PHOTO: Lyla Jones of Brandywine Springs Elementary (at right) was the State winner for the 2023 poster contest.

Contact:
Ashley Melvin, Delaware Forest Service

(302) 698-4551  ashley.melvin@delaware.gov

DOVER, Del. (February 1, 2024) – The Delaware Forest Service is now seeking entries for its annual Arbor Day Poster Contest, open to all K-5 public, private, homeschool, after-school, and other organized youth groups. The annual Arbor Day Poster Contest is designed to increase an appreciation and awareness of the important role that trees play in our quality of life, communities, ecosystems, and our state. The Arbor Day Poster Contest is a fun way to celebrate Arbor Day with your students.

This year’s theme, “Trees are Terrific…for Outdoor Adventures!” is intended to highlight the importance of getting outside. 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!

Delaware’s Official Arbor Day is Friday, April 26.

Posters will be judged on originality, use of theme, neatness, and artistic expression. Each winner receives a gift card, a tree-themed book, and a tree planting at their school. Twelve winners will be selected, one from each county in four grade categories: kindergarten, grades 1 and 2, grades 3 and 4, and grade 5. All participating classes will receive free loblolly pine seedlings delivered to their school.

The 12 winners will be invited to the annual Statewide Arbor Day Celebration hosted by Governor Carney. A tree-planting ceremony will also be scheduled at each winner’s school to celebrate Arbor Day. This year, the teacher of each of the 12 poster winners will receive a “Tree Trunk” of outdoor learning resources.

The deadline to register is March 9, with entries submitted by March 22.

Register to Participate and Receive Seedlings:

2024 Arbor Day Poster Contest – Google Form

Contest Guidelines and Teacher Resources:

Guidelines and Resources – Shared Google Drive

SEEDLING ANNOUNCEMENT: We have been notified by the tree nurseries in the tri-state area of a projected shortage of tree seedlings this year. Some species have already sold out due to the increase in reforestation projects happening in our area. Participation in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest has also increased to the point that giving seedlings away may not remain sustainable (what a problem to have!). We will do our best to fill the orders until we run out of seedlings. If you do not think the majority of your students will be able to plant their seedlings, consider declining the offer to receive them.

This year the Delaware Forest Service is also celebrating Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday. Smokey wants everyone to enjoy their Outdoor Adventures wherever they may take you. As families are encouraged to spend time outdoors, Smokey’s timeless message reinforces the need for civic responsibility while enjoying Delaware’s precious natural resources. You can share the story of Smokey Bear with your students by participating in the National Smokey Bear Reading Challenge at a local library near you!

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. Trees planted today will benefit our communities tomorrow by improving air quality, serving as sound barriers, moderating air temperatures, reducing energy consumption, and filtering run-off into streams and rivers.

For more information, contact: ashley.melvin@delaware.gov

PHOTO: Lilly Bartlett of Allen Frear Elementary (at right) was the State winner for the 2022 poster contest.

Contact:
Ashley Melvin, Delaware Forest Service

(302) 698-4551  ashley.melvin@delaware.gov 

DOVER, Del. (January 6, 2023) — The Delaware Forest Service is now seeking entries for its annual Arbor Day Poster Contest, open to all K-5 public, private, homeschool, after-school, and other organized youth groups.  Designed to increase student knowledge about trees and forest resources, the contest is a great way for students to learn about the role trees play in our communities and their direct impact on Delawareans’ health and well-being.

This year’s theme, “Trees are Terrific…In All Shapes and Sizes!” highlights the importance of tree diversity in our community forests, which attracts a variety of wildlife and is more visually stimulating.

Arbor Day is Friday, April 28.

Posters will be judged on originality, use of theme, neatness, and artistic expression. Each winner receives a gift card, a tree-themed book, and a tree planting at their school.  Twelve winners will be selected, one from each county in four grade categories: kindergarten, grades 1 and 2, grades 3 and 4, and grade 5. All participating classes will receive free loblolly pine seedlings delivered to their school.

The 12 winners will be invited to the annual Statewide Arbor Day Celebration hosted by Governor Carney. A tree planting ceremony will also be scheduled at each winner’s school to celebrate Arbor Day. The deadline to register is March 9, with entries submitted by April 1.

Register to Participate and Receive Seedlings:

2023arbordaypostercontest.eventbrite.com

Contest Guidelines and Teacher Resources

tinyurl.com/rzzagf6  (Shared Google Drive)

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. Trees planted today will also be terrific “tomorrow” as they improve air quality, muffle noise, moderate air temperatures, filter run-off into streams and rivers, and reduce energy consumption.

For more information, contact: ashley.melvin@delaware.gov

DOVER, DE (April 14, 2022) – Spring break for most Delaware schools will occur the week of April 18.  The Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) and the Delaware Department of Education (DOE) are strongly encouraging families to test students for COVID-19 before their return to school following spring break using either over-the-counter (OTC) test kits or visiting a convenient testing location.  With the lifting of certain COVID-19 restrictions and mandates, many individuals are once again holding family gatherings or have scheduled travel plans this year.  Since you never know if the people around you might be positive for COVID-19 even without showing any symptoms, the best way to know your status and to keep classmates and teachers safe is to test the day before you return to school. This is especially true as Delaware starts to see a slight increase in COVID-19 cases.

DPH distributed approximately 190,000 OTC test kits to school districts, charter schools, and private/parochial schools this month. While some schools may choose to keep them for in-school testing purposes, others may choose to distribute them to families to make it easier for students to test before their return to school after the break.

Other convenient testing options include ordering free at-home COVID-19 test kits (four to five tests in a kit) from the federal government at covidtests.gov, purchasing them from pharmacies, or finding a testing site near you at de.gov/gettested.

“We’re pleased to partner with the Department of Education and school districts statewide to offer families peace of mind and a way for parents to know their child’s COVID-19 status before they go back to school at the end of this month,” said DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay.

“Our educators, students and families are grateful that, after two years of intermittent remote learning and quarantines, having everyone back in our buildings full time has made this spring feel more like a ‘typical’ school year,” Secretary of Education Mark Holodick said. “As families and staff travel over the break, I encourage everyone to continue mitigation strategies to reduce their risk of exposure and to test themselves before they return to school. This will help us finish this school year in the face-to-face instruction we are so happy to have back.”

In addition to testing before returning to school, families are encouraged to seek testing for their children when a student has been exposed to someone with COVID-19, has COVID-19 symptoms, or wishes to know their status before spending time with a person who is vulnerable to COVID-19 (e.g., immunocompromised, elderly, or unvaccinated). 

Spring break also is a great time to schedule COVID-19 vaccinations for those who have not yet received their first or second dose or a booster when eligible. 

“Cases have slightly increased over the last week.  We know COVID is not over,” said Dr. Rattay.  “Right now is actually the perfect time to make sure everyone is up to date on their vaccines to protect themselves and their community.” 

Keep these four simple tips in mind as your anytime COVID prevention toolkit:

• Get vaccinated (including getting your booster) when eligible.
• Wear a mask in areas of high COVID-19 transmission. Use the CDC’s Tool for identifying COVID-19 transmission levels. Also consider wearing a mask around others if you are unvaccinated, immunocompromised, or around people who are.
• Get tested if you have COVID-19 symptoms, have been exposed to someone with COVID, or weekly if you are not up to date on your vaccines.
• Stay home from work or school when sick.

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Anyone who is deaf, hard of hearing, Deaf-Blind or speech disabled can contact DPH by dialing 711 first using specialized devices (i.e. TTY, TeleBraille, voice devices). The 711 service is free and to learn more about how it works, please visit delawarerelay.com.

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware’s citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.

Updated order formalizes mask guidance for children, requires schools to notify families of positive cases 

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney on Wednesday signed the 25th modification to his State of Emergency declaration, formalizing new face covering requirements for children. The modification also requires Delaware schools to notify families if they become aware of positive cases of COVID-19 in their schools. 

Click here to read Governor Carney’s modification. 

“Delawareans are beating this virus and driving our numbers down. But if we hope to get more children and educators back in school, and more Delawareans back to work, we need to stay vigilant, ” said Governor Carney. “Wear a face mask. Wash your hands frequently. Stay at least six feet away from others. Stay home if you’re sick. And – whether you have symptoms or you don’t – consider getting a test at de.gov/gettested.” 

The modification also suspends formal observations under the DPAS II system until November 1, and directs the Department of Education to work with educators to develop a modified system for tracking student growth, taking into account the challenges of remote and hybrid learning.  For the months of September and October, the Department of Education will work with districts, charters, and educators on informal observation strategies and ensure educators are receiving feedback and administrators are giving feedback in a new way given the challenges presented by hybrid and remote learning.

Anyone with a question about COVID-19, whether related to medical or social service needs, should call Delaware 2-1-1. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing can text their ZIP code to 898-211. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Questions can also be submitted by email at DPHCall@delaware.gov.

Report violations of COVID-19 restrictions by emailing HSPContact@delaware.gov. 

DPH will continue to update the public as more information becomes available. For the latest on Delaware’s response, go to de.gov/coronavirus.

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Ellie Merrick, a fifth-grader at Southern Delaware School of the Arts in Selbyville, won the 2019 Arbor Day School Poster Contest.

Almost 100 years before Earth Day, Arbor Day was established on April 10, 1872 by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska City, Nebraska. It is believed more than one million trees were planted on the first Arbor Day. In Delaware, Arbor Day is traditionally celebrated on the last Friday in April, which falls on April 26, 2019. This year, the Delaware Forest Service will help Dover celebrate its 30th Anniversary as a Tree City USA by planting more than 30 trees at parks and streets throughout the city.

DOVER, Del. — Ellie Merrick, a 5th-grader at Southern Delaware School of the Arts in Selbyville, has been named the State Winner of the Delaware Forest Service’s 2019 Arbor Day Poster Contest. This year’s theme – “Trees Are Terrific…in Cities and Towns!” – was chosen to highlight the benefits of trees in our communities .The annual Arbor Day Poster Contest is open to Delaware students in grades K-5 in all public, private, charter, and home schools. Winners receive a tree-themed book, a free tree planting ceremony at their school (courtesy of sponsor Delmarva Power) and an invitation for them and their families to attend the State Arbor Day Ceremony with Governor Carney in Dover on April 26.

Winners were selected by a panel of judges for each county (New Castle, Kent, Sussex) in the following grade categories: kindergarten, grades 1-2, grades 3-4, and grade 5. Posters were judged on originality, use of theme, neatness, and artistic expression. The Arbor Day Poster Contest is designed to teach students about the role of trees and their direct impact on the health and well-being of Delaware residents.

View the complete gallery of 2019 Delaware Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners.

2019 Delaware Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners

The Delaware Forest Service also distributes free pine seedlings annually to Delaware elementary school children on a first-come, first-served basis. Once again, RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) volunteers from the Modern Maturity Center of Dover help to wrap thousands of seedlings to distribute to schoolchildren throughout the First State.

Planned 2019 Arbor Day Events in Delaware

• City of New Castle
  Friday April 26 – 10 a.m. – 4th & Chestnut, New Castle
  Tree planting and Arbor Day Ceremony
• Delaware State University, Dover
  Friday April 26 – 11 a.m. – MLK, Jr. Student Center
  “Arbor Day Tree Planting on DSU Campus”
• City of Lewes – 150th Arbor Day Celebration
  Saturday, April 27 at 10 a.m. – George H.P. Smith Park – Arbor Day Planting
  *** Also: free tree seminar at the Margaret H. Rollins Community Center at 111 Adams Ave.  
• Town of Ocean View
  Friday, April 26, 2019 at 2 p.m. – John West Park
  “Town of Ocean View Celebrates Arbor Day” – John West Park, 32 West Ave., Ocean View. Boy Scouts from Troop 281 will assist members of the Ocean View Town Council in planting several trees in the Park. There will be educational engagement opportunities and some fun Arbor Day activities for families until 6 p.m. including a youth art project and family photo-ops sporting Hug-A-Tree and Earth Day themes! The first 50 interested participants will get a free redbud seedling.
• Bayside, Fenwick Island
  Friday, April 26 – 9:00 a.m. – 31252 Americana Pkwy., Selbyville
  Arbor Day Event and Tree Planting
• City of Rehoboth Beach
  Arbor Day Tree Planting
  Monday, April 29 – Rehoboth Beach Elementary School
• City of Milford – 16th Annual Bug & Bud Festival
  Saturday, May 4 – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Walnut St., Front Streets and the Mispillion Riverwalk in historic downtown Milford, Delaware.
  Expected to attract more than 9,000 visitors this year, the Bug & Bud Festival serves as a celebration of Arbor Day, the City of Milford’s designation as a Tree City U.S.A. and Milford’s role in the ladybug’s designation as the State Bug of Delaware.