Travilah Elementary School (Students in grades three through five) wins special Arbor Day celebration.
SILVER SPRING, MD –Montgomery Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission selected the submission from a fourth grade student at Travilah Elementary School as the grand prize winner of this year’s Arbor Day poster contest. As a result, Montgomery Parks will host a special Arbor Day celebration at the school for students in grades three through five. Students will participate in hands-on, fun and educational activities, including a ceremonial tree planting at the school.
The winning poster, pictured below, was created by Jasmin Wu and highlights “The Benefits of Trees in Montgomery County,” the contest’s theme. Wu’s poster was selected from 20 entries.
“The Arbor Day poster contest is a great way to teach students the importance of trees in our environment. The school celebration promotes urban forestry and horticulture through hands-on learning while building pride in their school and community,” said Thomas Berry, Montgomery Parks’ Urban Forester.
Students will have a chance to participate in the following activities:
Compost Cooks (Live Composting Demonstration): Students will work together to mix raw compost ingredients via a recipe card and observe the phases of composting from being mixed and “cooked” to forming a finished product.
Seedling Preparation and Giveaway: Each student will prepare a bare root white oak seedling to take home and plant. Students will wrap the seedlings in paper, soak them in water and place in a bag, and will receive instructions on how to plant and care for the seedling.
Canopy Exploration (Arborist Demonstration): Montgomery Parks Arborist will discuss tree work and tools used in assessing and maintaining tree health and safety. A Tree Climber will demonstrate climbing and pruning techniques.
Plant Health Care: Montgomery Parks Green Management Coordinator will facilitate an interactive discussion on insects and diseases that affect trees in Montgomery County.
How Trees Grow: Montgomery Parks Urban Forester will discuss how tree rings are formed and the impact of the environment on the size of the rings. Students will each get a “tree cookie” to decorate with their name at this station.
Benefits of Trees: Montgomery Parks Naturalist will provide a hands-on demonstration for students on the benefits of trees and how storm water affects them.
Tree Identification Walk: Montgomery Parks Urban Forester will take students on a tour of the school’s trees to learn about identifying characteristics such as leaf or needle type, as well as, benefits to wildlife and uses of the tree as a product.
Montgomery Parks Arbor Day celebration is part of its extensive tree care program aimed at educating students to help them fall in love with trees as our staff has.
Montgomery County Tree City USA
For the 15th year, Montgomery County has been recognized with the designation of Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to tree planting and tree care. Montgomery County met the four standards necessary to become a Tree City USA by having a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
About Montgomery Parks’ Arboricultural Section:
Montgomery Parks Arboriculture section provides a comprehensive tree care program that supports the protection, management and long-term health of trees and forests on parkland and provides a safer environment for park patrons, through the removal of high risk trees and limbs. The program also provides consultation for park renovation and development projects and preserves the most significant and highest valued parkland trees. In addition, the Arboriculture section utilizes all green waste produced in the management of parkland to generate compost, soil conditioners and wood products. The Arboriculture section is part of the Montgomery Parks Horticulture, Forestry and Environmental Education Division supporting the acquisition, conservation, development, maintenance and management of parks.
For more on Montgomery Parks visit www.MontgomeryParks.org
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