Arbor Day

Statewide Contests for Wisconsin's 4th and 5th graders

The Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division sponsors the following contests each year. The creativity of 24 Wisconsin students highlights our annual Arbor Day-Earth Day Calendar. Click on the links below to learn more.

• 2010 Forest Appreciation Week Writing Contest: Why Plant Trees?
• Arbor Day Poster Contest

See the 2009 top three statewide winners and honorable mentions.

Announcing the 2010 Forest Appreciation Week Statewide Writing Contest for 4th Grade Students:

"Why Plant Trees?"

Twenty-one years ago the Department of Natural Resources Forestry Division asked fourth grade students across Wisconsin to think and write about our tree and forest resources, and to enter the annual Forest Appreciation Week Writing Contest. 

Today, once again we invite teachers and young scholars to participate. This year’s theme, "Why Plant Trees?" encourages 4th grade students to write about the importance of tree planting and to become an active steward of the environment.

Planting trees enhances Wisconsin's natural beauty, provides wildlife habitat, prevents soil erosion, improves air quality, provides shade, supplies wood for paper and other forest products, conserves valuable energy, and can offset the impacts of climate change. Tree planting gives everyone the opportunity to be an active steward of the environment and a local resource hero. Students should write about a personal experience with tree planting, their passion or motivation to plant trees or the general importance of a properly-planted tree. To inspire your participation in this year's contest view the video "Why Plant Trees?"

Please let us know what you think about the video by taking a 5 minute survey.

Official writing contest packets will be mailed to fourth grade teachers in late January 2010.

Enter early and win! The first 100 teachers who enter this year’s writing contest will receive a copy of “If Trees Could Talk: Stories about Wisconsin Trees” written by R. Bruce Allison. This book contains fascinating stories that introduce readers aged 7-12 to noteworthy trees, both past and present, across Wisconsin. Told in a compelling narrative style and supplemented with historical photographs and illustrations, these stories instill a sense of place and understanding of the rich heritage of our trees and forests.

2010 Contest Information

Requirements:

• Fourth grade students only
• Submit only (1) entry per classroom
• Any written form, including essay, poetry or other type of creative writing is acceptable. The entry must be 200 words or less and follow the theme: “Why Plant Trees?”
• Writing must be the original work of a student in fourth grade.
• A participant report form must be attached to your classroom entry. Your classroom entry must be sent to the designated judging team coordinator listed in the writing contest packet.
• Entries must be postmarked by March 5, 2010. Contest entries will not be returned and will become the property of the contest sponsor.

Judging:

• Written forms will be judged on theme application (60%), Originality (30%), Presentation and Accuracy (10%).
• A semi-finalist will be chosen from each CESA District and announced on the WDNR children's website Environmental Education for Kids, EEK!
  
• A panel of judges from the Department of Natural Resources will review the 12 semi-finalists and select three state winners.

Prizes and Recognition:

• The three state finalists and their teachers will be recognized at a celebration in our State Capitol.
• The first, second and third place winners will be presented with a savings bond of $100, $75 and $50, respectively, and receive a landscape tree to be planted at their school or in their community.
• Winning teachers will receive scholarships for professional development – a Learning, Experiences & Activities in Forestry (LEAF) clinic and a Project Learning Tree (PLT) workshop, plus additional classroom supplies.
• The writings of the the top 12 students will appear in the 2011 Arbor Day-Earth Day Calendar.

Contest sponsors include:
The Wisconsin Woodland Owners Association
LEAF, Wisconsin’s K-12 Forestry Education Program
Wisconsin's Project Learning Tree Program
and the Wisconsin Nursery Association

Resources

For more information contact: Forestry Appreciation Week Writing Contest. DNR-Forestry Division, PO Box 7921, Madison WI 53707-7921 or email Genny.Fannucchi@wisconsin.gov

Download 2010 Forest Appreciation Week contest packet [PDF, 3.1MB]

Classroom Contest Entry form [PDF, 286KB]

Student Certificate of Participation [PDF, 573KB]

2010 Writing Contest Flyer [PDF, 282KB] for educators and supporters

Why Plant Trees? -- Inspirational lyrics and music from songster Ken Lonnquist.