AUGUSTA — The Maine Forest Service, under the Maine Department of Conservation, invites fifth-grade pupils across the state to showcase their artistic talent — while learning about trees — with its annual Arbor Day National Poster Contest.
Themed “Trees are Terrific … in Cities and Towns,” the contest is cosponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation and Toyota. Pupils are encouraged to learn about the roles that trees play as active contributors to the health and beauty of all communities and to show off their creative flair by designing a poster to reflect this year’s theme.
From the urban landscape to small towns, this year’s national poster contest celebrates the important role trees play within our own cities and towns. The trees that make up these urban and community forests are “working trees” providing beauty, shade for our streets and schools, wildlife habitat, improving air quality, and moderating the temperature. Increasing student awareness of the important role trees play in the quality of life and environmental health of our cities and towns is the first step in maintaining an urban forest.
How to Sign Up:
Fifth-grade educators and homeschoolers in Maine can sign up by contacting Loretta Huttman, state contest coordinator, by e-mail at: projectcanopy@roadrunner.com. The deadline for state contest submissions is Feb. 9, 2009.
Last year, more than 75,000 fifth-grade classrooms received the materials. The Maine state winner was Megan R. of Friendship, whose poster can be seen at: http://www.arborday.org/kids/postercontest/postercontest.cfm?State=ME
This year’s Maine state winner will receive a $100 U.S. savings bond and a tree planted in his or her honor at their school. The pupil also will be a finalist in the national competition. National winners are announced on Arbor Day, Friday, April 24.
Poster contest details also are available on the internet by visiting the National Arbor Day Foundation web site: http://www.arborday.org/kids/postercontest/index.cfm
Project Canopy is a cooperative effort of the Maine Forest Service, under the Maine Department of Conservation, and the Pine Tree State Arboretum. Project Canopy assists communities and nonprofit, grassroots organizations in building self-sustaining urban and community forestry programs with strong local support.
