Governor Markell joined state officials and members of the General Assembly to honor the winners of the Delaware Forest Service’s annual Arbor Day Poster Contest, recognize the City of Dover as the First State’s longest-running Tree City USA, and honor Delmarva Power as a Tree Line USA utility and for its volunteer work in underwriting the cost of Arbor  Day observances throughout the state. The Forest Service also thanked the Governor for his continued support during his administration in the areas of forest conservation, open space preservation, urban and community forestry, and its wildland fire program.

Rain Vasey, a fifth-grade student from Water Girl Farm Academy in Lincoln, was honored as the winner of the annual Delaware Forest Service School Poster Contest. She also won the award last year as a fourth-grader. The gallery of winning posters can be seen at http://delawaretrees.com/2016arbordaypostercontest

High-resolution images of the ceremony and captions of the photographs are available at http://delawaretrees.com/2016arbordayceremony

Other high-resolution photographs can be downloaded at the Department of Agriculture Flickr Page: https://flic.kr/s/aHskzKxtL2

Each year, Delaware celebrates the last Friday in April as “Arbor Day,” an occasion to plant trees and spotlight the numerous natural benefits that trees provide. First established in the United States by J. Sterling Morton in 1872 (almost a hundred years before Earth Day was introduced), an estimated one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the very first Arbor Day. 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.

The Delaware Forest Service sponsors an annual Arbor Day School Poster Contest for Delaware schoolchildren in grades K to 5 for all public, private, home, and charter schools. The winners receive a tree planting at their school, a gift card, a tree-themed book, and an invitation for them and their family to attend the State Arbor Day event with Governor Markell on May 12.  Click here to see (high-resolution) images of the 2016 Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners.

For more information, contact Ashley Peebles, 302-698-4551 or Ashley.Peebles@delaware.gov.

“Trees are Terrific…and Forests are Too!” That’s the theme of the Delaware Forest Service’s 2016 Arbor Day Poster Contest, which is open to all children in grades K to 5 in Delaware public, private, home, and charter schools. After-school programs and youth groups are also eligible. The deadline for poster submission is April 8, 2016. For more information, email contest coordinator Ashley Peebles or call 302-698-4551.

Teachers and schools can register for the contest, sign up to receive free tree seedlings for their school, and access the 2016 Arbor Day Poster Contest Guidelines at the Arbor Day Poster Contest Event Brite Registration Link.

A total of 12 winners will be selected: one from each county (New Castle, Kent, and Sussex)  in four separate grade categories (grades K, 1 to 2, 3 to 4, and 5). From these county winners, an overall State Winner will be chosen.

County winners receive:

• $25.00 gift card
• ceremonial tree planting held at the winner’s school
• invitation to the State Arbor Day Ceremony (attended by the Governor)
• “Tree inspired” children’s book
• winning posters will be reprinted on canvas and framed for display as a keepsake
• winning posters will be displayed online
• The State Winner will receive all of the above plus an additional $25.00 gift card.

  A complete gallery of the 2015 Poster Contest Winners can be viewed online.

Judging will take place at the Delaware Department of Agriculture and winners will be announced in early April.

Posters will be evaluated on a scale of 1 to 5 on the following criteria:

1. Use of Theme
2. Originality
3. Neatness
4. Artistic Expression

This year’s theme is designed to increase knowledge about forests and forest resources and the Arbor Day contest can be a great supplement to a K-5 science unit. The goal is to help children learn about the numerous benefits of trees and their direct impact on community health and well-being. Schools are a perfect setting to incorporate the role of urban trees into the everyday curriculum. Trees provide beauty while providing habitat and food for wildlife. They also improve air and water quality, muffle noise, enhance property values, moderate air temperatures, mitigate soil erosion, and reduce energy consumption.

All participating classes will receive free loblolly pine seedlings! Seedlings will be delivered just in time for planting in late-April.

MIDDLETOWN, Del. – Governor Jack A. Markell celebrated Arbor Day today by honoring the winners of the Delaware Forest Service’s annual school poster contest and joining Appoquinimink High School students and staff to plant more than 30 trees donated by Delmarva Power, which was also recognized with a “Tree Line USA” Award.

Link: Facebook Photo Album of State Arbor Day Ceremony highlights

• The Delaware Forest Service’s Arbor Day School Poster Contest is an annual competition open to students in grades K to 5 in all Delaware public, private, charter, and home schools. Winners from each county are chosen by a panel of judges in four categories: kindergarten, grades 1-2, grades 3-4, and grade 5. Each winner receives a framed canvas reproduction of their winning poster, a gift card, a tree planting ceremony at their school, and a tree-themed keepsake book.
• This year’s theme was “Trees are Terrific… Inside and Out!”
• The 2015 State Winner is fourth-grader Rain Vasey of Watergirl Farm Academy in Lincoln, Sussex County.
• Complete list of 2015 Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners (Click on thumbnails for high-resolution images of the winning poster)

Senator Bethany Hall-Long (D-10, Middletown) joined Governor Markell for photos with the winning students. (Click links for photos)

NEW CASTLE COUNTY
Kindergarten: Kara Maloney, Harlan Elementary, Wilmington (Photo)
Grades 1 to 2: Karina Gendron, Jennie Smith Elementary, Newark (Photo)
Grades 3 to 4: Elena Garber, Christ the Teacher, Newark (Photo)
Grade 5: Ben Sekowski, Christ the Teacher, Newark (Photo)

KENT COUNTY
Kindergarten: McKenzie Slaton, Maj. George Welch Elementary, Dover (Photo)
Grades 1 to 2: Madisyn Woods, Nellie H. Stokes Elementary, Dover (Photo)
Grades 3 to 4: Liam Wilson, Clayton Elementary, Clayton (Photo)
Grade 5: Sofia Estrada, Clayton Intermediate, Clayton (Photo)

SUSSEX COUNTY
Kindergarten: Sydney Johnson, Phillip C. Showell Elementary, Selbyville (Photo)
Grades 1 to 2: Yael Rivas, Lord Baltimore Elementary, Ocean View (Photo)
Grades 3 to 4: Rain Vasey, Watergirl Farm Academy, Lincoln
Grade 5: Mercy Winston, Winston Learning Academy, Milford

• The Arbor Day Ceremony took place at Appoquinimink School District’s Outdoor Classroom – designed to demonstrate renewable energy in a way that students and the community can understand. The building features hydronic heating, photovoltaic power, a wind turbine, and a system for rainwater collection and reuse.  (Architectural photos of the outdoor classroom)

Delmarva Power and the Arbor Day Program:

• Delmarva Power donated more than 30 trees to be planted by Appoquinimink High School Students on the district’s campus on Bunker Hill Road near the entrance to the school complex. The planting was completed on May 1 through the cooperation of Delmarva Power, the Delaware Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program, and the Appoquinimink School District grounds staff.  Students planted the trees under the guidance of teacher Karen Weiner of the AHS Career and Tech Education Department.
• Tree Line USA is a program of the National Arbor Day Foundation that recognizes best practices in utility arboriculture.  It is awarded each year to utilities that meet five core standards: 1) Quality Tree Care; 2) Annual Worker Training; 3) Tree Planting and Public Education; 4) Tree-Based Energy Conservation Program; and, 5) an Arbor Day Celebration.
• Delmarva Power has demonstrated a commitment to conservation and education through its Energy Saving Trees Program™  that allows homeowners to fill out an online application to request free trees for their property and a calculator that can estimate their cost and energy savings.
• Delmarva Power is the sole corporate sponsor of community Arbor Day Celebrations in all three Delaware counties. Each of Delaware’s 18 Tree City USA communities gets a free tree from Delmarva Power to use as part of their municipal Arbor Day Observance. In addition, each of the winners of the Arbor Day School Poster Contest receives a free tree and Arbor Day planting ceremony – courtesy of Delmarva Power.
• Delmarva Power employs forestry staff and administers a professional tree maintenance program that conforms to American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Delmarva Power is a division of Pepco Holdings, one of the largest suppliers of electricity and natural gas in the Mid-Atlantic Region. It has 305,000 Delaware electric customers, along with 126,000 Delmarva natural gas customers in New Castle County. Another 201,000 Maryland residents are served by Delmarva on that state’s Eastern Shore.

Delaware Forest Service’s 2015 Arbor Day Poster Contest and Free Seedling Program The Delaware Forest Service is holding its annual Arbor Day School Poster Contest, open to all Delaware students in grades K to 5. Public, private and home schools are encouraged to participate and posters are welcome from after-school groups and youth organizations. This year’s contest theme is “Trees are Terrific… Inside and Out.” To participate, teachers must register their classes by March 13 and submit posters by the deadline of March 27. As in previous years, classes that participate can also request free pine seedlings on a first-come, first-served basis.

• View 2014 Arbor Day Contest Winners
• Information: Email – Ashley Peebles, Delaware Forest Service Trainer-Educator. Phone: (302) 698-4551.

This year’s theme is designed to teach students about the structural components of trees and how these components help a tree function. This lesson can be adapted for grades K to 5 and makes an excellent addition to the K-5 science curriculum. The poster contest is also an important way for students to learn more about the role trees play in community health and well-being and can help students foster an appreciation for the natural world around them. As always, the Delaware Forest Service will provide all participating classes with free loblolly pine seedlings. The web link for contest registration is at http://2015arbordaycontest.eventbrite.com. Teachers can use the site to:

1. Register for participation in the 2015 contest
2. Reserve pine seedlings for students
3. Access the poster guidelines and rules

Important dates:

1. Deadline to register and reserve free seedlings: March 13, 2015
2. Deadline to submit posters for state contest: March 27, 2015
3. State Award Ceremony: Week of May 6, 2015 (tentative based on Governor Markell’s schedule)
4. Last year’s winning posters:  http://delawaretrees.com/2014arbordaypostercontest.html
5. Seedling delivery: Week of April 20, 2015
6. 2015 Arbor Day in Delaware: Friday, April 24

State Judging Criteria On a scale of 1-5, the following criteria are used to judge posters on the county and state level. These should be kept in mind when submitting posters:

1. Use of Theme
2. Originality
3. Neatness
4. Artistic Expression

Prizes Awarded to Winners A winner for each county (New Castle, Kent, and Sussex) will be selected for each entry category (Grades K, 1-2, 3-4, and 5). From these 12 winners, an overall state winner will be selected to represent Delaware as we celebrate Arbor Day 2015. Please note: the National Arbor Day Foundation is no longer hosting a National Poster Contest for fifth grade winners. The Delaware Forest Service is committed to continuing the Arbor Day Poster Contest at the state level. County winners receive:

1. $25 gift card
2. ceremonial tree planting held at their school
3. invitation to the State Arbor Day Ceremony (attended by the Governor)
4. “Tree inspired” children’s book
5. winning posters will be reprinted on canvas, framed for display, and given to winner as a keepsake
6. winning posters will be displayed online. Please visit delawaretrees.com to see the 2014 Arbor Day winners.
7. In addition to the previous prizes, the State Winner also receives an additional $25 gift card.

Judges will be selected by the Contest Coordinator and judging will take place at the Delaware Department of Agriculture in Dover. Winners will be announced in April and honored at the 2015 State Arbor Day Ceremony with Governor Jack A. Markell.

Posters must be received by March 27, 2015.

Entries should be mailed or delivered to:

Ashley Peebles, Contest Coordinator – Delaware Forest Service
2320 S. DuPont Highway Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 698-4551
Email: ashley.peebles@delaware.gov

Poster guidelines and rules can be found HERE.
Lesson plan and activity guide can be found HERE.

For those interested in programs designed to increase TEACHER knowledge in trees and roles of community trees and for grant opportunities to make your school more “green,” visit www.plt.org In 2014, more than 105 classes from 41 private, public, and home schools, and youth groups participated in the annual contest, and winners were honored at the state’s Arbor Day Ceremony at McIlvaine Early Childhood Center in Magnolia.

Last year, over 3,500 seedlings were distributed to students through the annual Free Seedling Program. As they have for many years, senior volunteers from the Modern Maturity Center’s RSVP Program in Dover wrapped tree seedlings for distribution to Delaware schoolchildren. Classrooms must participate in the Arbor Day Poster Contest to be eligible for free seedlings and tree programs. Delaware Forest Service staff delivered the seedlings to public and private schools statewide.