ANNAPOLIS, MD—The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Forest Conservancy District Boards are inviting all fifth-grade students across the state to participate in the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest. The 2025 contest theme, “Trees Are Terrific…and Forests Are Too!”, encourages students to creatively express their appreciation for Maryland’s forests and trees through original artwork.
Contest Details
The contest is open to fifth-grade students in both public and private schools. Participants must adhere to the following poster guidelines:
- Size: Posters must be between 8.5 by 11 inches and 22 by 28 inches.
- Materials: Submissions can be created using acrylic, crayon, ink, marker, paint pens, regular or colored pencil, tempera paint, or watercolor.
Judging and Awards
Entries will be judged first at the county level, with top selections advancing to the statewide competition. A panel from the Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee will choose the top three winning posters. The winners will receive the following awards:
- First Place: 15 trees will be planted at the winner’s school.
- Second Place: 10 trees will be planted at the winner’s school.
- Third Place: Five trees will be planted at the winner’s school.
All three winners will also receive a Smokey Bear gift pack. Teachers will be notified of the results by late March, and tree plantings will be scheduled during the spring season.
Submission Deadline
All entries must be delivered to a local Maryland Forest Service office by noon on March 3, 2025. Contest details, including submission instructions and additional guidelines, are available on the Maryland Forest Service’s Arbor Day Poster Contest webpage.
The Arbor Day Poster Contest provides Maryland fifth graders with an engaging opportunity to celebrate the state’s rich forestry heritage and emphasize the importance of trees and forests in daily life.
For more information, students, teachers, and parents are encouraged to contact their local Maryland Forest Service office.
