Welcome to “Arbor Month!” Gov. Jay Inslee officially proclaimed April 8, 2020 as Washington’s Arbor Day, and National Arbor Day is on Friday, April 24 this year.
Traditional public gatherings to celebrate Arbor Day this spring are postponed throughout the state due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. However, we can still use this time as an opportunity to explore creative ways to celebrate trees! Our friends at the Arbor Day Foundation have worked hard to provide communities with interactive resources and suggestions on their Alternative Celebration Ideas website.
Not only is Arbor Day celebrated in all 50 states this month, but communities across the nation are getting recognized as Tree City USAs (TCUSA), including 94 communities here in Washington. Many incorporate receiving their TCUSA award with their celebrations. One of the four requirements to be considered a TCUSA is having an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. For communities, schools and other organizations who participate in the Tree City USA program Arbor Day Foundation has agreed to waive the Arbor Day Celebration requirement for this year. However, while Arbor Day is traditionally held in the spring, you may designate any day of the year to recognize it. Fall is a great alternative for planting trees, and hopefully gathering in celebration.
In the meantime, as we continue to practice social distancing and follow the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” emergency order, here are our favorite tips for celebrating Arbor Day 2020:
- On Wednesday, April 8 tune in to our Facebook as Ben Thompson, Urban & Community Forestry Program Manager, goes live to kickoff Arbor Day by virtually showcasing trees at the Capitol Campus.
- Online Tree Learning: Carly’s Kids Corneris full of fun and educational resources to connect children with trees during Arbor Month. The site includes interactive games and print outs for kids of all ages.
- Virtually discover the street trees in your city. Check if your community has an online tree inventory that you can explore from home. Below are some examples of communities with online-based tree inventories:
o Tacoma, WA: Tacoma Tree Plotter
o Vancouver, WA: Vancouver Tree Plotter
o Seattle, WA: Trees for Seattle
- Showcase your favorite neighborhood tree in a social media post! Is it a tree you have in your yard? A tree you planted yourself? A tree that has been in your neighborhood longer than you have? It’s important to recognize and appreciate the trees that live close to home.
- Regularly visit our Facebook page throughout the month as we share posts for our “This Week In Bloom” Arbor Month feature. Once a week we’ll be teaching you about the blooms you may be seeing throughout your neighborhood.
- Livestream a tree book reading or share videos of librarians reading tree and nature books. Some of our favorites include The Lorax, The Giving Tree, and Tap the Magic Tree.
Happy Arbor Day!
Urban and community Forestry in Washington State 