Arbor Day
"Arbor" means "trees"...and Arbor Day is a day dedicated to
trees. Many think of it as the "tree planting" holiday, but it is better
thought of as a "tree caring" holiday- a day dedicated to the planting and care
of shade and forest trees.
Arbor Day in New Hampshire is observed every
year on the last Friday in April. It is a unique holiday- planting a tree looks
to the future and not at some past happening, as is the case of most holidays.
New Hampshire extends the celebration with Forest Conservation Week, which
begins the day after Arbor Day.
This special day was first adopted by
the State of Nebraska in 1872. The idea swiftly spread across the country. New
Hampshire's first official Arbor Day was proclaimed on April 29, 1886 by
Governor Moody Currier who advocated reforestation of waste and cutover lands,
and planting of shade and ornamental trees and shrubs around homes, along
highways, and other public places. Today every state has an official date for
Arbor Day.
Arbor Day Foundation Announces End to Annual Poster Contest
After almost 20 years, the Arbor Day Foundation has announced the end to its annual poster contest. The contest, created to enhance nature-based education for fifth-grade students nationwide, asked students to create a poster based on a tree-inspired theme presented in the Arbor Day Foundation curriculum each year. Each state was permitted to submit one poster to the national contest, and one winner was chosen nationwide.
A listing of past New Hampshire state winners and their posters can be found on the UNH Cooperative Extension website http://extension.unh.edu/Forestry/arbor.htm.
The poster contest and associated curriculum started in 18 states with 4,300 fifth grade students. At the peak of its popularity, the contest involved over 75,000 fifth grade classrooms and 1.5 million students.
The Arbor Day Foundation, whose mission is to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees, is changing its youth education focus to its new Nature Explore program, created in partnership with Dimensions. Dimensions is a new, specially designed and free online resource which will be available in October 2010.
Educators who wish to continue to use the poster contest curriculum in their schools may request a copy from the New Hampshire state coordinator, Kristina Ferrare at UNH Cooperative Extension. She may be reached at (603) 862-3883 or kristina.ferrare@unh.edu.
For more information on the Arbor Day Foundation, visit www.arborday.org.
Arbor Day Poster Contest --- Past New Hampshire Winners
Every year the "National Arbor Day
Foundation" sponsors an Arbor Day poster
contest. Click below, to view past winning entries:
- 2010 first place, Jessica C., Pollard Elementary School in Plaistow
- 2010 runner up, Tristen K., Infant Jesus School in Nashua
- 2010 honorable mention , Luke N., Vilas Middle School in Cheshire
- 2009 first place - Sara M., Alstead Primary School
- 2008 first place - Madison H, Matthew Thornton School in Londonderry
- 2008 honorable mention - Nikos L, Alstead Primary School in Alstead
- 2007 first place - Thoreau B, Vilas Elementary School in Alstead
- 2007 honorable mention - Emily L, Infant Jesus School in Nashua
- 2006 first place - Kyle B, Matthew Thornton School in Londonderry
- 2006 honorable mention - Linda T, Dover Middle School in Dover
- 2005 first place - Helen N, Matthew Thornton School in Londonderry
- 2005 honorable mention - Tyler G, Alstead Primary School
- 2004 first place - Deidre R, Matthew Thornton School in Londonderry
- 2004 honorable mention - Danielle B, Ashland School in Ashland
- 2003 first place - Stephanie P, Matthew Thornton School in Londonderry
- 2003 honorable mention - Sam H, InfantJesus School in Nashua
- 2002 first place - Sasha L, Rindge Memorial School
- 2002 honorable mention - Lauren M., Infant Jesus School in Nashua
The above was adapted from a NH Project Learning Tree, "Teacher's Guide for Arbor Day & Tree Planting Celebrations in New Hampshire" (focus on grades 3-6). Copies are available from the Forestry Information Center. When sending an email please provide contact information (phone number and post office address). The center can also be reached for callers in any of the New England states at 1-800-444-8978. The postal address is Rm 211 Nesmith Hall, 131 Main Street, Durham, NH, 03824.
