Arbor Day Poster Contest entries due April 8

Delaware Forest Service’s 2016 Arbor Day Poster Contest is open to all children in kindergarten through fifth grades in Delaware public, private, home and charter schools. After-school programs and youth groups are also eligible. This year's theme isTrees are Terrific…and Forests are Too! The deadline for poster submission is Friday, April 8.

For more information, email contest coordinator Ashley Peebles at Ashley.Peebles@state.de.us or call 302-698-4551.

For teachers and schools to register for the contest, sign up to receive free tree seedlings for their school and access the 2016 Arbor Day Poster Contest Guidelines, go to www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-arbor-day-poster-contest-and-annual-free-seedling-giveaway-tickets-21432944514?aff=ebrowse.

A total of 12 winners will be selected. There will be one winner from each county in the four separate grade categories of kindergarten, first and second grades, third and fourth grades, and fifth grade. From these county winners, an overall state winner will be chosen.

County winners will receive a $25 gift card, a ceremonial tree planting held at their school, an invitation to the State Arbor Day Ceremony attended by the governor, a tree-inspired children’s book, a keepsake of their winning posters reprinted on canvas and framed for display, and online display of their winning posters.

The state winner will receive all of the above plus an additional $25 gift card. To view a complete gallery of the 2015 Poster Contest winners, go to delawaretrees.com/2015arbordaypostercontest.html.

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 one to five on these criteria: use of theme, originality, neatness and artistic expression.

This year’s theme is designed to increase knowledge about forests and forest resources. 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.