BLOOMINGTON – Arbor Day has been celebrated in the United States for more than 150 years, the first celebration occurring in largely tree-less Nebraska. Founder J. Sterling Morton, a newspaper editor and politician, was a longtime advocate for the windbreaking, soil-protecting, shade-creating, timber-growing benefits trees could bring to the Nebraska territory. His advocacy paid off when he became territory secretary and proposed the first tree-planting holiday to be celebrated in April 1872. Public response to the first Arbor Day was overwhelmingly enthusiastic with more than an estimated 1 million trees planted.
Today, every state celebrates Arbor Day, most on the last Friday in April. Though the world has changed drastically since 1872, today’s citizens have the same drive to plant trees those Nebraskans had many years ago. Trees are a critical component of solutions to some of the most prominent global environmental issues of today.
Bloomington Parks and Recreation invites friends and fans of trees to celebrate Arbor Day and Bloomington’s 39th consecutive year as a Tree City USA. Volunteers are welcome to assist urban forestry staff with planting trees in Switchyard Park on Grimes Lane on Friday, April 28th from 9 a.m. until noon. The event is free to attend.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one acre of forest can take up 6 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, making trees one of the most accessible and efficient tools we have to fight climate change. They are effective cooling agents in urban heat islands, with tree-shaded areas capable of being 20 – 45°F cooler than unshaded areas (U.S. EPA 2022). Trees also provide food and shelter for wildlife in natural and urban spaces, creating necessary habitats to support a variety of species and mitigate the loss of biodiversity. Humans also thrive in tree-filled environments—trees can create a sense of calm for the people exposed to them (Arbor Day Foundation 2023).
Morton encapsulated the spirit of his tree-planting movement when he said, “Other holidays repose upon the past; Arbor Day proposes for the future.” On Friday, April 28, we have the opportunity to create a greener future for our communities by celebrating Arbor Day. Get involved by volunteering at a community planting event, planting a tree of your own, donating to a local tree-planting nonprofit group, or even sharing information about the qualities of trees on social media. Visit the Arbor Day Foundation website for more information, inspiration, and resources to make the most of Arbor Day.
Tree Stewards
The Tree Steward training program is returning this year! Officials are in the beginning phase of planning. There are a few communities and individuals who are interested in hosting or want to know where and when events will occur. Officials will soon be looking for instructors to help teach some of the topics.
A link to the survey sent to previous Tree Steward attendees and instructors earlier this year is below. If you have not already done so, please fill it out and return it when you have a moment. Also, please be sure to keep track of your volunteer hours and submit them to the office. You can either physically mail them or email them.
Tree Campus K-12
Most of you reading this are familiar with Tree City USA, a program with the Arbor Day Foundation (ADF). But one of the newer, maybe lesser-known recognition programs with the ADF is Tree Campus K-12 , which started in 2022.
Tree Campus K-12 “inspires the next generation of tree stewards through experiences that bring the benefits of trees to life both inside and outside the classroom. The program fosters positive connections between youth and the trees in their community and cultivates within its participants a lifelong respect for trees on a global scale.” In the program’s first year, 70 schools in 31 states were recognized, including West Lafayette High School.
To receive recognition, schools must meet the following four goals: Tree Campus Team, Education Plan, Hands on Experience and Arbor Day Observance. If you know of a school or teacher in your community that would be interested in this program, please have them contact the Community and Urban Forestry office. More information can be found at https://www.arborday.org/programs/tree-campus-k-12/.
