Arbor Day
A holiday rooted in hope turns 150 years old
By Alana Tucker
Photos: Arbor Day Foundation
It seems like there are only a few things that can bring people together anymore—music, sports, and holidays.
Even then, holidays can be tricky. While most celebrations are centered around something that occurred in the past and is worth remembering, Arbor Day looks to the future and represents hope. This day acknowledges all that trees do, such as provide clean air, pure water, shade, a habitat for wildlife, healthier communities, and natural beauty.
While these benefits are important, pioneers moving to the Nebraska territory in the mid-1800s valued trees for different reasons: windbreaks, fuel, building materials, and shade from the sun. Unfortunately, the territory then lacked trees, so enthusiasts and advocates began spreading the message of the value of trees and why individuals and civic groups must plant them in human settlements.
The first Arbor Day was celebrated on April 29, 1872, in Nebraska City, Neb., when more than 1-million trees were reported to have been planted. By 1920, more than 45 states and territories celebrated Arbor Day, and today all 50 states observe the holiday. Since the holiday was a true grassroots idea, there is no right or wrong way to celebrate or participate. What matters most is planting, nurturing, and celebrating trees so communities and residents can enjoy the benefits of trees for years to come.
A host of other benefits are associated with Arbor Day, but here are a few of the biggest opportunities that citizens, municipalities, and states have noticed as they celebrate this annual holiday.
Increase Awareness
Each year, the Arbor Day Foundation gathers endless stories of creative celebrations from its various networks, including city governments, nonprofit planting partners, individuals, and Tree City USA communities. Tree City USA is a program that recognizes towns and cities that commit to four core standards of community forestry. Since 1976, the program has helped more than 3,600 communities across the country establish these standards to manage and improve their urban forests. Celebrating Arbor Day is one of the standards that must be met in order for the city or town to be recognized.
One of those cities is Euless, Texas. Euless has been recognized as a Tree City for 35 years. And much like everything else in Texas, the city goes BIG for the Arbor Day holiday. The annual Arbor Daze Festival is a day-and-a-half celebration of trees, held on the grounds of city hall. The festival attracts about 8,000 visitors and requires the support of almost 200 volunteers, resulting in international attention and many awards. The event is family-oriented and includes arts and crafts vendors, food booths, entertainment, games, and tree education. One of the most important aspects of Arbor Daze is the tree giveaway, which is responsible for planting more than 150,000 trees since the festival’s inception in 1989. It is clear that Euless knows how to generate awareness about trees on Arbor Day.
Also in Texas, the team at Texas A&M Forest Service knew well before the pandemic that a virtual component would be useful for Texas’s formal Arbor Day ceremony. As a state of more than 30-million people, there was an opportunity to capture more local and regional engagement, and connect Texas Arbor Day with Texas A&M Forest Service. Following the 2019 Arbor Day, the decision was made to implement a live broadcast at the host city, with remote simulcasts from various parts of the state. Everyone, including partnership coordinator Mac Martin, was forced to adapt to the new changes, and the results were worthwhile. “Attendance increased hundredfold,” says Martin. “In addition, we are now seeing more municipalities and local groups reach out to us to help with their local and state Arbor Day celebrations.”
These Arbor Day celebrations look different, but they all illustrate there is no right or wrong way to build more awareness and have a tremendous impact. Picking up a shovel, tuning into a broadcast, or posting on social media all make a difference. For more ideas of how to celebrate Arbor Day, individually or as a group, visit https://www.arborday.org/celebrate/ways-to-celebrate.cfm.
Show Gratitude
Without recognizing Arbor Day, some people may not realize what is required or who is responsible for maintenance of a rich tree canopy in a community. Frankly, it is not magic that trees are strategically planted in and along parks, campuses, public-use areas, bicycle lanes, walkways, and other areas in need of trees. Maintenance, tree planting, and advocacy work are done by volunteers, including city employees, community leaders, and nonprofits, who do not get much thanks from the trees themselves. Instead, these volunteers know that trees speak for themselves with the enormous benefits they bring to a community and environment.
Arbor Day is the perfect holiday to thank these volunteers for all they have done and will continue to do for the welfare of trees. Many cities hold Arbor Day programs in order to recognize those who advocate for trees, ensuring that trees are included in important local conversations. These individuals also have a wealth of knowledge about trees, tree care, and tips for planting the right trees in the right places.
A community can also use Arbor Day as a way to remind people how to join groups or initiatives dedicated to planting trees, such as tree boards, volunteer programs, or nonprofits that can join the Alliance for Community Trees.
Create Connections
Whether it is community members meeting for the first time, different organizations teaming up, or local media connecting with local residents, all are important connections to be made on Arbor Day. One way to guarantee this is to hold a celebration somewhere where there is already a built-in audience. This might include schools and campuses, retirement communities, town squares, or government facilities.
Kathy Minardi is an Oak Society member, who wanted to plant more trees in her community of Darien, Ill. In 2000, Minardi enlisted the help of her son’s Boy Scout troop to plant trees on Arbor Day in honor of those lost in the community. More than 20 years later, the tree-planting event has become a beloved tradition for all ages. The event includes live music, gift bags full of tree-care and education materials, handmade bows for the new trees, and even a priest who blesses each memorial tree.
Arbor Day in Darien involves community groups from all areas that chip in their talents and resources. The police and fire departments provide safety lessons and entertain participating school children. Fire trucks water the newly planted trees. These community connections and partnerships cannot be measured, but they can be recognized. Darien is enhanced when residents work together toward a common, non-divisive goal: to plant more trees.
This year will bring its own unique challenges when planning for Arbor Day, but as noted above, there is no wrong way or right way to celebrate. The most important thing is that trees are viewed and celebrated as a solution to some of the biggest environmental issues faced today. The Arbor Day Foundation honors and appreciates every event and tree planted this year on Arbor Day’s 150 anniversary.
Here’s to 150 more years of planting, nurturing, and celebrating trees.
Alana Tucker is the program manager for the Tree City programs at the Arbor Day Foundation, including Tree City USA and Tree Cities of the World. As an urban planner, she conducted streetscape and parks planning projects in Detroit prior to coming to the Foundation. She holds a Bachelor's in International Business from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Master's of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan. Her favorite tree is Populus tremuloides, the quaking aspen. Alana can be reached at atucker@arborday.org.