Celebrate a Tree!

What You Will Need:

• A Tree in Your Yard
• Notebook (or click here to download our custom Celebrate a Tree Notebook Pages)
• A Pencil

What You Do:

• Go into your backyard and find a tree that really appeals to you – one you really like. Take your time, and find just the “right” tree for you.
• Once you have selected a tree to celebrate, draw a picture of your tree in your notebook. If you’d like, you could also have someone take a picture of you standing next to “your” tree.
• Chart the changes the tree goes through in a year. Record your observations at least weekly in the Spring and Fall, and perhaps just once a month during the other times of the year.
• Watch for buds, bark changes, emerging leaves, leaf changes, flowers or fruits. When did these things appear and what did they look like? Record your observations and include sketches.
• Observe your tree for signs of animals and bugs. Maybe a bird will build a nest in your tree, or other animals may live in the hollows of the tree.
• Feed your tree! Water your tree as needed, making sure to let the water drip slowly for a long period of time to make sure the water seeps deeply to the roots of the tree.
• Measure the diameter of the tree and estimate it’s height. Do you notice any changes to these measurements in a year? Two years?
• Create leaf rubbings from your tree. Place a leaf under a sheet of paper and rub over the surface of the paper with a pencil. Store your leaf rubbing with your notebook. Try this technique with the bark, too! Bark rubbings are interesting to look at and fun to do.
• Press a leaf from your tree between two sheets of paper and a heavy book to preserve the leaf. You could use a flower press kit if you prefer.
• Take a monthly picture of your tree to record it’s seasonal changes throughout the year. Try to take the picture from the same vantage point each time so you can compare the pictures easily. Keep the pictures with your notebook.
• Have a picnic beneath your tree and write a story or poem about your tree.
• Celebrate your tree!

Other Ideas to Celebrate Your Tree:

• Take interesting pictures of your tree. Try close up photography of the leaves and bark. Lay on your back with your head against the trunk of the tree and take a picture looking up the trunk.
• How well do you know your tree? Have a friend blindfold you and lead you around your yard. Touch a variety of trees and see if you can identify “your” tree just by touch.
• Decorate your tree throughout the year for seasonal celebrations or holidays.

Looking for more ways to celebrate Arbor Day? Check out these fun, unique (and educational!) products:

The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown Ups – Information and illustrations of common trees in North America

Tree in a Box, Flowering Catalpa – Give someone special the gift of their own tree!

Tree in a Box, Red Maple – According to the ancients, this is the “The Tree of Calm”

Tree in a Box, Giant Sequoia – The noblest tree!

Tree in a Box, American Elm – One of the grandest of American trees!

Trees of the Natural World Playing Cards – Play your favorite game of cards while learning about the trees around you!

Grow Your Own Ginkgo Tree – Ginkgo trees are highly valued for their medicinal purposes, and they are fun to grow!

Tree Blocks, Without Bark – Kids of all ages enjoy creating fairy houses or super hero treehouses with this unique set of blocks!

Tree Blocks, With Bark – For the rustic look, try this set of blocks! Fun for kids of all ages.

Twig Pencil – A unique pencil that is perfect for all young naturalists!