Nebraska City, Neb. (August 11, 2009) – Fifth-grade students from the United States will learn how trees can help produce and conserve energy by participating in the 2010 Arbor Day National Poster Contest, an annual contest that teaches thousands of students each year about the value of trees. The 2010 Arbor Day National Poster Contest is a program of the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation.
The theme of the 2010 Arbor Day National Poster Contest is "Trees are Terrific ... And Energy Wise!"
The competition is open to all fifth-grade students nationwide. In addition to the poster contest, lesson plans are available to educators to use in the classroom. These activities help increase students' knowledge of how trees grow and the environmental benefits trees provide every day. Activities correlate with the National Education Standards.
This year's theme, "Trees are Terrific ... And Energy Wise!" was chosen because it helps students better understand how trees can be used to cut down on energy costs and help the environment. This is just the second time the Arbor Day Foundation has selected this theme since the poster contest began in 1992.
"We felt this theme will be especially relevant this year, given the national focus on renewable energy," said Michelle Saulnier-Scribner, program director for the Arbor Day Foundation. "Students will learn how valuable a resource trees are, and that a few well-planted trees can significantly cut down on energy usage in houses, schools and building in every community."
Teachers, parents, and students can visit www.arborday.org/postercontest for contest rules, state deadlines, and to view the previous year's winners. A free educational guidebook with extensive classroom activities will be available for downloading after Aug. 15.
Prizes will be awarded to first-, second- and third-place winners. The national winner, his or her parents, and the teacher of the winning student will receive an expense-paid trip to the National Arbor Day Awards Weekend in Nebraska City in April 2010. The national winner will also receive a $1,000 savings bond, a lifetime membership to the Arbor Day Foundation, a framed copy of the winning poster, and will have a tree planted in his or her name. The national winner's teacher will receive $200.
The second- and third-place winners will each receive savings bonds and trees will be planted in their honor. Prizes will also be awarded on the state level.
For the second consecutive year, students, teachers and other visitors to the Foundation's Web site, www.arborday.org, can help select a finalist for the national competition. From March 29 through April 2, visitors can select their favorite poster. The entry with the most votes will automatically move to the final round of judging.
Last year, more than 10,000 people participated in the online voting.
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About the Arbor Day Foundation: The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit conservation and education organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at arborday.org.