Florida Arbor Day
National Arbor Day falls in April, however Florida
celebrates Arbor
Day on the third Friday each January to coincide with optimal tree-planting
weather. "Planting a tree is an act of direct benefit to all . . Your
trees will be silent sentinels, honorable monuments, and for decades to come,
active participants in nature's plan." The National Arbor Day Foundation provides
resources to help teach the next generation to value trees and suggests Good Ideas For an Arbor
Day Celebration. (Become a member of this organization and receive 10 FREE
trees.) Iıve provided more resources for you below.
Billion
Tree Campaign
"The
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has launched a major worldwide tree
planting campaign. Under the Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign,
people, communities, business and industry, civil society organizations and
governments are encouraged to enter tree planting pledges online with the
objective of planting at least one billion trees worldwide each year."
The
Historic Trees Nursery Store in Jacksonville, Florida listed the Juliette
Gordon Low Southern Magnolia in earlier catalogs. Read how the Hurricane Decimates
Historic Tree Seeds Collection. Although our special Girl Scout tree so no
longer listed, this company does offer a variety of other historical trees that
your girls might be interested in, including trees dedicated to other Famous Women or one from
the list of Childrenıs
Favorites.
The
Right Tree in the Right Place
There are a number of factors to consider when
selecting tree and site for your planting. The Florida Gardener offers a
listing of Shade Tree
Recommendations suitable for our local climate and the
Florida Exotic Pest Plant Council provides a list to help your girls choose a
non-invasive tree. Further information is available through the Southeast Exotic Pest Plant Council and the National Invasive Species Council.
Also, as made apparent during the 2004 hurricane season, itıs important to look
up and
make sure that when your tree reaches itıs mature height it would not endanger
any power lines. Plant the Right Tree in the Right
Place.
Make
your tree planting memorable by ordering an engraved Tree Hugger or plaque. Your
girls could design and add stepping
stones, a copper
sign, a Peace Pole, or a Time Capsule
dedication. Your troop families might even like to get in the game and start Family
Forests. Or, your troop could Adopt
a Tree, Donate a
Tree, or add to the Magic
Treeture Forest. Girls will remember how they helped make the world a
better place with Arbor
Day Patches that you can present to your girls. Hereıs a cute tune to help
with your ceremony:
The Girl Scout Tree
Tune: "Tell Me
Why"
Once Daisy planted the
sapling tree
And passed its care on to
you and to me
It's roots are deep and spreading
still
It's branches reaching, her
dreams to fulfill
The golden sun will help it
grow
The gentle rain will
nourish it so
For generations we'll keep
it true
Girl Scouts forever, for me
and for you.
How
about a game of TREEvial
Pursuit or Who Wants to
be a TREEllionaire? These games and more activities were designed to Teach Youth About Trees.
More fun Treeture
Activities are provided in an environmental education program from the Tree
Fund. Free coloring books, posters and activity guides may be downloaded from
the Florida Forestry
Association website, and free Life
of the Forest program material may be ordered from International Paper.
"In
Colonial times, many evenings were passed creating decorative stitching
samplers. Sewing in all forms was an important daily task from clothing to
quilts.² Your girls can make The Tree of Life by
using a traditional pattern on paper.
Carlyıs
Kids Corner, Treetures Treasures,
and Smokey Kids are
some of the many website specially designed for the young at heart. More
activites may be found at Arbor Day Crafts
and Arbor Day Lesson
Plans.
Poster
Contests
The
theme for this yearıs Arbor
Day Poster Contest is Trees are Terrific. .inside and out! This program for fifth
graders has a Florida deadline of February 29, 2008. One entry from each
school, club, or home school may be submitted to the state
coordinator.
First
fifth grade students are invited to ³demonstrate through original drawings of
Smokey Bear or Woodsy Owl their understanding of fire prevention and basic
environmental conservation principles². Entries to the Smokey Bear and
Woodsy Owl Garden Club Poster Contest are to be submitted through your local Garden Club. The
deadline is before January 15, 2008.
Note
that the above programs are normally coordinated through the schools system;
however, should your local school not be participating, you are encouraged to
contact the local representative for details on how to submit your girlıs
entries.
Girl
Scout Program Links
³In fairy tales, forests are dark, forbidding
places where children get lost and face terrifying ordeals. In real life,
though, forests--with their dappled light, sweet air and towering trees--are a
kid's paradise.² Discover the Wonder
of the Woods when you visit a local park and ask about a ranger-guided tour
or educational programs that may be available. Find a local park:
³Folklore says if you give fairies a place to
live, theyıll stay out of trouble. . . Invite fairies into your garden, and a
fascination with nature will follow.² Girls will have fun making a miniature Fairy
Garden or Fairy
Herb Garden like the Schulz family in
Georgia. Decorate with Fairy
Houses more Fairy
Houses, and Fairy
Furniture made from bits of twigs and bark.
Meet the Disney Fairies and watch the DVD movie
Tinker Bell. You
can download games
and activities and an activity
guide for Tinker Bell books.
Have a Fairy Party,
or Fairy
Princess Tea Party for your girls. Make Fabulous
Fairies, Chenille
Fairies, Flower
Fairies, Leaf Rubbing
Fairies, or Flower
Friends. Play Fairy Games,
enjoy Faery Recipes,
and print out a Fairy
Coloring Page. Some fun dress up ideas include:
Older girls might like plan a Day of Enchantment for
your service unit in a nearby forest. They could also organize a service
project by decorating small plants to leave on the doorsteps of local shut-ins
like the Washington
Flower Fairy does.
Patchworks Designs has a Magical Fairy
Adventure fun patch that your girls might like to remember these special
activities.
National Geographic
provides recent photographs which shockingly shows the Vanishing
Rain Forest along the Amazon. Learn more at:
Updated
December 2007