The 2021 theme is “Trees Are Terrific…in Many Wonderful Ways!”

The Delaware Forest Service is seeking entries for its annual “Arbor Day School Poster Contest,” open to students in grades K to 5 from all Delaware public, private, home school, after-school, and other organized youth groups. Winning posters will be selected from each county in the following categories: kindergarten, grades 1 and 2, grades 3 and 4, and grade 5. The twelve winners will be recognized as part of Delaware’s Statewide Arbor Day Celebration and, if possible, receive a tree planting ceremony at their school.* (*based on community health guidelines and public policy).
- View the 2021 Arbor Day Poster Contest Rules and Guidelines
- Register by March 15 at the Arbor Day Poster Registration Link
- Download the 2021 Arbor Day Poster Contest Flyer.
The poster contest is designed to increase student knowledge about forests and forest resources. For teachers, the poster contest can be an ideal way for students to learn more about the role of trees in our communities and their direct impact on Delawareans’ health and well-being. The schoolyard is a perfect setting to incorporate the role of trees into your everyday curriculum. Trees not only provide beauty, shade, and habitat and food for wildlife, they also improve air quality, muffle noise, moderate air temperatures, filter runoff into streams and rivers, and reduce energy consumption.
2021 THEME
“Trees Are Terrific…in Many Wonderful Ways!”
CRITERIA
Posters will be judged on originality, use of theme, neatness, and artistic expression.
CLASSROOM RESOURCES
Teachers can access the shared google folder for the 2021 Poster Guidelines and Rules, Curriculum Guide and additional resources at the Teacher Resource Shared Google Drive
Teachers should submit winning entries from their school using the Winning Poster Entry Form.
FREE SEEDLINGS
All participating classes will receive free loblolly pine seedlings delivered to their schools, just in time to celebrate Arbor Day!
REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE AND RECEIVE FREE SEEDLINGS
link: https://2021arbordaypostercontest.eventbrite.com
Questions: ashley.melvin@delaware.gov
IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER
- Deadline to register and reserve free seedlings: March 15
- Deadline to submit posters for state contest: April 1
- Arbor Day in Delaware: April 30
- Seedling delivery: mid-April
The last time the contest was held in 2019, Ellie Merrick, a fifth-grader at Southern Delaware School of the Arts in Selbyville, was the overall State Winner of the Delaware Forest Service’s 2019 Arbor Day School Poster Contest. The 2019 theme was “Trees are Terrific… in Cities and Towns!” — highlighting the benefits of trees in community settings. The 2020 contest was postponed and eventually canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Check out the gallery of previous winners:
- View 2019 Arbor Day Contest Winners.
- View 2018 Arbor Day Contest Winners
- View 2017 Arbor Day Contest Winners
- View 2016 Arbor Day Contest Winners
- View 2015 Arbor Day Contest Winners
- View 2014 Arbor Day Contest Winners
For more information, email: Ashley Melvin