Club Chronicles: Celebrate Arbor Day with these activities

What are your plans for Arbor Day? It’s just a few days away – April 24.

One thing is for certain: There won’t be a large Arbor Day celebration because of COVID-19 stay-home restrictions. 

How can you acknowledge this special day to raise awareness of trees and the role that they play in our environment?

• • Read a book about trees.
• • Donate a book about trees to a library or school.
• • Get your child interested in trees by planting a tree or walking in your neighborhood identifying the different types.
• • Educate yourself about caring for trees, including proper pruning and planting times.
• • Create an indoor garden with a pot of herb plants.
• • Make a plan for planting projects so that when you can execute them, you’ll be all set to go.

What is the history of Arbor Day?

The United States was one of the first countries in the world to celebrate Arbor Day, a holiday dedicated to tree planting. The day is celebrated on different dates around the world, depending on local seasons and temperature.

Arbor Day was founded by Julius Sterling Morton, a Nebraska newspaper editor, agriculturalist and statesman. The first celebration was held in Nebraska April 10, 1872. Its participants planted an estimated one million trees throughout the state.

By the 1920s, each state had passed laws that stipulated a certain day to be state Arbor Day.

National Arbor Day in the United States was established as an official observance April 22, 1885. In 1989 the holiday was moved to the last Friday in April.

On this day, Americans are encouraged to plant trees, bushes and plants and care for their national environment.

Trees are the biggest plants on the planet; they give us oxygen, store carbon, stabilize the soil and give life to the world’s wildlife. Other trees produce fruit, provide us shade, help hold land together and provide materials for tools and shelter.

Protecting nature is a communal activity all people play a role in. Trees are one of the longest-living organisms on earth, which makes them great symbols of your club’s legacy to leave behind.

This year’s Arbor Day could be a good time to plant a tree in honor of your club, an individual, special event, beautification in neighborhood, school, park, city or other special reasons.

Clubs, their members and others can also join The Arbor Day Foundation. As a member, you will receive 10 free trees of your choice that will grow well where you live, or you can choose to send the trees directly to someone else.

The Foundation will plant 10 trees in your honor for a national forest in need or plant 10 trees in a threatened rain forest. These trees will help preserve precious habitat for some of the rarest animal species in the world, while also providing clean air, water and medicines used around the globe.

Your trees will help preserve precious resources for future generations.

Membership in The Arbor Day Foundation starts at $10.  For more information Google The Arbor Day Foundation.