Arbor Day is generally celebrated on the last Friday in April however the date can change to allow for local climate changes. The very first Arbor Day was established on April 10, 1872 in Nebraska. Nebraska, being a barren plain at the time was in dire need of trees so local pioneers decided to plant them for firewood, shades and to keep the wind at bay. Towns that planted the most trees on that day were offered prizes and recognition and it is estimated that lead to more than one million trees being planted. Since then, Arbor Day has been adopted around the country and the world with many communities taking part in Arbor Day celebrations, events and of course tree planting.
Want to get involved in Arbor Day in your community? Why not plant a Tree or several. Get your staff or a group of volunteers together and sponsor a tree planting in a community park. Be sure to send a press release announcing the event and a post press release with photos. Go before the city council or commission and see if they will do a proclamation for the dedication. Ask Public servants to join in the festivities and end with a ribbon cutting ceremony. If you have other “celebrities” in your community, get their involvement too. Get your local high school/colleges to be involved. Even invite grade school children and their parents to help plant small shrubs, bushes and even seedlings.
Join Arbor Day.org and get 10 FREE trees with your membership.
Buy Give-A-Tree™ Cards. Every card plants a tree. Bright and beautiful Give-A-Tree Cards from the Arbor Day Foundation help bring America’s National Forests back to life by planting a tree in honor of the recipient.
Sponsor an Arbor Day Essay or Poster Contest in local schools and award your product and service or monetary prizes to the “winners.” Get the local library to display the posters.
Read the history of Arbor Day http://www.arbor-day.net/
Check out these Arbor Day Crafts http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/arborday/
Play the Arbor Day trivia game http://www.arborday.org/kids/treetrivia/
More Arbor Day trivia can be found at http://www.idahoforests.org/img/pdf/trivia.pdf
TreeHugger.com has more interesting reading about Ecology and saving the planet at http://www.treehugger.com/
Today is also:
Hairstylist Appreciation Day
National Hairball Awareness Day
National Honesty Day
Also on this date:
In 1772 John Clais patents the first scale
In 1789 George Washington is inaugurated as the first US president
In 1885 the Boston Pops Orchestra forms
In 1904 the Ice cream cone makes its debut
In 1952 Mr Potato Head becomes the toy advertised on television
