A tree in the Watchung Reservation (Photo credit County of Union NJ)

(UNION COUNTY, NJ) -- In recognition of Arbor Day, the Union County Board of County Commissioners is once again partnering with the Union County Shade Tree Advisory Board to sponsor the annual Arbor Day Poetry Contest for students in Union County. The deadline for entry is March 10, 2023.

“Encouraging our youth to appreciate and preserve our natural heritage is very important, and we are especially proud of the students who share their messages of environmental conservation with the Union County community, through their poetry,” said Commissioner Chairman Sergio Granados. “Trees make an enormous difference to the quality of life in our area and the national Arbor Day celebration provides all of us with an opportunity to recognize the important role they play.”

“We can learn so much when we listen to the voices of the young people in our community. Their creativity and their insights inspire us to be good stewards of the natural world we have inherited, for the next generation to enjoy, preserve, and protect,” said Commissioner Lourdes Leon, the Commissioner Board Liaison to the Shade Tree Advisory Board.

Participation in the Arbor Day Poetry Contest is organized through the schools. Each school in Union County has received information on entering their students in the contest. For additional information, principals and staff can contact Madeline Brigantino, Union County Department of Engineering, Public Works and Facilities Management at mbrigantino@ucnj.org  or 908-789-3653.

The poetry contest offers students of Union County, currently enrolled in grades 4 through 8, an opportunity to obtain a greater understanding of Arbor Day by encouraging them to portray the importance of trees in the natural environment and man-made landscapes, by focusing on the benefits, beauty, and contributions of trees to our communities.

All poems received will be categorized by grade and judged.  One winner will be chosen for first, second, and third place at each grade level.  The winners will be invited to attend an awards ceremony on April 27th at 6:00 p.m., and will be publicly recognized by the Union County Board of County Commissioners. 

Arbor Day has been a national observance since 1872, encouraging the public to plant and care for trees. This year it will be celebrated on Friday, April 28.

For quick links to all environmental programs and services hosted by Union County visit The Green Connection, ucnj.org/green-connection.

For information and updates on all Union County services during the COVID-19 outbreak, including free vaccination, free testing and other support services, visit ucnj.org/covid19. General information about COVID-19 is available through the New Jersey Department of Health at nj.gov/health.