Ready your Crayons! Pick up your Cameras! Plant a Tree!

California Arbor Week Contests Highlight the Importance of Trees

 

Sacramento, Calif. – Two statewide contests are being held to celebrate California Arbor Week, March 7-14, a statewide celebration of trees. These contests are designed to increase awareness of and appreciation for the trees and forests in the communities where Californians live, work and play. Winners will be featured at the State Fair and awarded cash prizes.

 

Third, fourth, and fifth grade students throughout California are invited to participate in the Annual California Arbor Week Poster Contest. This year’s contest, themed “Trees Make My Community Healthy,” is designed to increase the student’s knowledge of the important roles of trees and the many benefits they provide to our communities. In addition to contest rules and entry forms, the contest information packet includes curriculum for three lessons. Entries are due by February 14, 2014. Sponsors include: California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Community Forests Foundation, and California ReLeaf.

 

All Californians are invited to participate in the California Trees Photo Contest. The contest is designed to highlight the broad diversity of tree species, settings, and landscapes throughout our state, in locations urban and rural, large and small. Photographs may be entered in two categories: My Favorite California Tree or Trees in My Community. Entries are due by March 31, 2014.

 

Contest information packets can be found at www.arborweek.org/contests.

 

California Arbor Week runs March 7-14 every year to mark famed horticulturist Luther Burbank’s birthday. In 2011, legislation was passed to define California Arbor Week in statute. California ReLeaf is raising money to fund tree-planting initiatives and support local organizations for 2014’s celebration. Visit www.arborweek.org for more info.