Celebrate Arbor Day

Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care. This historic holiday has been celebrated in Wisconsin since 1883. Each year Wisconsin's Governor issues an Arbor Day proclamation [PDF, 648KB].

Arbor Day varies by state, depending on the best tree-planting time. In Wisconsin, Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday of April each year as part of Forest Appreciation Week. The Arbor Day celebration also ties in nicely with Earth Day, celebrated annually on April 22nd. Read about the history of Arbor Day on EEK and the official National Arbor Day Foundation site [exit DNR].

Forests Are Important to Wisconsin's High Quality of Life

Forests cover nearly half of Wisconsin and are important to high quality of life in our state in many social, ecological and economic ways.

About eighty percent of Wisconsin residents live in urban forests (this includes all of the trees and other vegetation in and around a city, village, or development). Wisconsin has a total urban forest area of about 1.7 million acres - almost 5 percent of the total land area.

Urban forests are invaluable to the quality of urban life. Researchers found that trees in the yard can save up to 20 percent on annual air conditioning and 2 percent in winter heating costs. The urban forest also helps maintain clean air by removing 53 tons of carbon dioxide and 430 pounds of air pollutants annually for every 100 trees in a community.

The tree canopy softens downpours allowing rain to soak gradually into the ground where it can recharge local aquifers and in the process reduce flooding, pollution and sedimentation in rivers and lakes. In an age of increasing energy costs, trees also can positively impact energy needs. They convert sunlight into stored energy instead of heat, provide direct cooling through transpiration and evaporation, shade and insulate buildings. This reduces the need both for heating and air conditioning.

Trees also muffle noise and provide places to rest, meet, and socialize. Among the many benefits of maintaining a sustainable urban forest are the economic benefits. Research shows that people linger and shop longer along tree-lined streets. Apartments and offices in wooded areas rent more quickly and have higher and longer occupancy rates. A large tree can increase a house sale price by one percent and a large specimen tree can add 10 percent to property values.

Visit These Sites to Learn More Reasons to Celebrate Our Urban Forests

• USDA Forest Service - Trees Pay Us Back [exit DNR]
• Human-Environment Research Lab [exit DNR]

"Kids" from 1 to 100 Years Old Celebrate Arbor Day

Arbor Day celebrations are a highlight for many school children. Did you know that Wisconsin school children selected the sugar maple as Wisconsin's state tree many years ago?

The Wisconsin DNR - Division of Forestry nursery program helps 4th grade students observe Arbor Day by providing about 75,000 tree seedlings to Wisconsin schools each year.

Fourth-grade classrooms across Wisconsin also participate in DNR's annual essay contest. Check out the 2008 writing contest winners and honorable mentions.

Fifth-grade classrooms compete in the annual Arbor Day poster contest. View Wisconsin's 2008 Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners and honorable mentions.

The top entrants in both contests are honored on Arbor Day at a State Capitol ceremony and their creative works are featured in a calendar [PDF, 3.5MB].

2008 Arbor Day - Earth Day Calendar

Communities throughout Wisconsin also celebrate Arbor Day. This is one of the requirements for a community to be recognized as a Tree City USA. Wisconsin recently honored 162 communities that had earned Tree City USA status.

How Can You Celebrate?

Visit One of These Sites to Learn How to Identify the Trees You See Daily

• WDNR Tree & Shrub Identification
• EEK Tree Key
• LEAF Tree & Shrub Identification [exit DNR]
• Upper Peninsula Tree Identification [exit DNR]
• Identification of Common Trees of Iowa [exit DNR]

Organize a Local Community or School Celebration

• Arbor Day in the Classroom [exit DNR]

Ask Your Mayor to Issue an Arbor Day Proclamation

• Arbor Day Proclamation [exit DNR - PDF, 241KB]

More Ideas

• Plant a tree [PDF, 255KB]
• Attend a LEAF workshop [exit DNR]
• Attend a Project Learning Tree Workshop
• Learn about famous and historic trees in Wisconsin
• EEK - Tree Trivia Quiz
• EEK - Make Your Own Paper
• Learn the song "The Forest is the Place Where We All Live" [exit DNR]
• Request a free copy of a forestry poster with beautiful forest scene and board game on it [exit DNR]
• Share "In Grandpa's Woods" during a story time with young people [exit DNR]
• Explore Wisconsin forest history with the "Wisconsin Forest Tales" book and activities [exit DNR]
• Read an online forestry publication

And even more ideas can be found at: How to Celebrate Arbor Day [exit DNR]