BALTIMORE, MD—Maryland fifth graders have until March 3 to submit entries for the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest, the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and Forest Conservancy District Boards announced.

The contest, open to all fifth graders in public and private schools statewide, encourages young artists to celebrate Maryland’s forests and trees through original artwork. This year’s theme is “Trees Are Terrific…and Forests Are Too!”

Students can use a variety of mediums to create their posters, including acrylic, crayon, ink, marker, paint pens, colored pencils, tempera paint, and watercolor. Posters must measure at least 8.5 by 11 inches and no larger than 22 by 28 inches.

Judging takes place at the county level, with winning entries advancing to the statewide competition. A panel of judges from the Maryland Urban and Community Forest Committee will select the top three posters. Winning artists will receive tree plantings at their schools: First place will receive 15 trees, second place will receive 10 trees, and third place will receive five trees.

Entries are reviewed by a panel of judges that includes staff from the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. In 2024, the panel included Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman and Maryland DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz.

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources and the Forest Conservancy District Boards encourage Maryland fifth graders to enter the annual Arbor Day Poster Contest. To participate, students must submit their artwork to a local Maryland Forest Service office by noon on March 3. Teachers will be notified of the winners in late March, and school plantings will be scheduled for the spring. In addition to the tree plantings, the top three winners will receive a Smokey Bear gift pack.

For complete contest details, visit the Maryland Forest Service’s Arbor Day Poster Contest webpage.

The deadline for submitting entries is March 3, 2025. All entries must be delivered to a local Maryland Forest Service office by noon on that date.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.

Photo: Entries in the Fifth Grade Arbor Day Poster Contest are judged by multiple staff and guests of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources; in 2024, that included Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman and Maryland DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz. Photo by Anthony Burrows, Maryland DNR.