Amelia Meyer, a fifth-grader at the Southern Delaware School of the Arts in Selbyville, won the Delaware Forest Service’s 2018 Arbor Day School Poster Contest, beating entries from more than 3,200 students in 43 classes. “Trees Are Terrific…and Perfect for Pollinators!” was the theme chosen to highlight the important role of trees in the health of pollinators such as bees and butterflies. The annual contest is open to grade K to 5 students in all Delaware public, private, charter, and home schools. Winners were selected from each county in the following grades: K, 1-2, 3-4, and 5. Posters were evaluated on originality, use of theme, neatness, and artistic expression.

View the complete 2018 Arbor Day School Poster Contest winners (with links to high-resolution images).

2018 Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners

New Castle County Winners

Kindergarten – Jade Munoz-Martinez – Academia Antonia Alonso, Wilmington
Grades 1-2 – Makalani Collins – Jennie Smith Elementary, New Castle
Grades 3-4 – Madison Butts – Heritage Elementary, Wilmington
Grade 5 – Chase Puszkarczuk – Heritage Elementary, Wilmington

Kent County Winners

Kindergarten – Audriana Friday – Mcilvaine Early Childhood Center, Magnolia
Grades 1-2 – MaKenna Barclay – Nellie Stokes Elementary, Dover
Grades 3-4 – Gianni Coblentz – Hartly Elementary, Hartly
Grade 5 – Jacob Simons – WB Simpson Elementary, Wyoming

Sussex County Winners

Kindergarten – Michael Foracre – Paul Laurence Dunbar Elementary, Laurel
Grades 1-2 – Yojana Garcia-Lopez – Mispillion Elementary, Milford
Grades 3-4 – Samantha Geidel – Southern Delaware School of the Arts, Selbyville
Grade 5 – Amelia Meyer – Southern Delaware School of the Arts, Selbyville

Winners will receive their awards from Delaware Governor John Carney at the Delaware Forest Service’s Arbor Day Ceremony in Dover on May 4, 2018. Each winner receives a tree-themed book and a print reproduction of their poster on fine art canvas. Thanks to corporate sponsor Delmarva Power, a free tree planting ceremony will also be held at each winner’s school. In addition, every participating classroom receives free pine seedlings for all participants. Once again this year, students from the Middletown High School FFA Chapter and senior volunteers from the Modern Maturity Center in Dover are wrapping thousands of seedlings to distribute to schoolchildren statewide.

Check out the previous year’s winners:

• View 2017 Arbor Day Contest Winners
• View 2016 Arbor Day Contest Winners
• View 2015 Arbor Day Contest Winners
• View 2014 Arbor Day Contest Winners

For more information, email: Ashley Melvin, Delaware Forest Service Education Coordinator

DOVER, Del. – The Delaware Forest Service (DFS) has unveiled a new online tool that uses geographic information systems (GIS) software to help cities, towns, and neighborhoods to measure and increase their community tree canopy percentage. The link is: de.gov/treecanopy

Developed by the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s GIS specialist Jimmy Kroon, the tool covers the entire First State: municipalities, homeowner associations, and neighborhoods can assess their current level of tree cover as a starting point to explore opportunities to plant new trees or maintain their existing ones.

Tree canopy is important because trees provide numerous natural benefits for air and water quality, lower heating and cooling costs, a reduction in harmful UV radiation, as well as other environmental and social benefits. In particular, trees mitigate the soil erosion and stream pollution caused by impervious surfaces and storm water run-off in urban areas. Studies show that trees can improve property values and provide scenic beauty, reduce summer peak temperatures, and even improve social ties among neighbors, factors that can help a community attract businesses and residents.  One study found a 10% increase in tree cover was linked to a 12% decrease in crime .

Urban tree canopy (UTC) assessment is used to help decision-makers understand their urban forest resources, particularly how much tree canopy currently exists and the amount that could exist.  This enables citizens and public officials to identify “plantable space” to locate trees. The UTC assessment protocols have been applied to dozens of counties, cities, and towns in the United States and Canada. The assessments help inform UTC goals, prioritize tree planting locations, establish urban forestry master plans, and justify spending and potential return on investment (ROI) for urban forestry programs.

In Delaware, state forestry staff work with cities, towns, and communities to increase tree canopy through urban grants and technical assistance. Once the baseline of tree canopy has been established, urban foresters can help communities set goals to increase their percentage. According to Kesha Braunskill, Delaware Forest Service’s urban and community forestry program director, the following municipalities have adopted formal resolutions to increase and/or maintain their tree canopy:

• Arden
• Ardentown
• Blades
• City of New Castle
• Delaware City
• Delmar
• Georgetown
• Greenwood
• Henlopen Acres
• Laurel
• Lewes
• Millville
• Newark
• Rehoboth
• Smyrna
• Wilmington

“We hope this new online tool will help people focus on the many benefits of trees as well as the need to increase tree canopy statewide,” said Braunskill. “We can magnify the numerous benefits of our urban forests by simply planting more trees in our communities and developments.”

The Delaware Forest Service’s goal to keep and increase existing canopy is balanced against a concern that some people are taking out trees unnecessarily. In general, tree removals should be considered when the tree poses a hazard or a risk assessment shows a “safety” or “tree health” issue. In addition to asking the Delaware Forest Service for help, those with concerns are also advised to only consult companies with arborists certified by the International Society for Arboriculture (ISA). Because trees are so beneficial, the advice is generally if you “remove a tree” then “replace a tree.”

As part of the Delaware Forest Service’s annual tree grant process, applicants who seek funding for tree removals must provide for the tree’s replacement, a requirement also adopted by ordinances in Rehoboth, Lewes, and Wilmington. Similarly, every municipality that applies for an urban and community grant must also have a tree canopy goal.

There are currently tree canopy maps in PDF form for all 57 incorporated municipalities, but the new GIS tool allows those outside municipal boundaries to also be aware of the benefits of keeping and increasing their tree cover. Even homeowner associations can set goals: Tavistock in New Castle County, for example, has adopted a tree canopy resolution. The Delaware Forest Service offers technical assistance on tree planting, lists of recommended trees, site evaluation, tree ordinance, and setting tree canopy goals. The agency also sponsors a website, delawaretrees.com, where residents can learn about the work of  the urban and community forestry program and even read a “Tree Owner’s Manual” to learn about how to select, plant, and care for a new tree.

For more information, contact Kesha Braunskill at kesha.braunskill@delaware.gov

Municipalities, community associations, and non-profits in Delaware can now apply for urban and community forestry grants up to $5,000 from the Delaware Forest Service for a tree planting or tree management project. The deadline to apply is March 4, 2016. There are also Chesapeake Bay Tree Planting Grants available for applicants with land located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

Through a federal grant, the Delaware Forest Service offers up to $50,000 each year to communities throughout the state for tree planting, tree care, and tree management projects on publicly owned lands. The applicant must match these grants on a 50-50 basis either non-federal funds or in-kind services (volunteer time, staff time, etc.) within program guidelines. The Delaware Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program’s grant program is open to all municipalities, community associations, and certified 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations within the State of Delaware.

Grants range from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $5,000 in one of two project categories: tree planting or tree management. Applications are limited to one project in one project category and are judged on a competitive basis by a grant committee of the Delaware Community Forestry Council. Eligible projects must be performed on public lands within the community. Priority is given to first time applicants, Tree Friendly Communities, and applicants that have passed an Urban Tree Canopy Goal Resolution (only applies to Municipalities).

A free workshop to help participants complete the application process will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Delaware Center for Horticulture at 1810 N. DuPont St, Wilmington, DE 19806  Contact: Vikram Krishnamurthy, Phone:(302) 658-6262

Please register by January 15 at http://goo.gl/mBp4Db

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.