DOVER– The Delaware Forest Service is now accepting entries for its annual Arbor Day Poster Contest for grades K to 5—open to all public, private, and home school students. For the first time, this year’s theme is “Trees are Terrific…and Perfect for Pollinators!” The contest can teach students about the important role of trees in the well-being of both people and pollinators, such as bees.
In Delaware, Arbor Day is designated as the last Friday in April (April 27, 2018). Arbor Day was started in Nebraska in 1872 by J. Sterling Morton as an occasion to both celebrate and encourage the planting of trees.
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- 2018 Perfect for Pollinators (PDF)
- 2018 Arbor Day Poster Contest rules (PDF)
- Teacher Resources (Google Drive) at https://goo.gl/DcmMnj
Judging will take place at the Delaware Department of Agriculture in Dover and winners announced in early-April. All posters must reflect the 2018 contest theme (“Trees are Terrific… and Perfect for Pollinators!”) Posters will be judged on these four criteria: use of theme, originality, neatness, and artistic expression. Only one first, second, and third place winner from each school will be accepted in each category: kindergarten, first and second grade, third and fourth grade, and fifth grade. One winner from each county (New Castle, Kent, Sussex) will be selected in each entry category (K, 1-2, 3-4, 5). From these 12 winners, an overall state winner will be chosen to represent Delaware for the 2018 State Arbor Day Ceremony. All county-level category winners receive:
- $25.00 gift card
- ceremonial tree planting held at their school
- invitation to the State Arbor Day Ceremony (attended by the Governor)
- “tree inspired” children’s book
- winning posters will be printed on canvas and framed for permanent display as a keepsake
- winning posters will be displayed online (see list below for examples of previous winners)
- overall state winner will receive all of the above plus an additional $25.00 gift card.
Previous winners:
Deadline for poster submission: March 29, 2018.
All poster submissions should be addressed to:
Ashley Melvin, Delaware Forest Service
2320 South DuPont Highway
Dover, Delaware 19901
(302) 698-4551
(800) 282-8685
Email: Ashley Melvin