Celebrate Arbor Day!
A Time to Celebrate Trees
Arbor Day is a national observance that celebrates the role of trees in our lives and promotes tree planting and care. First celebrated in 1872, it was established as a way to encourage farmers and homesteaders to plant trees that would provide shade, shelter, food, fuel and beauty to open areas. In New York, Arbor Day is traditionally celebrated the last Friday in April. However, communities around the state can celebrate Arbor Day any day of the year.
Unlike other holidays, many of which honor people or past events, Arbor Day promotes a better future. Young people are our future foresters and leaders. This day reminds us to share our knowledge with today's youth of the importance of trees and how to care for them.
You can celebrate Arbor Day by:
- Submitting a photo in the annual poster contest
- Planting a tree – Learn how to plant a tree
- Attending a tree planting celebration in your community – check with your city, town, or village for details
- Trying out suggestions from the Arbor Day Foundation to celebrate with your community
- Visiting the teacher resources page for themes, lesson plans, and more for students and youth
- Participate in the DEC School Seedling program
- Invite kids to visit the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree Education page for fun online activities
- Download our tree tags (PDF) and share photos of them on trees around town or in the local park. Community members will be shocked by the value and benefits of the trees in their neighborhood! Check out i-Tree MyTree, a simple web application that will calculate the benefits of trees in your neighborhood. You only need to know a few key facts about your tree: the species, condition, diameter, and sun exposure.
- Create a neighborhood street tree walk with sidewalk chalk – learn to identify tree species and where they’re from and share it with your neighbors
Arbor Day Poster Contest
2024 Arbor Day poster with Courtney Bradt's winning photography taken at Lapland Lake near Northville, NY.
Each year the public is invited to submit photography and/or artwork to be considered for the State Arbor Day Poster. DEC prints thousands of posters for distribution to schools, the NYS Fair, and arbor day celebration events in Tree City USA communities, and other venues. It is a long-time tradition for many New Yorkers!
The poster contests opens each year in the fall and closes December 31st. The winning poster is selected in January or February, and then posters are printed and available by April for distribution at Arbor Day events around the state.
The Arbor Day Poster Contest is open for submissions! Click here to submit your photo or artwork and read below for the contest rules. Submissions are due by December 31, 2024.
Contest Rules
- Both photographs and original artwork (paintings, drawings, etc.) may be submitted.
- Photographs must be taken in New York State, and artwork must be of a NYS location.
- Healthy trees without major defects tend to receive preference in judging.
- Photos or digital scans of artwork must be submitted electronically and the quality must be at least 300 dpi at 8"x10" and generally 1 MB or larger
- Model consent forms are required for any person who is a focus of a photo, or if the photo features a partially or wholly visible face or likeness.
- When in doubt, assume that model consent is required.
- Only one submission per person is allowed.
- Submissions must be received by 12/31/2024.
To submit your photography and/or artwork you must:
- Complete the online submission form, which includes a place to upload your image file.
- Complete a model consent form (PDF) for any distinguishable persons in the photo and upload to the submission form
- If you have any issues with the submission form, email: [email protected] for assistance.
