Maryland Fifth Graders Invited to Submit Arbor Day Posters for 2023

Annual Contest Taking Submissions until January 20, 2023

Camden Steiner of Harford County won first place honors in the 2022 Arbor Day Poster Contest, with a prize of 15 trees to his school for planting.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Forest Conservancy District Boards invite all Maryland fifth graders in private and public schools to participate in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest.

The theme for 2023 is: “Trees Are Terrific…and Cool our Communities!”

All entries must be delivered to a local Maryland Forest Service office by noon, Jan. 20, 2023.

Students are encouraged to share their appreciation for Maryland’s forests and trees through original works of art. Poster size must be no smaller than 8.5 by 11 inches and no larger than 22 by 28 inches. They must be drawn in acrylic, crayon, ink, marker, paint pens, regular or colored pencil, tempera paint, or watercolor.

Posters will be judged on a county level and then submitted to the Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee to compete at the statewide level. A select panel will then choose the top three winning posters that will receive tree plantings at the artists’ schools ─ first place will win 15 trees, second place will receive 10, and third place will receive five. Teachers will be notified by March 3, 2023, and school plantings will be scheduled in spring.

Contest comments or questions may be directed to Anne Gilbert at 410-260-8510 or anne.gilbert@maryland.gov.