Arbor Day Poster Contest to all fifth-graders

The Division of Forestry is promoting Arbor Day and the benefits of trees through an Arbor Day poster contest. This year's theme is "Trees are Terrific and Forests Are Too!" The contest is open to all fifth-grade students in the Mountain State and is designed to teach why trees are important to West Virginia.

The state winner will receive prizes from the National Arbor Day Foundation and a $100 U.S. Savings Bond from the West Virginia Forestry Association. The winning student will be recognized during an Arbor Day ceremony and have a tree planted in his or her honor. West Virginia's winning poster will be submitted to the National Arbor Day foundation to compete in the national contest.

Additional cash prizes will be provided by the Oakland Foundation. The winning student's school will receive $200 for classroom and art supplies. Students with second and third-place posters also will be recognized and their schools each will receive $150 for supplies. All participating teachers will receive instructional materials with lesson plans and hands-on activities from the National Arbor Day Foundation.

Posters must be submitted by March 5. Judging will occur and a state winner will be selected the following week. Interested schools and teachers may contact Andy Sheetz at asheetz@wvforestry.com or 304-558-2788 for an Arbor Day poster contest packet and educational materials.

This contest is sponsored in West Virginia by the Forestry Division's Urban and Community Forestry program and nationally by the National Arbor Day Foundation.