DOVER, Del. (May 2, 2023) – On the morning of Saturday, April 29, the Delaware Forest Service celebrated Arbor Day with an extensive tree planting surrounding the Peters Scout Camp/Peters Tract at Blackbird State Forest, along with our 2023 Arbor Day Poster Contest winners and their families. With support from the Forest Initiative Fund (FIF), this tree planting is part of a reforestation project that encompasses the Delaware Forest Service’s goals of sustainable forestry. The 2023 Arbor Day Poster Contest winners, their families, Governor John C. Carney, Jr., State cabinet members, and community volunteers planted over 1,400 seedlings. Tree seedling species included:

• Baldcypress
• Black cherry
• Black walnut
• Possomhaw
• Redbud
• Red cedar
• Serviceberry
• Shagbark hickory
• Silky Dogwood
• Spice bush
• Yellow poplar
• North red oak
• White oak

Reforestation allows for accelerated development of forested ecosystems following natural disturbance events, such as wildfire, wind events, and insect and disease infestations, or planned timber harvests. This practice allows trained foresters to use silviculture practices to help develop forest structure and species composition to provide for wildlife habitat, clean and abundant water, forest wood products, soil stabilization, and recreational opportunities. Reforestation also addresses emerging issues dealing with climate change by conserving and managing tree genetic diversity and sequestering carbon to counter greenhouse emissions. The goal of the FIF program is to provide sustainability to forests through afforestation and reforestation efforts that are managed by professionals through partnerships with landowners and agencies.

Odessa High School FFA planting tree seedlings alongside several community volunteers

Governor John Carney provided remarks on the importance of forestry stewardship, that all Delawareans “respect the right of future generations, and to share the rich, historic and natural heritage of Delaware.” Governor Carney issued an Arbor Day Proclamation, making the event the 151st Arbor Day Celebration. Other featured speakers included Education Secretary Dr. Mark Holodick, Agriculture Secretary Michael T. Scuse, DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin, and Delaware State Forester Kyle Hoyd. Assistant Director of Transportation Engineering Brian Urbanek was also present to represent DelDOT. With the recent retirement of Dr. Michael Valenti, the Arbor Day celebration also presented the opportunity for Kyle Hoyd to be formally sworn in as the Delaware Forest Service’s ninth Forestry Administrator.

Special acknowledgement is also given to community volunteers and numerous student groups, including Odessa High School FFA, Polytech High School Environmental Science Class, Boy Scouts of America Troop 239, Cub Scout Pack 239 and Girl Scouts of Chesapeake Bay Troop 778. The Delaware Forest Service also provided support throughout the event, from gathering and sorting the tree seedlings to directing volunteers.

Boy Scouts of America Troop 239 and Cub Scout Pack 239 with (L to R) Governor John Carney,
DDA Secretary Michael Scuse, DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin, and DDOE Secretary Dr. Mark Holodick

The theme of this year’s Arbor Day Poster Contest is “Trees are Terrific…In All Shapes and Sizes!” The theme highlights the importance of tree diversity in our community forests, which attracts a variety of wildlife and is more visually stimulating. Lyla Jones, a second-grader from Brandywine Springs Elementary School in Wilmington, is the 2023 Overall State Winner. To view all the 2023 winners and complete gallery, visit: https://de.gov/arbordaypostercontest

View more event photos on Flicker: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjABXvC

2023 Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners with (L to R) DNREC Secretary Shawn Garvin, DDA Secretary Michael Scuse,
Governor John Carney, DDOE Secretary Dr. Mark Holodick, and Forestry Trainer-Educator Ashley Melvin
(photo credit: Errol Ebanks/DNREC)

Dover, Delaware – October is disability history and awareness month in Delaware. The Governor’s Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens (GACEC) will once again host a Disability History poster contest. The annual Disability History poster contest provides kindergarten through 12th grade students an opportunity to convey their thoughts about disability awareness issues through art.

Posters will be judged by division’s elementary, middle, high school, computer-generated art (available to grades 9-12 only) and adapted art. Adapted art includes artwork done by students who may need to use adaptive equipment and require assistance to complete their project.

First, second and third place winners are chosen in each division, and winners and their families will be invited to an awards banquet hosted by GACEC. The deadline for poster entries is Friday, November 1, 2019. This year’s theme is “Inclusion is within everyone’s ability, WE ARE ALL ABLE.

For more information and poster contest guidelines, please visit gacec.delaware.gov. or contact sybil.baker@delaware.gov

DOVER – The Kent, New Castle, and Sussex Conservation Districts are now accepting entries for the districts’ annual conservation poster contest from K-12 students in public, charter, private, and home schools. Posters will be judged on the 2018 theme, “Watersheds: Our Water, Our Home,” in the following grade categories: K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9 and 10-12. First, second and third place winners in each category will receive a cash prize of $50, $25 and $15, respectively. State-level winning posters also will receive a cash award from the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts (DACD).

In addition to regular posters, a special category for computer-generated posters is open to all high school students in grades 9-12 who are enrolled in a graphics art/computer class or program of study. These entries will be judged at the county level only and will not be eligible for national judging.

Each Conservation District will submit first-place posters in each grade category for judging at the state level by DNREC professional staff. First-place posters in each grade level will be entered into the national conservation district poster contest, with winners to be displayed during the national conference Feb. 2-6, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas.

The student’s name, grade level, teacher and school must be clearly and legibly printed on the back of the poster. Posters must be hand-delivered or mailed flat in time to the meet the deadline to the Conservation District office in the county in which the student resides. Addresses are as follows:
• New Castle Conservation District, 2430 Old County Road, Newark, DE 19702
• Kent Conservation District, 800 Bay Road, Suite 2, Dover, DE 19901
• Sussex Conservation District, 21315 Berlin Road, Unit 4, Georgetown, DE 19947
The deadline for poster entries is Friday, Oct. 19.

The annual conservation poster contest provides students an opportunity to convey their ideas about soil, water, and related natural resource issues through art. It also highlights the educational outreach efforts of conservation districts and their state associations, auxiliaries and agencies.

“Watersheds: Our Water, Our Home,” this year’s annual stewardship theme developed by the National Association of Conservation Districts, is a reminder that everyone lives in a watershed, an area of land that drains to a common point. The way we treat the land in our watershed and our daily habits can have a big impact on the water we drink. Did you know that only 1 percent of the water on planet earth is fresh, usable water? For more information and educational resources about the theme and poster contest guidelines, please visit http://www.nacdnet.org/general-resources/stewardship-and-education-materials/contests/. For a flyer with Delaware’s poster contest guidelines, please visit www.newcastleconservationdistrict.org, www.kentcd.org or www.sussexconservation.org. For more information, please contact Rick Mickowski at 302-365-8979, or by email at Rick.Mickowski@delaware.gov.

Vol. 48, No. 247

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

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DOVER – The Delaware Association of Conservation Districts today announced the results of their annual statewide conservation poster contest, which followed the National Association of Conservation Districts’ theme, “Healthy Soils Are Full of Life.” The 2017 Soil and Water Stewardship Week theme encouraged people to remember the important benefits that healthy and productive soils provide for food, fiber, habitat, and clean water.

Posters were judged on use of color, attention to detail, an easy-to-understand conservation message, originality, and creativity, along with use of the conservation theme. First, second, and third place winners in each grade category received a gift card valued at $50, $25, and $15 respectively from their local conservation district office. First place state winners also received $50 from the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts. The first place winners from each county are:

*State-winning posters by these students were entered in the national poster contest sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts Ladies Auxiliary. National winners will be announced Jan. 28 at the NACD conference in Nashville, Tenn.

Delaware’s poster contest also includes a category for computer generated/graphic arts posters and received entries from two New Castle County schools. The winners were: first place, Trish Vo and second place, Nia Stevens, both from William Penn High School, and third place, Kaylee Lynn Neal, Del Castle High School.

The 2018 poster contest will focus on the theme, “Watersheds: Our Water, Our Home.” Contest information can be found at the NACD website at www.nacdnet.org under the Stewardship and Education page, or by contacting Rick Mickowski, Public Outreach Coordinator, New Castle Conservation District, 302-832-3100, ext. 8979.

For information about your local conservation district, please contact New Castle Conservation District at 302-832-3100, Kent Conservation District at 302-741-2600, or Sussex Conservation District at 302-856-3990.

Vol. 48, No. 9

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

This year’s theme: ‘Healthy Soils Are Full of Life’ 

DOVER – The Kent, New Castle, and Sussex Conservation Districts are now accepting entries in their annual conservation poster contest for K-12 students in Delaware’s public, charter, private, or home schools. Posters will be judged on the 2017 theme, “Healthy Soils Are Full of Life,” in the following grade categories: K-1, 2-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. First, second and third place winners in each category will receive a cash prize of $50, $25, and $15, respectively. The state-level winning posters also will receive a cash award from the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts (DACD).

The deadline for poster entries is Friday, Oct. 20. In addition to regular posters, a special category for computer-generated posters is open to all high school students in grades 9-12 who take a graphics art/computer class or program of study. These entries will be judged at the county/state level only and will not be eligible for national judging.

Each Conservation District will submit first-place posters in each grade category for judging at the state level. In the event that an insufficient number of posters are received at the county level, county level judging will be eliminated and all posters will be judged at the state level. First-place posters in each grade level will be entered into the national conservation district poster contest, with winners to be displayed during the National Association of Conservation District’s conference in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 27-31, 2018.

The student’s name, grade level, teacher, and school must be clearly and legibly printed on the back of the poster. Posters must be hand-delivered or mailed flat in time to the meet the deadline to the Conservation District office in the county in which the student resides. Addresses are as follows:

• New Castle Conservation District, 2430 Old County Road, Newark, DE 19702
• Kent Conservation District, 800 Bay Road, Suite 2, Dover, DE 19901
• Sussex Conservation District, 21315 Berlin Road, Unit 4, Georgetown, DE 19947

The annual conservation poster contest provides students with an opportunity to convey their thoughts about soil, water, and related natural resource issues through art. It also highlights the educational outreach efforts of conservation districts and their state associations, auxiliaries, and agencies. The contest follows the annual stewardship theme developed and sponsored by the National Association of Conservation Districts.

“Healthy Soils Are Full of Life,” this year’s theme, reminds us of the important benefits that healthy and productive soils provide to us for food, fiber, habitat, and clean water. For more information and educational resources about the theme and poster contest guidelines, please visit http://www.nacdnet.org/general-resources/stewardship-and-education-materials/contests/.

For a flyer with Delaware’s poster contest guidelines, please visit www.newcastleconservationdistrict.org, www.kentcd.org or www.sussexconservation.org. For more information, please contact Rick Mickowski at 302-832-3100 ext. 8979, or by email at Rick.Mickowski@delaware.gov.

The annual poster contest is sponsored by DNREC and the Delaware Association of Conservation Districts. DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship provides technical and financial assistance to Delaware’s farmers, landowners, and homeowners to protect and enhance the state’s soil and water resources, mainly through the Division’s Delaware Conservation Districts staff.

Vol. 47, No. 214

Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902