5
STATE WINNER!
Amaya Fruits
McIlvaine Early Childhood Center, Magnolia
Kindergarten
Liam Rivera
Sunnyside Elementary, Smyrna
Grades 1 and 2
Sophie Benjamin
Nellie Stokes Elementary, Camden
Grades 3 and 4
Theresa Sherman
Campus Community School, Dover
Grade 5
Iyla Gordon
St. John’s Preschool & Kindergarten, Seaford
Kindergarten
Conor Petrie
Lord Baltimore Elementary
Grades 1 and 2
Sunny Smith
Rehoboth Elementary, Rehoboth
Grades 3 and 4
Emma Berry
Southern Delaware School of the Arts, Selbyville
Grade 5
Aliha Waheed
Cedar Lane Early Childhood Center
Kindergarten
Jishnu Shankar
North Star Elementary
Grades 1 and 2
Poorna Shankar
North Star Elementary
Grades 3 and 4
STATE WINNER!
Abby Riley
Heritage Elementary
Grade 5
Isla Dobyns
Major George S. Welch Elementary
Kindergarten
Beau Bowman
Hartly Elementary
Grades 1 and 2
Adrianna Shotwell
Lake Forest East Elementary
Grades 3 and 4
Benaiah King
Veritas Academy
Grade 5
Everly McCracken
St. John’s Preschool & Kindergarten
Layla Warner
Lord Baltimore Elementary
Grades 1 and 2
Griffin Dickerson
Epworth Christian School
Grades 3 and 4
Brynn Hardesty
Southern Delaware School of the Arts
Grade 5
Sayesha Withanage
Newark Charter
Kindergarten
Sameera Kuricheti
North Star Elementary
Grades 1 and 2
Melody Wang
North Star Elementary
Grades 3 and 4
STATE WINNER!
Ishan Goswami
Olive B. Loss Elementary
Grade 5
Johnette Maiwo
McIlvaine Early Childhood Center
Kindergarten
Addison Conklin
Nellie H. Stokes Elementary
Grades 1 and 2
Benaiah King
Veritas Academy
Grades 3 and 4
Maeva Colona
The Reserve School
Grade 5
Rey James
St. John’s Preschool & Kindergarten
Kinley Nastalski
Lord Baltimore Elementary
Grades 1 and 2
Harper Shockley
Epworth Christian School
Grades 3 and 4
Madelyn Fischinskie
Rehoboth Elementary
Grade 5
Kindergarten
Susanna Sanford
Brandywine Springs Elementary
Grades 1 and 2
Lyla Jones
Brandywine Springs Elementary
STATE WINNER!
Grades 3 and 4
Hillary Shen
North Star Elementary
Grade 5
Easton Parker
Heritage Elementary
Kindergarten
Zadriyan Marshall
Booker T. Washington Elementary
Grades 1 and 2
Kylie Clark
Smyrna Elementary
Grades 3 and 4
Eliana Oberdick
W. B. Simpson Elementary
Grade 5
Audriana Friday
W. B. Simpson Elementary
Kindergarten
Henry Hearn
St. John’s Preschool
Grades 1 and 2
Julian Spitzer
Lord Baltimore Elementary
Grades 3 and 4
Evelyn Maloney
Epworth Christian
Grade 5
Sage McMahon
Rehoboth Elementary
Kindergarten
Isaac Gustavsen
Brandywine Springs School
Grades 1 and 2
Nicole Yu
North Star Elementary
Grades 3 and 4
Gavin Chee
North Star Elementary
Grade 5
Sinai Weathers
Linden Hill Elementary
Kindergarten
Tammoni Anderson
Booker T. Washington Elementary
Grades 1 and 2
Ben Austin
Allen Frear Elementary
Grades 3 and 4
Eliana Oberdick
W. B. Simpson Elementary
Grade 5
Lilly Bartlett
Allen Frear Elementary
STATE WINNER!
Kindergarten
Asher Dukes
St. John’s Preschool
Grades 1 and 2
Lyla Deck
Lord Baltimore Elementary
Grades 3 and 4
Emily Morris
Epworth Christian
Grade 5
Annaleisyia Strangman
Rehoboth Elementary
For more information about the Arbor Day Poster Contest:
Email:
Ashley Melvin
View more event photos on Flickr: Delaware Forest Service – Flickr
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